Daviess County Public Schools provides tobacco education courses that show the effects of smoking. It starts out to be a habit and it ends up being an addiction. Beacon High School provides tobacco education courses and recommends smoking cessation when a student is caught smoking for the third time, said Principal Donna Lanham. And last year, a group of students traveled to middle schools to participate in tobacco prevention programs for younger students. While many schools are stepping up to meet the CDC recommendations to cut youth smoking rates, more could be done, Keelin said.
Some schools continue to allow teachers to smoke outside on school grounds.
Daviess County, Beacon and Apollo have designated areas for faculty. Lanham said she may consider a change in the policy to set an example for students. That's the best teaching tool. Keelin and Hahn agree. It's telling them that it's acceptable behavior, that when you turn 18 it's acceptable.