MIDDLE STATES.

The Law.

NEW YORK†¶

An Act relating to the Study of Physiology and Hygiene in the Public Schools.

The people of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. Provision shall be made by the proper local school authorities for instructing all pupils, in all schools supported by public money, or under State control, in physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the effect of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics upon the human system.

SEC. 2. No certificate shall be granted any person to teach in the public schools of the State of New York, after the first day of January, eighteen hundred and eighty-five, who has not passed a satisfactory examination in physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the effect of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics upon the human system.

Mrs. Lytie P. Davies, State Superintendent.

All save one of New York's 60 counties (Tompkins) have now a County Superintendent for this Department. Five were gained in 1889 and 3 in 1890. Fifty-four new Local Superintendents have been appointed during the past year and the endorsed text-books introduced into 19 counties. As to general work, the State Superintendent reports: "Teachers have been supplied with literature"; "public meetings have been held"; "books have been put into the hands of teachers"; and during the past year the subject has been presented at 60 W. C. T. U. County Conventions, beside other public meetings. Results reported are: "the subject better understood and more thoroughly taught than formerly"; "teachers regard the law favorably"; "there is increased interest and respect for the work."

NEW JERSEY.

No Law. Mrs. Downs the State President Acting Superintendent. Mrs. Downs says: "The strongest effort ever made by the New Jersey W. C. T. U. was made last winter to secure a Scientific Tem

perance Education Law. We canvassed the State, obtained about 16,000 names to our petition asking for the bill; and Miss Frances E. Willard addressed the Legislature, but without avail. We shall try again for the seventh time. We never intend to give up in New Jersey."

The teachers are very generally in sympathy with the movement; and though there is no law, many are teaching this subject with interest. The National Superintendent addressed the State Teachers' Association in 1889, and the schedules of courses of study were eagerly received by the teachers. The national report of this Department for 1888 was generously distributed through the State, and aided much in arousing interest.

An act relating to the study of physiology and hygiene in the public schools of the Commonwealth, and educational institutions receiving aid from the Commonwealth.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same: That physiology and hygiene - which shall, in each division of the subject so pursued, include special reference to the effect of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics upon the human system - shall be included in the branches of study now required by law to be taught in the common schools, and shall be introduced and studied as a regular branch by all pupils in all departments of the public schools of the Commonwealth, and in all educational institutions supported wholly, or in part, by money from the Commonwealth.

SEC. 2. It shall be the duty of county, city, and borough superintendents, and boards of all educational institutions receiving aid from the Commonwealth, to report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction any failure or neglect on the part of boards of school directors, boards of school controllers, boards of education, and boards of all educational institutions receiving aid from the Commonwealth; to make proper provision, in any and all of the schools or districts under their jurisdiction, for instruction in physiology and hygiene which, in each division of the subject so pursued, gives special reference to the effect of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics upon the human system, as required by this act; and such failure on the part of directors, controllers, boards of education, and boards of educational institutions receiving money from the Commonwealth, thus reported or otherwise satisfactorily proved, shall be deemed sufficient cause for withholding the warrant for State appropriation of school money, to which such districts or educational institutions would otherwise be entitled.

SEC. 3. No certificate shall be granted any person to teach in the public schools of the Commonwealth, or in any of the educational institutions receiving money from the Commonwealth, after the first Monday of June, Anno Domini one thousand and eight hundred and eighty-six, who has not passed a satisfactory examination in physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the effect of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics upon the human system.

SEC. 4. All laws or parts of laws inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed.

Superintendent for 1889, Mrs. Jos. D. Weeks; for 1890, Mrs. M.

F. Lovell.

The Prohibitory Amendment work of 1889 precluded active work in this Department. During that year Mrs. Lovell was appointed Mrs. Weeks's successor. The revision of the imperfect text-books having removed the chief difficulty in the way of enforcing the law, plans were at once laid for a general enforcement campaign all through the State. County Superintendents were urged to push the work of securing Local Superintendents in all Local Unions and "fitting women" for districts having no Local Unions. This they began to do by letter, and by visiting Unions when no response by correspondence could be secured, the State paying travelling expenses. Notification was sent to all Local Superintendents that schedules of a course of study in this branch were ready, and that free samples of the endorsed books to show school boards and teachers would be forwarded by the publishers on application to the National Superintendent. Soon requests for sample books began to pour in, and presently word came from Mrs. Latshaw, of Altoona, that a series of the endorsed books had been adopted by the school board of that city for the 3000 and more children in its public schools. Pittsburg soon followed with a partial adoption, and recently Philadelphia, with the adoption of the entire Union Series. in place of the defective Smith books. Like happy results have been secured in at least thirty smaller places. Where difficulties have prevented adoptions the struggle is still going on, for in this battle the workers know no defeat.

An Act to Provide for the Study of Scientific Temperance in the Public Schools of Delaware.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Delaware in General Assembly met:

SECTION 1. Provision shall be made immediately upon the passage of this act, by the School Commissioners and local school boards for

instructing all pupils in all public schools, receiving aid from the school fund of this State, in physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics upon the human system, such instruction to be given orally, in primary schools, where pupils cannot read.

SEC. 2. No certificate shall be granted any person to teach in the public schools of the State of Delaware after the first day of January, eighteen hundred and eighty-eight, who has not passed a satisfactory examination in physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics upon the human system.

SEC. 3. It shall be the duty of the State or County Superintendent to see that the provisions of Section 1 are complied with.

SEC. 4. All acts or parts of acts not in harmony with this act are hereby repealed.

Miss Kate K. Brown, State Superintendent.

Delaware has only three counties, and has so far not appointed County Superintendents. About two-thirds of the unions have Local Superintendents. Dr. Raub, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, has signed the Standard for Enforcement, and his official endorsement will greatly aid the work with school boards and teachers. Miss Brown reports that the endorsed books are in use in New Castle and Sussex Counties, and quite generally in Kent County. From information obtained from school officials, she thinks the subject is usually taught with text-books in the hands of pupils able to use text-books, and orally to those who are not. "Teachers have expressed their encouragement at having seen gratifying results from the pursuit of this study."

THE SOUTHERN STATES.

The Law.

MARYLAND ‡ ||

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland:

That the nature of alcoholic drinks and narcotics, with special instruction as to their effects upon the human system, in connection with the several divisions of the subject of physiology and hygiene, shall be included in the branches of study taught in the common schools, and shall be taught to and studied by all pupils, whose capacity will admit of it, in all departments of the public schools of the State, and in all educational institutions supported wholly or in part by money from the State; and that the said study shall be taught to and studied by said pupils in said schools as thoroughly and in the same manner as other like branches are there taught and studied, with text-books in the hands of pupils where other like branches are thus taught.

Superintendent for 1889, Mrs. S. G. Beers; for 1890, Miss Annie

G. Gantt.

1889. Eight new County Superintendents were appointed during the year. All but three of the counties organized for W. C. T. U. work have now County Superintendents of this Department. The teachers in some counties are earnest W. C. T. U. workers and enter heartily into this work. Results of the study reported: "Children refuse to procure beer and other liquors for their parents"; 66 some parents request

their children to be placed under the instruction of those who teach the subject faithfully."

1890. County Superintendents are working to increase the number of locals. The State Superintendent has been faithful in sending out literature and instructions, and in urging organization and the introduction of the study in accordance with the Standard.

VIRGINIA.

Superintendent, Mrs. W. H. Pleasants.

1889 Report showed that instruction on this topic was being introduced, though not required by law.