Temperance in the Schools.
SOME months ago the Christian at Work editorially maintained the proposition that the school house must decide the temperance question. In a recent number a Kansas correspondent indorses the sentiment, and adds a plea for a "text-book teaching the facts from an unbiassed scientific stand-point." The idea of teaching temperance in the schools is a good one. But the first requirement is a "willing mind" on the part of teachers to impart such instruction in a thorough manner, adding example to precept, and a public sentiment that would permit the innovation. The same sentiment that has ruled out the Bible from the schools would also rule out temperance as a study. Temperance as an educational branch, like any other science, would have to be taught thoroughly in order to accomplish any practical good, and in the Bible is found the bedrock of temperance logic. A text-book that the sentiment of even the majority of temperance advocates would admit to the schools would be superficial indeed. This correspondent says, "Facts are what we want in the text-book." Now facts would teach prohibition, but popular temperance ideas would reject that kind of teaching in short order. But we can recommend a text-book that contains all that any teacher whose heart is in the work need call for in the way of facts. It is one that nearly every family patronizes, and would meet with less opposition than any other. We mean the daily newspaper. That contains just the right class of facts for practical use — scientific facts, based on the law of cause and effect — such as are easily proven and readily understood. Then for the fundamental principles of true temperance, we would recommend the Bible. Let the teacher study that at home, and he will be able to make application of the facts. When these shall have been exhausted, the nation will have graduated in temperance. Aside from these, however, we can furnish a catalogue of temperance publications, for sale at this office, which deal in well authenticated, demonstrable facts, so compiled as to be readily adapted to the purpose. They do not come under the head of "avowedly temperance publications" which "seem done in high colors," nor are they "exaggerated and overdrawn pictures of the evil of moderate drinking"; and they do contain sufficient "facts from a scientific stand-point," to satisfy the most ardent demand. We know, too, that their teaching has been fraught with remarkable success in producing a healthy temperance sentiment in many families throughout the country, as also in our denominational schools. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.