TEACHERS ATTACK DRUG ADDICTION BOOK FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Teachers today attacked the sale of a "totally unacceptable" book on
drug addiction to primary schools.

The book, Issues 1, A Child Protection Handbook, provides details of
drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and heroin.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) said the material
was totally unacceptable for children at primary level.

Its general secretary, John Carr, said: "The books contain detailed
information on drugs, particularly speed, cocaine, heroin, magic
mushrooms, ecstasy, solvents and amphetamines. It's geared totally
for an older person and is not suitable for children at a primary
school level."

INTO has received a number of complaints from teachers in Roscommon,
Leitrim and Donegal that businesses are being approached to sponsor
the books for their local school at a cost of more than E250.

"That has happened in a number of cases in the North West, where
teachers had received a batch of books," said Mr Carr.

"When they looked at them, they found they were cheaply produced,
there's no acknowledged authorship, they appear to contain an
amalgam of material lifted from everywhere and there's no links with
the curriculum," he told RTE radio.

Primary and secondary school pupils are already taught about the
dangers of drug abuse under the Social Personal and Health Education
(SPHE) curriculum.

The company behind the book, Carroll-Dillon Publishing, has said
that some of the material is not appropriate for young children. It
has invited responses from school principals and will take these
into account if a revised edition of the book is published.