32 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [14:1— Jan., 1918 



may be divided into two or more periods. A school district shall 

 not be entitled to participate in the public school money on account 

 of any school or the attendance at any school subject to the pro- 

 visions of this section, if the instruction required hereby is not 

 given therein. The commissioner of education shall, pursuant to 

 this act, cause the consideration of the humane treatment of 

 animals and birds to be included in the program of teachers' 

 institutes. 



Sec. 4. This act shall take effect immediately. 



State of New York I 



Office of the Secretary of State, j 



I have compared the preceding with the original law on file in 

 this office, and do hereby certify that the same is a correct tran- 

 script therefrom and of the whole of said original law. 



Francis M. Hugo, 

 Secretary of State. 



The Duty of the Humane Society Toward Compul- 

 sory Humane Education 



By Stella J. Preston 

 Chairman New York State Humane Education Committee 



It is with the deepest sense of gratification that The New York 

 State Humane Education Committee announces that compulsory 

 humane education is now a regular feature of the curriculum of the 

 elementary schools in this State; it being known as Chapter 210 

 of the Laws of 191 7. 



The old adage, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't 

 make him drink," is particularly applicable to this case. The 

 mere passing of a law does not make sure its enforcement. This is 

 where the duty of every humane society begins. The writer 

 wishes heartily that the word "compulsory" could be entirely 

 eliminated, because an enforced task is never a pleasant one. 

 Yet, this seems to be a stern necessity. To make the law effective 

 it must have that force behind it. It has been so since the begin- 

 ning of time. The law commands a respect which no moral 

 suasion will inspire. Many instances may be cited where humane 

 education has been enforced for such length of time as some 



