Evening star., 1942-10-18
Public Hearing Set for Oct. 81
On New School Alcohol Course
Speakers to Be Limited to 10 Minutes
Each; Dr. Cannon to Preside

approved May 20, 1886. authorizing
such study in the public schools.
Purpose of the new course was
outlined in an introduction:
'Since the use of alcohol in bev-
erage form constitutes one of the
major problems of all time" the
laws of the District of Columbia
and of the other States in the Union
require that the effects of alcohol
upon the human body be taught in
the schools. Experience has shown
that many boys and girls of high
school age who drink and smoke
have low 1arks in their studies.
This is not necessarily due to alco-
hol or tobacco. but is often due to
defects in their characters which
lead them to disregard advice of
their elders and the opinion of their
friends It should not be consid-
cred smart or clever for boys and
girls to drink and smoke.
This course is not intended to
frighten students. or to deceive them
in order to help them. 1t is hoped
that after they are acquainted with
the most recent knowledge on alco-
hol and tobacco. their good judg-
ment and common sense will cause
them to abstain from the use of
either, at least until they are men
and women. If they then elect to
use alcohol or tobacco at any time,
it is hoped this course will help
them to be temperate in such use
students will learn that alcohol
and tobacco act differently in diff
ferent individuals. Some adults
can use both with apparent i'm
punity, while others should not
use either under any circumstances.
Many drunkards are fundamentally
defective characters, whose nervous
systems are abnormal and who
abuse alcohol because they are alb
normal. Not all boys ad girls in
high school have stable nervous sys-
TENS. nor are they fitted to cope
with this problem until full physical
development has been attained.
Harmful Impressions Cited.
INSTRUCTION in the facts about
alcohol, tobacco and narcotic drugs
Is definitely needed, because many
young people receive harmful i'm
pressions through current conversa-
tions and practices, the daily press,
billboard advertising, magazines and
radio. This type of information can
hn Nfcnt hoct hyr Infy,itn i,,c
ton in modern facts about alcohol,
tobacco and narcotics.
people, young and old, who
are both physically and mentally
healthy should realize that neither
beverage alcohol nor smoking or
chewing tobacco are essential to
their physical or mental we'll being.
They should know that even though
there are individual differences and
some people use moderate quanti-
ties of alcoholic drinks and tobacco
with impunity, others may be def
nitely injured by their excessive use.
They should further be aware Of the
fact that quantities which may be
apparently tolerated by one indi-
vidual may easily be excessive for
another"
The use of the word "may" is
prominent in the text, appears to
adopt the general policy of saying
that while many persons find cer-
tain things true about alcohol or to-
bacco others have quite different re-
actions. DR.. Cannon said this ap-
parently reflected what was found in
80 many surgical and medical quar-
ters-there Is not a unanimity of
opinion"
DR.. Cannon said the intent of
the course was to keep children
from smoking and drinking" With
It's presentation of more facts and
better balanced" course. he main
tanned the new course was much
tSee ALCOHOL, Page A-22)