Template.tabs.helpers({ class_for: function(tab_name) { var templateName = Session.get('templateName'); if (templateName === tab_name) { return tab_name + ' active'; } else if (templateName === 'display' && tab_name === 'news') { return tab_name + ' active' } else { return tab_name; } }, selected_controller: function() { return Session.get('controller_id'); }, }); Template.tabs.events({ 'click .start': function() { Session.set('templateName', 'start'); }, 'click .weather': function() { Session.set('templateName', 'weather'); }, 'click .log': function() { Session.set('templateName', 'log'); }, 'click .settings': function() { Session.set('templateName', 'settings'); }, 'click #switch': function() { var instance = Template.instance(); controller_id = instance.$('#controller').val(); Session.setPersistent('controller_id', controller_id); } });