New-York tribune., 1909-06-10
CHILDREN DON'T DRINK
EDUCATION BOARD ANGRY
Passes Resolution Denouncing Re
marks of DR.. MdcNichOH.

The meeting of the Board Of Education was en-
,vened yesterday afternoon by the introduction OF
ssolttions denouncing untruthful and pernicious
,be statements reported 10 have been made by Dr.
= Alexander MacNichoil at Atlantic City. that out
NJ thirty thousand children OF the public schools
s-sr,ined by him IS per cent were found to be
sssr drinkers and that 20 per cent were addicted
- wine or spirits. The resolution was read by DR..
-bs-lez E Bruce. member OF the board. who
,,res AT No. . East 127th street.
after mentioning the beer drinking charge the
-.solution referred 10 the statement of Dr. Mac
,,;rroi that approximately per cent of the chill
s-er attending the public schools in New York are
s.ssre-stes as a result of the intemperate. per
tt,,,s and immoral habits Of their parents, and
>. voted the sense OF the board that the state
,e,t vas unqualiiedly false The resolution con-
tirued-
sending the public schools assert that the con-
sr- and attainments Of the pupils demonstrate the
honestv and fidelity Of the parents and the Whole-
some conditions pervading their homes
NJ Bruce added that the elementary schools
committee might be asked investigate the allie
rstiors. but General George ". Wingate said
-T-s all tournyrot. Pass the resolution branding
IN. thing as unfounded. but don't dignity the mat
ser bv looking into it Anyone in doubt had better
,ook ~ the work Of the Public Schools Athletic
League" . =.
...i--7an Of the athletic fields committee. The
hard followed his advice
a. Maxwell CITY superintendent of schools, said
- -feht that the resolution of Dr. Bruce ex-
--.sss5 p-eciselv his view and that he had moth
a. ~ add 10 ii In the report Of the city superin-
.1a.n- for last year he mentioned that out Of the
--s,d teal Of children from Manhattan. Brooklyn'
g. E-orr and Queens two thousand were eN
s-ined for deficiencies and out Of that NUMBER
aa were recommended for ungraoed classes oe-
-,,,s.e of slight mental decrepitude-
y 6o7,- see how Dr.. MacNichon could examine
....- -ho,,ssnd children said Dr. Bruce last
-i,b+ Il examined q thousand children once anu
=. +oor ne fourteen months Al the same rate-and
made al the haste posslole-he "o-lo 's -'
.ve years OF the job.
Tor Esn-el. sanitary superintendent OF the Board
~ Health, soo1ed the figures. but added that u
- he cor7paratively easy TO ascertain how
vronE they were .rs
a., +ha rexr tzro DAYS" he said. and have the IN
.,+o-s ind ollt in their routine examinations how
yrsrv Of them have been accustomed 10 the use OF
alcoholic beverages -.
"a ,fac%5chon lives at No lo1 West 66th street
graduated from the Bellevue Hospital Med
,csr College in 1892 and formerly surgeon IN
-. Pei Cross Hospital His remarks, which were
.be subject of criticism yesterday. were maze 10
.b. American Medical Association.
2 Fellows jenkins. superintendent Of ne Ne"
YORK Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty 10 Chi-
dren said:
7 can speak cnly for Manhattan and The brorA,
INT orr observations there lead me 10 thlnk lna'
Dr. NacNichou has made q mistaken statement
OF course isolated cases Of school chioreh iouliu
under re influence Of liquor have been brousht 10
o,- attention L seems TO me that If Dr. Mac
Nicon has discovered such state Of affairs 10 eN
isl he should long ago have brought It 10 the atten
Tim OF the society which is the best htteo orsaul
zstior for handling situation Of thls sort
The Board Of Education voted in favor OF the
g-s5lle system Of embossed type 10 be used IN
teachins blind children in the public schools AT
.ru- : Son7ers said he believed the New Nork point
system 70 be equally good, but the request OF
- sem for an Immediate decision for the Braille
type was carried -
The hoard has established schools for the Grip
,ss N. deaf and the dumb" said M. Stern ana
=. .horld hurry Up the instruction Of the oIlno'
Later we hope 70 establish schools for tuoerculous
children
Tbe-. viii be four classes for blind children OF
elementary age introduced in September The oIino
children will be taught in the same rooms with
other pupils.