Education Law

No smoking please!

Smoking is hazardous for your health. We have heard it over and over again, yet somehow, each year, more than a million new smokers pop up around the country. So who are these new smokers? Why are they not getting the message? Sadly, the majority of them are under 18, and, interestingly, a large focus of the tobacco industry?s advertising is school-aged youth. While we can?t do much to curb the tobacco industry?s spending in this area, we can certainly make sure our schools are healthy and tobacco-free.

Board Buzz knows that it is essential for schools to be tobacco-free in order for kids to have healthy learning environments and become healthy adults. Next Thursday marks the 32nd anniversary of the Great American Smokeout, a day to combat tobacco addiction by asking smokers not to light up for one day. As thousands of people around the country try to go a day without smoking, for many an experiment that will start them down the path to quitting, schools are presented with a unique opportunity to teach kids about the dangers of smoking and ensure school premises are completely tobacco-free.

This is the perfect time for school districts to dig out their tobacco policies, revise them, and make sure they are comprehensive and aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?s tobacco use prevention guidelines that recommend that all schools prohibit tobacco use by students, staff, parents, and visitors on all school premises, in school vehicles, and at all school functions, 24 hours a day and seven days a week! The guidelines also recommend prohibiting all tobacco advertising on school property, at school functions, and in school publications.

In addition, NSBA?s new tobacco-free policy relayed under article IV, section 2, of NSBA?s Beliefs and Policies and adopted by the Delegate Assembly in March 2008, suggests informing students, school staff, families, and the community about the policy as well as providing information about or referrals to tobacco cessation programs for students and school staff.

NSBA?s School Health Programs department has a variety of resources available to help update school tobacco policies, including a comprehensive packet of information: ?Tobacco Use Prevention 101.? School boards should consult with their state school boards association as well to learn about sample or model policies and other information they may have and ensure that any policy adopted complies with relevant state laws. If you would like more information, or need assistance with your comprehensive tobacco-free schools policy, please visit NSBA?s School Health Programs or contact
schoolhealth@nsba.org.

Is your district taking any special measures to combat smoking? Are you participating in the Great American Smokeout? Leave us a comment and tell us about it.

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on November 14, 2008 (boomark / email).