Evening star., 1942-11-01
Is Witnesses Protest
Revision in Schools
Anti.Alcohol Course
One Suggests Removal
Of Dr.. Common From
Boord Of Education

Boord Of Education
Testimony against alcohol, mar
cotics and cigarettes presented yes
terday by clergymen, civic leaders,
doctors and "a mother" before the
special committee studying revision
OF high school instruction on those
subjects will be considered by CON-
mittee members tomorrow.
Suggestions made to Chairman
James A. Cannon and the two other
members Of the special committee
at the Thomson School included es-
tablishment Of q special course on
the effects Of alcohol and narcot-
les at Wilson Teachers College, call
ing Of national temperance con-
vention here and dismissal Of DR..
Cannon from the Board of Edu-
cation.
None Of the 1S witnesses favored
the course as rewritten by DR.. Gan
non. All proposed that the course be
rewritten again or that the old one
be retained.
Althou (gh DR., Cannon said he was
uncertain OF the results of the
committee meeting to be held at
1:30 pm. tomorrow in the Franklin
School, there was a possibility the
committee would submit a report to
the Board of Education meeting next
Wednesday, If the committee wishes
to make extensive revisions in the
course, however, the report will not
be made until the board meeting
November 10.
Wants Mass Meeting.
No additional public hearings on
the proposed revision have been an
nounced despite the hope expressed
by William V. Mahoney Of the Anti
Cigarette Alliance that revision
could be postponed pending a citi-
zens' mass meeting at Continental
Hall in December and a national
temperance convention here in jan
uary.
This is good psychological time
for such a convention" Mr.. Ma
honey said.
MY popular organization" he
declared, wishes to bring experts
here from Chicago and New York
to testify at length before the
Board OF Education itself" instead
OF DR.. Cannon, Dr. Carroll r. Reed
and DR.. Joseph A. Murphy men,
bers of the special committee.
All Aynopf nm 1f fLe y,;ro Coh~41
Board members attended the hear
ing yesterday, however, so that they
would be prepared to consider the
revised course when it is presented
to them. All school officers and
several teachers also we're present.
DR.. A. Fife Heath criticized the
proposed course as not telling the
whole story"
I'VE would be doing very poor
Job if we didn't revise these in
structions to make them pack a
wallop any young fellow would
never forget" AS physician do
ing research on the harmful as well
as the good effects of alcohol. I
find that the majority of scientists
find that it doesn't do the body a
single bit Of good" he declared.
AS a physician feel 1t my duty.
he told the hearing. ito insist that
every school teacher should teach
students the harmful effects OF al
cohol."
College Course Urged.
The school board would have the
backing of organizations all over
the city if it established a course
in the science OF alcohol and to-
bacco at Wilson Teachers College,
Miss Emma T. Watts, appearing as a
private citizen, said.
Quoting teachers as saying they
do not know how to present the
subject, Miss Watts contended 1t
would be fairer to teacher and pu-
pil if a course In such teaching
methods was given. Supt. OF Schools
Frank w. Ballou commented after
the meeting that such instruction
already is given at the teachers COL
lege lin h general way"
A request that DR.. Cannon be re-
moved from the Board of Education
was made by Mrs. G. B. Mc1lwee.
Il come as a mother" she said.
ITO say that the doctor should be
removed from the Board of Edu-
cation"
DR.. Ernest L. Wilkinson of the
Washington Stake of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
added that Dr.. Gannon's published
views on alcohol's tendency to pro
long life were unfortunate enough
without having them "perpetuated"
in the high school course on the
subject. Dr. Cannon has been
quoted in the New York Herald
Tribune as saying that alcohol adds
to the enjoyment of life" he said.
According to Dr. Wilkinson, the
high school course should act as a
"brake" to alcoholic consumption,
not encourage" it. He also sug-
gested regular examinations in the
course. 1t is now covered along with
10 other subjects by the physical
education department and included
In general, rather than specific. eX-
aminations.
Cites Five Statements.
Mr. Mahoney also cited five state
ments from the proposed course
which he said could be placed "ver-
batim" in advertising displays as An
Endorsement of alcohol and ciga-
rettes by the District Of Columbia
Board of Education.