schools. The law has been very generally obeyed. Owing to the fact that while the law went into effect on the first day of July, 1886, and the provision that teachers should be examined on the subject after July, 1887, many boards of directors, supposing that the law would not come into full force and effect until July, 1887, failed to make immediate preparation for teaching the subject as early in the year as should have been done. There were those, no doubt, who, · being unfriendly to the law, intentionally neglected making the required provisions, and subsequently claimed not to have understood that they were required to do anything in the matter before July, 1887. These cases were not numerous, however, and it is to be hoped that hereafter the law will be honestly and faithfully carried out in all schools. In all county superintendents' conventions held in the spring and summer following the enactment of this law, the subject was very generally and thoroughly discussed and an earnest desire manifested by the great majority of superintendents to secure an observance of all its provisions in their several counties. It soon became apparent, however, that the construction and execution of the law was attended with many difficulties. For the purpose of clearing the subject of these difficulties, so far as possible, the following circular letter was issued under date of November 20, 1886: CIRCULAR LETTER No. 2. STATE OF IOWA, To County Superintendents and School Officers: The letters received at the Department of Public Instruction asking for a construction, in whole or in part, of the law enacted by the Twenty-first General Assembly, providing for the teaching and study of physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics upon the human system, in the public schools and educational institutions of the State, are constantly on the increase, showing a very general desire to comply with the law, and to that end to obtain a clear understanding of all its provisions. We cannot hope, by any construction possible, to relieve you of all the difficulties which are to be found in the way of a practical compliance with the law. Time and experience are necessary to divest the subject of all that is obscure and ambiguous-to a full and clear understanding of what is required-and to the adoption of those methods of instruction, and the necessary re-arrangement of previous and established routines, whereby we shall be able to accomplish a practical and faithful compliance with the law. The notes and suggestions following the several sections in order are made in the hope that they will aid and assist those whose duty it is to execute the law, to a proper construction, and a better understanding, of its provisions and requirements. They are advisory only, and must not be regarded as having the force and effect of law. Chapter 1, Laws of the Twenty-first General Assembly, provides as follows: SECTION 1. That physiology and hygiene, which must, in each division of the subject thereof, include special reference to the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics upon the human system, shall be included in the branches of study now and hereafter required to be regularly taught to and studied by all pupils in common schools and in all normal institutes and normal and industrial schools and the schools at the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, and Home for Indigent Children. “In each division of the subject," etc.—Authors do not agree as to the “divisions into which they divide, and under which they treat, the subject of physiology. It is the intention of the law, however, that while treating of the "division of the subject" known as "nutrition" the influence of alcohol, stimulants and narcotics, as affecting nutrition, shall be taught before proceeding to another division. The same is true of other divisions, such as digestion, circulation, respiration, osseous system, nervous system and organs of special sense. Text-books, or outlines for oral instruction, which do not provide for such instruction in connection with each division of the subject, do not meet the requirements of the law. Regularly," etc.-Arithmetic, geography and grammar are regularly" taught. The rule is that pupils receive daily lessons in these branches. The law seeks to determine, as near as may be, the amount of instruction required, and it does this to prevent a sham compliance with, or an evasion of, the law. But if "regularly" should be construed to mean "at regular and stated times," these may be remotely separated at the pleasure of the teacher, and the law be made of none effect. We think “regularly” should be construed to mean daily. Taught to and studied by all pupils."—For the present, this subject must be taught to and studied by all classes and pupils, from the primary classes through the high school. This must continue until satisfactory examinations shall have been successfuly passed, after which those classes which have passed the examination may discontinue the subject. The study of this special subject must begin in the lowest primary class. In what grade or class it shall be completed, after the present year, must be determined by the respective boards of directors. Primary classes must be instructed orally, as they are not old enough either to use or to comprehend a book. It is the duty of boards of directors to determine at what age or in what grades or classes the study shall be pursued “book in hand." While we recommend the adoption of good text-books to be studied by each pupil of proper age, we think a full course of oral instruction, or outline of work, adopted by the board and faithfully carried out by the teacher, even though it extends throughout the entire course, is a compliance with the law. It must, however, be “a full course "; it must be “adopted by the board,” and faithfully carried out by the teacher.' “In all normal institutes," etc.—The county superintendent is made directly responsible for the execution of this law. The normal institute must be the fountain from which good and wholesome scientific instruction shall be supplied to all our teachers, and by and through them to all our pupils. Without the hearty and zealous support of county superintendents the law will accomplish little or nothing. Efficient and earnest instructors should be employed. Charts and ample appliances should be provided. Physicians and scientists should be invited to lecture, and teachers exhorted to be sincere, fearless and faithful in the discharge of their duty. SEC. 2. It shall be the duty of all boards of directors of schools and of boards of trustees, and of county superintendents in the case of normal institutes, to see to the observance of this statute, and make provision therefor, and it is especially enjoined on the county superintendent of each county that he include in his report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction the manner and extent to which the requirements of section one of this act are complied with in the schools and institutes under his charge, and the secretary of school boards in cities and towns is especially charged with the duty of reporting to the Superintendent of Public Instruction as to the observance of said section one hereof in their respective town and city schools, and only such schools and educational institutes reporting compliance, as above required, shall receive the proportion of school funds or allowance of public money to which they would be otherwise entitled. • To see to the observance of this statute, and make provision therefor," etc.—It is here made the duty of boards of directors not only to provide that certain instruction shall be given, but to see to it that it is given. The work to be done should be well defined by the board, that teachers may know what is expected and required, and that patrons may know whether they are doing it. Boards of directors cannot shift the responsibility which belongs to them by simply providing that teachers may or shall give instruction in this branch in such manner, at such times, and of such character, as may seem best to them. They (boards of directors), through their secretaries, will be required to report what provisions they have made, and this report must be such as to enable us to say that the law has been complied with. Whatever the board may have provided must, therefore, be capable of a definite statement, and of supplying, when properly stated, positive information. "The county superintendent * * in his report to the Superintend ent of Public Instruction,” etc.-The duty of reporting, in connection with his annual report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the manner and extent to which the law has been complied with in the institute and in the schools under his charge, throughout his county, is made mandatory upon the county superintendent, and with special emphasis. This will require much careful and painstaking labor, but it must be done. Where the report contains no reference to this subject it must necessarily be returned. For the present, due allowances must be made, and we shall try not to be too exacting, but there should be, from one and all, at least an honest endeavor to comply with the law. "The secretaries of school boards in cities and towns."-No definite or particular form of report will be required for the present. The report should state clearly and fully just what action the board has taken, and to what extent their provisions have been carried out in the schools of his district. No limit to the time during which these reports will be received has been fixed, but we shall soon be called upon to report the school population of the several counties and districts, and we trust the reports will be sent in as promptly as possible. Let there be no delay in complying with the law. An early beginning will insure much valuable instruction during the present year. SEC. 3. The county superintendent shall not, after the first day of July, 1887, issue a certificate to any person who has not passed a satisfactory examination in physiology and hygiene, with especial reference to the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics upon the human system; and it shall be the duty of the county superintendent, as provided by section 1771, to revoke the certificate of any teacher required by law to have a certificate of qualification from the county superintendent, if the said teacher shall fail or neglect to comply with section one of this act, and said teacher shall be disqualified for teaching in any public school for one year after such revocation, and shall not be permitted to teach without compliance. The provisions of this section are plain, positive and mandatory. They show to what extent the county superintendent is made responsible for the faithful execution of this law. He must provide instruction in this, as in other branches, and he must revoke or withhold the certificate in the case of any teacher who fails or refuses to teach as the law requires. J. W. AKERS, ·Superintendent of Public Instruction. NOVEMBER 20, 1886. This letter was reprinted by the county superintendents as a part of a circular of information sent to all school officers in their several counties. During the fall of 1886, a very large number of district educational meetings were held by the county superintendents and largely attended by the teachers and patrons of the localities in which they were held. At these meetings the subject was also very generally discussed, and much accomplished toward securing the faithful observance of the law. Special attention has been given to the instruction and training of teachers, in the normal institutes, that they might be prepared for the examination as by law required. One of the principal difficulties experienced in carrying out the provisions of this law has been the unwillingness of many parents to purchase text-books for their children. To avoid trouble where any considerable number of parents have shown an unwillingness to provide the necessary books, boards have simply directed their teachers to teach the subject orally. While under some circumstances such teaching amounts to a compliance with the law, in many cases it is simply an evasion. Where boards of directors have secured the preparation of a complete outline, covering the entire subject of physiology, and having special reference to stimulants and narcotics, and containing information, either by statement or reference, and where such outline has been formally adopted, and the teachers officially notified that they are required to teach the subject regularly, and where it is so taught from such outlines, it has been held that this is a compliance with the law. But where boards have simply requested their teachers to teach the subject orally and have not provided for and regularly adopted an outline or course of instruction, it is not a compliance with, but an evasion of the law. Boards are required to "make all necessary provisions," and to see that the subject is regularly taught. Owing to the fact that sources of information on this special phase of physiology are scarce, and that many of our teachers are young and comparatively inexperienced, a text-book in the hands of both. teacher and pupils is a great advantage if not a necessity. In some other States where this law has been enacted and is now in successful operation, boards of directors are authorized to purchase books at the expense of the district, and to give children the free use of them while they remain the property of the district. This is certainly a wise course and a great improvement over our |