Evening star., 1942-09-25
Reviewing Committee
To Study Comments on
School Alcohol Text
Group Of Three Agrees
Thot Course Needs
Rewrite Attention

The special committee to review
instruction on alcohol and narcotics
in the senior high schools will meet
again next Thursday after its three
members have studied the school
textbooks on alcohol and any state
ments written out by organizations
interested in the teaching revision.
Two members Of the committee
DR.. Joseph A. Murphy, chief OF the
school services, representing the
Health Department, and DR.. Carroll
r. Reed, first assistant superin-
tendent Of curriculum-elected DR..
James A. Cannon, physician mem
Der Of the board who first proposed
changes in the course, as their
chairman. t@E
DR.. Cannon emphasized that the
course either should be cut out en-
tirely or given more thoroughly so
that the students could grasp the
fundamentals of physiology, sus-
ceptibility and psychology" involved.
1t has to be given by law, he added.
Agree on Revision.
After DR.. Cannon had outlined his
objections to the course, consisting
mainly of the criticism that no Diff
ferentiation was made between use"
and excessive use" Of alcohol, both
DR.. Reed and DR.. Murphy agreed
that the course should be revised.
There have been changes in our
information in recent years." COM
mented DR.. Murphy, "the course
certainly should be modified"
Take for example," DR.. Murphy
said, "the relation between alcohol
and neuritis. We now realize that
the excessive use of alcohol brings
about dietary changes which lead
to neuritis. We used to think al
cohol itself directly caused the
condition and called 1t alcoholic
neuritis.'"
DR.. Reed commended DR.. Gan
mons excellent" review of the in
struction and suggested that If the
board had given the committee
enough authorization to do so that
the entire course be rewritten.
Other Material in Textbooks.
There Is enough excellent mate
rial" IN the textbooks already used
In the schools, he declared, to teach
the nature and effects OF the drugs
without having a special unit of
instruction written out in addi-
ton.
The present course dates back,
DR.. Reed explained, to 1887, when "a
good deal of pressure" was put on
the board to emphasize the harm
full effects" Of alcohol and tobacco.
The law requiring the instruction
stipulates only instruction on the
nature and effects" of the two,
however.
After considerable discussion as to
whether the instruction would have
to be rescinded by board order be-
fore any changes could be made,
the committee decided to go ahead
on the basis of its authorization to
present constructive criticism" and
rewrite the entire course, If neces-
sary, to submit to the board.
Representatives of the Washing
ton Federation OF Churches, Wom-
ans Christian Temperance Union
Anti Tobacco Alliance and National
Civic League are to be informed by
Board Secretary Elise z. Watkins
that any statements they wish to
make must first be presented in
writing to the board. Verbal state
ments will be Welcomed it was indi-
Gated, when the committee reports
to the board October 7. All requests
to speak before the board must be
made in writing to the secretary
several days before the meeting.
No Advocacy of Drinking.
mo one can go into the subject
of alcoholism and be an advocate
OF drinking" said DR.. Cannon in
explaining his position. II am not
an advocate Of it.
I think we should present the
effects of bad usage of alcohol and
tobacco and show the student that
he has l chance in 20 of becoming
a drunkard if he uses It, We should
teach the student that he should
leave alcohol alone, at least until
he is grown.
However" he continued, I'VE
should also teach that some are af-
fected badly by alcohol and that
some seem to be able to use it in
moderation with impunity."
He added after the meeting that
the habit-forming qualities of alco-
hol especially should be emphasized.
Il, like = drink myself once in a
while" he said, but in moderation.
I can take 1t or leave 1t alone" The