Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-01-24
snOKlse Asp scnOoL cnlLpnry

SMOKING AND SCHOOL CHILDREN.
The effort that Il being made In simo
Of the city ochools {, check Tobacco
smohing among the boys Il one that
cannot no too highly commented
There are some who thluk the anti.
tobacco measures are not sufficiently
vigorous, but II must 10 remembered
that 10 school capacity such matters
nce1 20 be handled with olfe aud
judgment. In one school II was
found necessary to expol several boys
who refused to observe the rule regard
ing the tobacco habit In fact, Ia the
particular Instances referred 20, II IL
taiI that the loys, though quite small,
used the narcotic 10 such an ozionl
that their bodies and clothes emitted
an odor % offensive as to Induce nausea
In children who were required 10 1T
near them Ia the school room.
Oge teacher being atkod ~ TO how
general the practice was among b3ys,
saij, 81 think there are two out OF
every three between the ages Of eight
anu twelve years. ami quite a large
proportion Of those younger. What
has surprised mo most IL that In the
msjofliy Of cases which l have fol.
lowed, tho mothers Of tho boys knew
Of the habits Of their children aud In
many eases sought to conceal II from
their fathors, perhaps 10 save the boys
from punishment. The most con.
ilrmed cigarette smokers among the
little bye, however, arc those whore
iathofs uto tobacco In one form or
the other This little fellows are gtca,
imitaioH Of persons whom they look
up 10, and II is pretty harI
to break them Of habit they get from
one whom they regard as superior
The other day detected quiet little
boy smoking aud spoke TO him OF tho
evil. lilo said he dlI not think It
would hurt him much, rs II didn't
hurt MI -. Tho gentleman
named IL prominent In local uiiAln Ia
tho nelghborhooj, and 1 had heard
him speak strongly against tobiceo
using. 1 told tho child he must be
mistaken, but when I Investigated 1
learned that Mr. - little boys
haa often detected their father uslpg
tue weed, aud that his secret use OF II
was well known 10 the schUol children.
80, Instead OF his example being bens.
fieial 1t has an III silec,.D
A school principal, asked as to his
opinion how smoking could DO best
checked In the school, replied, "By
having teachers who uso neither to.
baceo nor liquor, aud giving the chill.
dren careful instruction a. 10 the
effects Of these injurious habits. A
teacher who uses either tobacco or
liquor IL OF no use ~ an Instructor
against smoking or drinking. His
example tells with tho pupils. No
amount Of teaching will b. effective u
tho ioacher by his own conduct violates
the very principles Of health which no
tells his pupils should BE- followed. OF
course u boys are not checked In cigar.
cite smoking at homo the teaching In
school will have comparatively little
effect. Hut steady work In both places
would, | believe, make smoking as un.
popular among the boys as It IL popular
today. IL 10 the most effective cure 1
know Of"
II IL not the present purpose OF the
NEWS to elaborate on the blneiul
effects OF tobacco smoking. That has
been done In these columns many
times, and recently a few weeks ago.
but we do feel heartily to approve OF
the efforts In the schools TO educate the
children against the evil, and we h ops
the good work will become more gen.
eFaL There Is also food for serious re.
necllon In the remarks Of the teachers
quoted. One further statement, from
prominent educator, will suilios for the
present; "rhe boys who smoke cigar.
cites continually can, however, DO dc.
tecIUd In the sChOolroom. Their ap.
pearauce Is an Indication tina, thoy
have been smoking to excess. They
are nervous aud they lack coneentra,
ton OF mind. They cannot direct
their mind TO the study Of any par
tioular thing. They can bs told as easily
by their mental peculiArities and the
way they act as II the tobacco were
Bmelleu on tlemD