Evening star., 1942-10-08
Teachers Asked
10 Rewrite
Alcohol Course
!. Revision Delayed;
! Nursery School
Legislation Backed

.S9sSsOASOis DOSNOO
Revision of alcohol and narcotic
instruction in the Districts senior
high! schools was postponed yester-
day when the Special Reviewing
Committee decided to call in the
Standing Curriculum Committee of
teachers to help rewrite the course
of instruction.
At the same time the Board of
Education approved legislation to
open schools to children of pre-
school age so that children of work.
ing mothers can be cared for in
nursery schools.
The board also raised enrolment
In the high school cadets to the level
of regular school course by award
ing one credit for year of cadet
service. This is the first time this
has been done in the 60-year history
of the cadets.
To Fingerprint Students.
With consent of the parents, board
members also decided all school
children should be fingerprinted.
The opponents of any revision in
alcohol and narcotic instruction,
gathered to hear "a detailed report"
read were astonished when DR..
James A. Cannon, chairman of the
special committee, simply reiterated
his belief that some revision should
be made.
Repeating statements already made
at committee meetings by all three
of the members DR.. Cannon de-
clared, THE committee proposes to
rewrite the outline of the courses in
alcohol and tobacco"
He added, however, that the Cur
riculum Committee. made up OF
teachers of every subject. would as
sist in the rewriting. 1t also was
explained to the board that the
special committee would hear rep
resentatives of the organizations
who wish to discuss the instruction
before revision. Previously it had
been announced the entire board
would hear them after the report
had been written.
Ideas to Be Given Teachers.
Explaining the postponement of
definite action, DR.. Cannon said
after the meeting that the teachers
were being called in because 1T is
their business to rewrite curricu-
lum." The doctors on the special
committee will submit their ideas to
the teachers.
Setting the hearings at possibly
the first week of November, DR..
Cannon declared, 1--WE will adjourn
the meetings if there is any start
ing of wet versus dry arguments.
The discussion will center strictly on
What is to be put into the course"
William v. Mahoney, representa-.
tive of the 'Anti-Tobacco Alliance,
who was given five minutes before
the board yesterday to request that
special meeting be held in
school auditorium on the instruc-
tlon revision, declared:
Il am at a loss. I had planned
my procedure with the idea that a
detailed report would be made to-
day"
Promises Experts at Meeting.
He said so many experts were
being gathered by his organization
and so many people were interested
IN the question that a whole school
auditorium should be opened for q
meeting at pm. November II. DR.,
Cannon indicated. however, thai
meetings would be held at tho
Franklin School.
"Regrettable newspaper contro.
versy over the instruction" Mr.
Mahoney said, has made the course
revision "a national issue"
Boxes will be placed in each schoo,
building, it was decided yesterday. so
that students may deposit KEYS fo,
the salvage program.
The board went on record as on
proving the High School Victory
corps. which has been suggested by
the Office of Education as a definite
organization to encourage enroll
ment IN "militarily useful" courses
ana IN outside war activities like
afraid messengers.
! IN discussion of the n,lrserv
schools, which bill now before the
Senate would permit to be set IN in
school buildings, DR.. Frank W.
Ballou, superintendent, emphasized
that parents able to pay for this care
PROBABLY will be permitted to do so.
Inc teachers were encouraged bv
the board yesterday in efforts thev
are making to be included in the bill
10 provide pay raises and bonuses
Tor Government employees.
To Support Claim.
The Legislative Committee OF the
board, headed by Charles A. Draw
ton, and the school officers will sun
port the inclusion of teachers before
congressional committees, it was de-
c1ded. At present school clerks and
custodians are included in the bill.
The move to plan for fingerprint-
ing OF students was made at the re-
quest OF the Office of Civilian De.
fense. The American Womens Vol
untary Services has offered to place
80 trained flngerprinters at the dis.
posal of the schools.
1t must be done, it was stipulated,
only with consent Of the parents.
we must take any action possible
10 encourage enrolment in the
Cadet Corps" declared Robert A,
Maurer, vice president of the board,
IN discussing the credit. now to be
given for enrolment in the High
School Cadets.
A credit will be given only for a
tuli year, not one semester. In adj
d1tion a course in military science
and tactics will be given on rainy
days and during the period after tho
competitive drill. An examination
will be given at its conclusion.
MARYLAND Bur to Admit