Tobacco Documents Online

EVENIAQ EXPRESS Fortland, Maine Novemtier 3, 1962 riefly Stcrtcd'... oard Holds Up Aprova1 n ' t Stiffer Srnokiny Rule ~ " South'Portland's Board of :!Eflucation has tabled, a pro- ..3osal to stificn the penalty for stttdcnt smoking at the hiSh t;clrool. but may give approval ht its next ructialg. School Sunt. Wayne E. Roberts wants • e four-week suspeusion from Gchool fur any student causht 6mokinR on school; property and a year suspension for sec~- ond, offenses. The present rc„- ulat'ions provides only-for sus~ , pension, until the next meeting oZ tlie bcpand The South Portland, s c h o o 1 authorities are wrestling a g a i n ' with a problem that seems to defy solution. What is a proper penalty for secondary school students who violate the no smoking edict? And ~~ a~~ concomitant ~ consideration i& whether such an edict should be repealed and' an area set aside in which students may smoke during recess periods. Suspension for varying periods has been the traditional penalty. While there are those youthful of= fenderswho: may find pleasure in such a holiday, they must be in the minority. And, if this disciplinary act'ion is to be worthwhile it: must have the same home support that is essential to the effective func- tion of' any school undertaking. Members of the South Portland Board of Education know perfectly well that they are not going to stop youn!g, people from srnoking whatever their action. They mayy be able to make no appreciable impression upon their students by quotinamedical opin'ionsas to the possible dangers of the habit. But we feel the arguments for smok- ing restrictions at secondary schools and for penalties with which to enforce those restrictions are better than the "can't fight 'em, join 'em" school policy which encourages smoking, If It does nothing else a prop- erly enforced' schooi restriction on smoking fosters self-discipline. The teaching of this quality can benefit from all the strengthening, It can receive today in the school and! in the home.