charles] THE XA TURE-STUD Y SITU A TION IN ILLINOIS 287 



grounds, boys' clubs, libraries, etc., are among the interests 

 which he has been instrumental in promoting. He publishes 

 annually a report of the Winnebago County Schools which is 

 richly illustrated and filled with data and suggestions for all who 

 are interested in the improvement of rural schools and the amelio- 

 ration of country conditions. 



Physiology in Illinois Elementary Schools. 



A presentation of the situation in Illinois would be incomplete 

 without reference to the matter of "scientific temperance instruc- 

 tion." A bill passed in 1897 through the efforts of the W.C.T.U. 

 prescribes that "the nature of alcoholic drinks and other narcotics 

 and their effects on the human system" shall be taught every year 

 for ten weeks in every grade below the second year of the high 

 school (three lessons per week in primary grades and four lessons 

 per week in all others), from text-books in the hands of the pupils 

 (except in primary grades, where the teacher shall teach from 

 such texts), said text-books to give "at least one-fifth their space 

 to the nature and effects of alcoholic drinks and narcotics." 

 Pages in a separate chapter at the end of the book are not to be 

 counted, and high-school texts "shall give not less than twenty 

 pages" to the drink and narcotic feature. 



This law, still in force with suitable fines attached, has been 

 severely attacked and warmly defended. Finally, at its 1906 meet- 

 ing, the State Teachers' Association appointed a committee of six 

 representative school men to confer with a similar committee 

 from the Illinois W. C. T. U. to consider and recommend changes 

 in the statutes governing the teaching of physiology and hy- 

 giene. As brought out in the meetings of this joint committee, 

 the present law is objectionable for several reasons — as is doubt- 

 less patent to teachers who read this statement. Literal com- 

 pliance with the law is rarely met with; open violation is com- 

 mon; many high schools graduate pupils with no instruction in 

 physiology — a fact to be deplored. 



Much good was accomplished through the meetings of the joint 

 committee. However, no result was reached, as it developed 

 that the W. C. T. U. committee was appointed to confer, but not 

 to concur in recommending any change in the law. At the 1907 

 meeting of the State Teachers' Association its committee re- 

 ported, recommending changes in the law. The committee was 



