p. 16 | Temperance Work in Public Schools

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 31, 1910

Temperance Work in Public Schools

By Edmund C. Jaeger

For some time I have planned to give a report of my temperance work in the schools of Southern California, believing it would be a source of encouragement to others to engage in this work. I have for several years had a burden to see something done toward getting the truth before the thousands of boys and girls in our public schools. I spent three years praying and planning to find a way to reach them. Only a few, a very few, will ever come into our church or Sabbath-school. The question was, “How can I reach the masses?” God answered my prayer, and outlined the plan to pursue. It was the course Jesus pursued—the way of the medical missionary. The temperance and the health work was to be the avenue of approach to the hearts of the boys and girls.

As quickly as possible I prepared myself for work by getting acquainted with the science of alcoholism. My four years’ experience in teaching and my acquaintance with the Master Physician also were to prove a help.

With a heart filled with supplications, I interviewed the proper school authorities of my home town (get a good name at home first, I thought), asking permission to give some lectures on scientific temperance in the different buildings. The idea was new to them, and at first they hesitated; but afterward they said they would give me a trial. I visited the buildings, gave my lectures, and then waited. A few weeks later I received through the mail the following letter from the city superintendent. It was in the form of a recommendation:—

“To Whom It May Concern:—

“Mr. E. C. Jaeger has given talks upon scientific temperance before several of our city schools. His talks are sane and sensible, free from exaggeration, and deal with the subject in a strictly scientific way.

“From my personal experience with Mr. Jaeger, I feel free to recommend him to any school authorities, and feel sure that they may trust him to present his subject in a sane and helpful fashion.

“A. N. WHEELOCK.”

You may imagine how happy I was. I had been received, and with approval. The way was at last open. The teachers asked to have me come again, and finally arrangements were made for a course of lectures to cover a period of nine months.

I saw that I needed a small publication to further the cause and get the truths into the homes. Accordingly, a small journal adapted to the children, named Practical Hygiene, was the next undertaking. I went to the printers. One hundred eighty dollars was the cost of printing it for the year. That amount looked like a pretty large sum of money just then. But faith in the goodness of God and a large stock of youthful enthusiasm launched the affair. I had but one dollar in the bank when I gave the printer my manuscript. I went to praying for means. I knew that if God wanted the paper printed, he would send the money. And he did. The business men and parents heard about my work, and began to help me. They saw it was a good thing. They said they would pay the bills. Do you know who put this into their minds? I do.

A thousand copies were distributed in the schools; this meant about one to each family represented by children in the schools. And did the children read the paper?—Yes, indeed, and digested it too. They took the papers home, and the parents read too. And O, the good words I heard from them! I had a right to rejoice as I saw them drinking in the precious truths. You can get the hearts of the parents in no better way than through the children. In fact, that is the only way many of them will ever be reached. “Teach the children. It is painting in fresco.” The little paper is now a permanent publication.

The children often stop me on the street and ask me questions, and every once in a while we have a little talk about the Master.

My work was brought to the attention of the W. C. T. U., and just before Christmas I was invited by the State president of the L. T. L. work to lecture in the Long Beach and Pasadena city schools. I was well received in both these places. This will prove a great help to me, as these are considered the best schools in the State. I have been asked to return and give another series soon in Pasadena.

By God’s help I have been able to speak to almost twenty thousand children since September,—children in grades from the first on through the high school. I have talked, besides the places mentioned above, in the San Bernardino, Ontario, Tropico, and San Fernando schools, and in many of our church-schools.

The daily press has been very kind in making quite full reports of the lectures, and thus the facts have been given wide publicity. Last November I made a crusade against public drinking cups in the Riverside schools; the paper took up the matter, and to-day the school authorities are putting in drinking fountains in all the schools.

Besides my regular work in the schools, I am giving a course of lectures on Sunday afternoons to the Moral Muscle Club of the Y. M. C. A. This is an organization of high-school boys. The talks are religio-scientific. Several of the boys are, as a result of the truths presented, seeking for more light. Pray for these young men.

I have tried to follow the Master’s plan of working as far as possible. I have asked no pay for my work. “Give, and it shall be given unto you,” were his words. I go wherever my expenses are provided for. Several friends have helped some toward defraying these costs. The great satisfaction of knowing I am doing a little toward bringing sunshine into the lives of these dear children makes up for the lack of a moneyed salary. Don’t think I have no difficulties in the way. Sometimes the way seems hard, but the great Jehovah has said this work should be done; and when I know I am doing his bidding, it makes the darkness flee away.

EDMUND C. JAEGER.