Evening star., 1936-12-04
Allied Organizations Urge
Education Board to In
! crease Instruction.
TEACHERS ENFORCING
! LAW, OFFICIAL SAYS
11.Point Program of Petitioners
Calls for Character Require
ments" for Instructors.

study Of the effects Of alcoholic bev.
erages, tobacco and other narcotics"
and stricter enforcement Of rules
against their use was presented to .
special committee Of the Board OF
Education yesterday by spokesmen for
the Committee of Twenty Of the AL
lied Organizations, comprising ~ sep
arate bodies.
The program was outlined by Will
liam v. Mahoney, executive secretary.
who described the results Of q ques-
tionnaire answered by some 200 public
school pupils, the vast majority OF
whom had answered that they had
received no such instructions In their
classes this year.
At the outset of the conference,
held at the Franklin Administration
Building, Dr. Edgar 3. Brossard, chair
man, presented printed copies OF the
act of May 20, 1886, requiring such
instruction in the District schools.
He and his committee felt. he said.
that the law was not sufficiently be-
ing met, and that too little time Is
devoted to the subject.
Textbooks Are Presented.
Robert L. Haycock, first assistant
superintendent of schools, brought to
the hearing IL textbooks used in the
schools, which devote space to the
effects of alcohol, tobacco and other
narcotics.
"Omcers and teachers" Haycock
said. "arfe aware OF the requirements
Of the law and of the necessity for
Its enforcement"
He presented briefly statements
from five high schools detailing the
courses offered. along with a number
of typical statements from teach
ers describing their work. Asked If
they had been selected especially for
the Committee of Twenty, he re-
piled that they had not. but had been
taken from the files of the last two
years.
Robert A. Maurer, chairman Of the
School Board Committee, explained
that the problem of keeping tobacco
and alcohol from boys and girls goes
beyond the schools, but we share your
feelings about the matter" -,
He also suggested that II q question
naire is to be circulated on the ques-
ton Of what is being taught, the teach
ers rather than the pupils should be
approached. Mrs. Philip Sidney Smith
agreed, and asserted that answers from
200 children out Of more than 10000
doesn't mean anything"
The program presented by the Com
mittee Of Twenty asked that a survey
be made by the Board Of Education
Ito ascertain to what extent this pre-
scribed instruction is now being faith
fully and efficiently given through text
books. lectures, class work, written ex-
aminations, essays or other methods"
Ask Character Requirements"
Other points in the program asked
for improvement in the courses and
text books; special examinations Of
teachers as to their knowledge of the
effects of narcotics on the human sys-
tenn before a certificate is granted:
adoption of adequate character re-
Quirements" for teachers; adoption Of
. rule which would give preference for
appointment or promotion to teachers
who are total abstainers; requirement
Of . statement from applicants for
teaching positions whether or not
"they are addicted to the use Of alco-
hol, tobacco or other narcotics"
A rule was also asked to require
regular written examinations on the
subject, the results to appear on pupils
report cards, and that credits be given
for the study.
Regular reports from all teachers on
the time spent on the subject giving
complete details regarding the methods
used in such teaching would also be
required. The same proposal would
require the superintendent to keep the
files Of the reports in his offices "in
such manner that any parents, repre-
sentatives of organizations or other
persons may have access to these rec
ords at any time during regular ONCE
hours
Another proposal would provide for
che suspension or dismissal Of any
teacher found ''unfaithful, negligent or
inefficient in observing this law"
Supplementary lectures by paid med
lcal experts would be provided, this
scientific instruction to be aided and
supplemented by radio. moving picture
reels, slides, scientific testing appa-
.Fatus or other illustrative methods, in
order to make it interesting and con-
vtucing."
Final Proposal.
The final proposal asked "for the
elimination Of all practices which
are inconsistent with the letter and
spirit Of the law including specifi-
cally the cultivation of tobacco or
manufacture Of smokadores or smoking
stands on or in public school property"
Mrs. william j. Hughes asked for
better courses on the effects of tobacco
because more mothers smoke than
teachers" and consequently the schools
are better place for instruction than
the homes.
Mahoney in stressing the importance
of the subject asserted he had rather
have his grandchildren miss instruc.
tton In arithmetic than instruction in
the effects Of alcohol, tobacco and mar
cotics.
Others who spoke for the Committee
Of Twenty included william T. Tucker,
Rev. Charles H. Butler, r. I. CARRIER,
Mrs. Bertha M. Davis, Mrs. Harvey w.
Wiley, Mrs. E. L. Busbee and Mrs.
Glenn De Witt.
Haycock was instructed to compile
details on the courses Of study now
being followed in the schools, the time
deyoted to them and the methods used
ID instruction. The two committees
tentatively agreed on another meeting
10 Be held January Z.
900, 900 in HI Groups.
Memhership In the Al Bows and