XN000022-1977-10-29 — Page 6

AM SIK

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1977

TEACHERS AND PARENTS URGED TO HELP FIGHT DRUGS

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TEACHERS AND PARENTS WERE TODAY (SATURDAY) CALLED UPON TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE APPEAL WAS MADE BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN), MR. KARL STUMPF, AND THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, MR. N.M. HO.

THEY WERE SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A TEACHERS SEMINAR ON DRUG ABUSE HELD JOINTLY BY ACAN AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AT THE GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION. ABOUT 200 SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS ATTENDED.

MR. STUMPF SAID DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE WAS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT COULD ONLY BE RESOLVED AT HOME AND IN SCHOOL.

NO PROGRAMME FOR COMBATTING DRUG ABUSE WOULD, THEREFORE, ATTAIN REAL SUCCESS UNTIL PARENTS AND TEACHERS BECAME THOROUGHLY ACQUAINTED WITH THESE PROBLEMS AND INVOLVED IN EFFORTS TO TACKLE THEM, HE SAID.

ON THE ROLE OF TEACHERS, MR. N.M. HO SAID THEY SHOULD MAKE THEIR PUPILS AWARE OF THEIR OWN ABILITIES AND OF THE PART THEY WOULD PLAY AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

PUPILS SHOULD ALSO BE MADE TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE AMPLE AWARDS IN SUCCESSES AND ACHIEVEMENTS, AND THAT IT IS COWARDLY AND IRRESPONSIBLE TO RESORT TO ESCAPE MECHANISMS IN ANY FORM, PARTICULARLY DRUG-TAKING, MR. HO SAID.

+ON THE OTHER HAND SENSIBLE PARENTAL GUIDANCE IN THE FORMATION OF A WHOLESOMÉ PERSONALITY AND HEALTHY ATTITUDES, IN CHOOSING THE RIGHT TYPE OF FRIENDS AND ENGAGING IN CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES CAN GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS PREVENTING A CHILD FROM BECOMING AN ADDICT IN LATER LIFE,+ HE ADDED.

THE SEMINAR WAS THE THIRD OF ITS KIND TO BE ORGANISED BY ACAN AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SINCE 1972. ALSO ATTENDING THE SEMINAR AS PANELISTS WERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ENGAGED IN ANTI-NARCOTICS WORK.

A STUDY VISIT TO SHEK KWU CHAU REHABILITATION CENTRE BY TEACHERS ATTENDING THE SEMINAR HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 12, IN ORDER TO ENABLE THEM TO GAIN FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE OF ONE OF THE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT IN HONG KONG.

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