Evening star., 1929-06-25
DISTRICT SCHOOLS
TEACH EFFECTS OF
| ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
Federal Officials Study Plans
for Educational Program
Throughout Nation. .
DR.. r. w. BALL0U OPPOSES
ANY KIND OF PROPAGANDA
Present System Is Based on Old Act
Of Congress, Passed in 1885, Also
Covering Narcotics.

While Federal officials held confer
eraces today regarding the proposed edu-
cational program to be launched by the
prohibition bureau, 1t developed that
the District of Columbia schools already
are teaching the nature of alcoholic
drinks and narcotics and their effects
upon the human system"
The exact program of the Govern
ment toward the schools of the country
has not been developed in complete de-
tail, but DIR, Frank w. Ballou, superil-
tendent of schools. today indicated that
any changes in the present curriculum
OF the schools would have to be passed
upon by the board. and he personally
was not in favor Of any Kind of prop
agaf1da. =
Resist Controversial Subjects.
In the absence Of detailed proposal
by the Federal Government to the local
school system, no specific indications
could be obtained today as to what may
happen In the local schools on the
matter. But on the part of DR.. Bal
lou and one member of the board, Mrs.
Henry Grattan Doyle, there appeared
TO be certain resistance to contro-
versial subjects.
At the Treasury Department the
matter of the new educational program
was under discussion In q conference
between Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury Lowman, Acting Prohibition
Administrator o. D. Jackson and Miss
Anna B. Sutter. head of the division
OF education and statistics of the Blu
reau of Prohibition. It Is Miss Sutter
who will carry to the National Ednca-
tion Association conference the sug-
gestions which already have been de-
veloped by Uncle Sam.
It was understood that o statement
had been considered on the whole ques-
ton, but after q conference, announce
ment was made by Mr.. Lowman that
any formal pronouneement would await
the arrival here this afternoon of Pro-
hibition Commissioner James M. Doran
ssCourse Of Study Is Outlined.
Miss Sutter VIII take to the educa-
tion association convention data from
the Bureau Of Prohibition, including
an eight-page pamphlet, about the size
Of q postcard, entitled How Shall
We Teach the Eighteenth Amend-
ment?" This pamphlet discusses in
Of study for the schools OF the coun-
try 1t points out how prohibition
might be taught In arithmetic, English,
social studies civics, drawing. current
events. character education and through
homemade scrapbook.
s'The Government needs the help and
cooperation OF every teacher, from
Maine to California" says the pamphlet
''and from Washington State to Florida
IN developing a consciousness OF the
proper attitude toward this law and all
laws
Teaching which is already under way
In the District of Columbia schools. DR.
Ballou said, was based upon an old act
OF Congress approved May 20, 1885.
Under this Law. the subject of alcohol
and narcotics are presented, he said, tc
all children in the District Of Columbia
schools from the fourth grade to the
junior high school.
Wording Of 1885 Act.
The act is entitled instructions In
effect of alcohol and narcotics" and
reads, in part, as follows
IAN act to provide for the study OF
the nature Of alcoholic drinks and nar-
cotics and of their effects upon the
human system, in connection with the
several divisions of the subject Of
physiology and hygiene. by the pupils
In the public schools OF the Territories
and Of the District of Columbia, and In
the Military and Naval Academies and
Territories Of the United States"
The act provided that the nature OF
alcoholic drinks and narcotics, and spe-
cial instruction as to their effects upon
the human system, in connection with
the several divisions Of the subjects OF
physiology and hygiene, shall be in
cluded in the branches of study taught
In the common or public schools. and
In the military or naval schools, and
shall bes tudied and taught as thor
oughly and in the same manner as
other like required branches are in said
schools, bv the use of text books IN
the hands Of pupils. where Other
branches are thus studied IN said
SchoolS," and. the act continued, In al
other schools provided in the act.
The act provides further that II
shall be the duty Of the officers in con-
troll OF any school described In the fore
going section, TO enforce the provisions
OF this act: and any such of1cer
gehooi, director. committee. super,
frtendent or teacher who shaii
refuse or neglect to comply with
the requirements OF this act, or snai
neglect or fail to make proper provision
for the instruction required and In the
manner specified by the first section oi
this act, for all pupils In each and
every school under his jurisdiction. shai
be removed from ONCE, and the Vacancy
filed as in other cases"
DIR. Ballou Discusses Question.
Or. Ballou, discussing the matter
I said that personally he had no feelint
one way or another about the question
and that it was matter for the Boare
OF Education to decide. He made j
perfectly plain, however. that he wa
not In favor of any kind Of propaganda
IN the schools.
Mrs. Doyle said that. so far as sht
knew, the Government had as yet made
no proposal before the board. but tina
when and IL it did, the board would takt
a. up in due course.
II am opposed" she said. TO thu
discussion Of controversial subjects II
the schools"
II course In prohibition Is worked
out in a broad and unbiased manner
senator Capper Of Kansas, chairman o
the Senate district committee. believes
:. fss:siis be introduced with beneficial
$esuits i'm che Washington public schools
such q course, In Senator Capper,
opinion, should lay stress upon the evil
of alcohol and the necessity for law en-
forcemcnt in the United States.
AZ