Evening star., 1942-11-10
New Alcohol Course
To Lay Stress on
Pupils Intelligence
Revised Instructions
Ask Teachers to Credit
AIertness of Students

Senior high school teachers of al
cohol and narcotics courses will be
asked to remember that their STU
dents are Intelligent" and capable
of observing life" and drawing
their own conclusions from these
observations" if the Board of Edu-
cation approves the rewritten course
on alcohol and narcotics completed
for the senior high schools today by
DR.. James A. Cannon, chairman of
a special committee to revise the
courses.
Introductions to the two previous
courses on alcohol and narcotics,
one of which was used for five years
and one of which was suggested by
Dr. Cannon two weeks ago, made no
mention whatsoever of the initiative
or mental ability of the students.
Instead, former introductions to the
courses asked teachers to tell the
students that it is not smart or
clever" to drink and smoke.
The introduction to the course
drew fire from DR.. Cannon when
he first suggested rewriting the in
struction. In turn, his draft Of the
introduction drew severe criticism
as encouraging students to drink
from 18 witnesses at a public hear
ing held in the Thomson School
after DR.. Gannon's first revision Of
the course.
Court Decision Quoted.
The new introduction in the
course, to be submitted to the Board
of Education November 18, begins
with quotation from Supreme
Court decision. The "evil" effects
of alcohol cannot, the Supreme
Court decided, be shut out of view"
On the other hand, continues the
introduction, teachers Should bear
in mind that senior high school stu
dents are alert, intelligent and self
confident and desire to be treated as
if they had intelligence"
These young people," continues
the instruction to the teachers. "are
observing life, and are drawing their
own conclusions from these observa-
tions. They have noticed disad-
vantages of self indulgence and
have been impressed with what they
have seen of the excessive use of
alcohol"
The teachers are told to teach
this subject "as other subjects are
presented, that is, the fact should
be stated without prejudice"
Social Aspect Stressed.
The teachers are also asked to
stress the habit-forming tendency
of alcohol, and the impossibility of
determining in advance whether the
individual may become an excessive
user. The lengthy session in the
new course is given to the effect that
alcoholic drinks have on mans
status in society,""
The course also emphasizes the
effect of the use of alcohol on speed
and coordination. For the first
time, it includes a direct statement
that no athlete should use alcoholic
stimulants.
Dozens of persons interested in
the new course called at the Frank
lin School for copies of the report
No further public hearing will be
held. Instead, the board of Educa-
ton will consider written statements
by those objecting to the latest revi-
sion by DR.. Cannon.
The new course is largely similar
to DR.. Gannon's first revision except
for the introduction and the empha-
sis on the chemical properties of al
cohol. These two points received
most of the criticism at the public
hearing, and were both changed
The chemical section of the new
course Is very short, and omits all
reference to the food properties OF
alcohol.