OCR Text |
Show Parents - Schools Combat j Cigarette ; Smoking "Preventing cigarette smoking should be a joint effort of the parents and the schools," stated Dr. J. Clair Morris, Superintendent Superin-tendent of the Iron County School District. He said that the school district enthusiastically endorses a national campaign cam-paign to reduce cigarette smoking which was initiated by the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, Joseph A. Califano, Jr. Morris explained Utah's law which stated that the public schools must teach about smoking in three vays,"Explain the harmful effects of cigarettes, lead students away from smoking and expose fraudulent and deceptive ads." Students caught smoking on the campuses of Cedar Junior High, Cedar High and Parowan High School are usually referred to juvenile court said Morris. Elementary teachers, junior high science teachers and high school health and science teachers directly teach about the harmful effects of cigarette smoking said Morris in outlining the school district's policy. Morris cites a national survey which shows that progress is being made in the reduciton of cigarette smoking by teenagers. The survey showed a reduction of 25 percent. However, women 17-18 years old have actually increased their smoking, and now outnumber out-number male smokers of the same age. "Parents probably have the very best preventive toolif they'll only use it. This tool is their own attitude at-titude toward cigarettes. Studies have shown lhat if parents smoke, their children are more likely to pick up I he habit than are children of non-smokers. If a child sees mom and dad smoking, this tells them it's an okay thing to do. Even if such a parent urges the young person not to smoke, this warning has a hollow ring if the parent lights up a few minutes later." said Morris. |