The Nation : Bennett Accused of Burying Drug Issue

The chairman and ranking Republican member of the House narcotics committee criticized Education Secretary William J. Bennett for not emphasizing the drug abuse issue in his proposal for a model high school curriculum. Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.), the chairman, said in a statement that Bennett “buried the drug issue, which students themselves say is the biggest problem facing young people today.” But the secretary replied that his critics had missed the point that both drug education and academics were needed. Rangel said Bennett, who proposed high school drug education only in grades nine and 10 as part of physical and health education, has neglected the mandate of his own 1986 booklet, “Schools Without Drugs” which calls for “a comprehensive drug prevention curriculum for kindergarten through Grade 12.” Rangel commended Bennett for recommending a strong overall curriculum.