TEACHERS ATTACK DRUGS EDUCATION FOR INFANTS.

(Caption: Cartoon of a small girl with her father - the child is saying "I
hate Tuesdays, it's double Heroin followed by Cocaine Studies")

Government plans to educate children as young as five about the dangers of
drugs, as part of a long-term strategy to curb abuse, were criticised by
teachers' leaders last night.

Nigel de Gruchy, general secretary of the National association of
Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, also accused Tony Blair of setting a
bad example by courting pop stars.

"As always, politicians expect others to act," he said. "The Prime Minister
could probably achieve more than 1,000 lessons in drugs education if he set
a good example and refrained from inviting pop stars associated with the
drugs scene to receptions at No 10."

Guests at Downing Street have included Noel Gallagher, of Oasis, who said
last year that taking drugs might now be as normal as getting up and having
a cup of tea in the morning".

Mr de Gruchy also attacked the Government for "dumping social problems on to
schools. It is unrealistic to expect schools to fill the moral vacuum
created by so many different forces at work in society. Dumping on schools
is a cop-out by Government and society."

A White Paper published yesterday said that the national curriculum should
include lessons introducing pupils aged five to the dangers of drugs.

Keith Hallawell, the so-called drugs tsar, who devised the strategy,
defended the proposal, though some ministers believe that eight or nine
would be a more suitable age.

"We do not intend to start talking to children aged five about crack cocaine
and all the paraphernalia," said Mr Hallawell. "But they need to understand
the consequences that drugs have."