A smoking area has been established at Grady. This "smoking lounge"
is located at the small avenue leading from the front side of the boy's
gym to the side entrance of the cafeteria. Assistant Principal Harold Miller
emphasizes that smoking will be allowed in this area only during the three
lunch recesses.
Until recently smoking was prohibited entirely both on school grounds and
in the school itself. The reason for this was that it created a severe fire
hazard. Regardless of this ruling smoking continued at a heavy rate in front
of the boy's gym before and after school and in the bathrooms during school
hours.
Because of the large amount of smoking done in school, most other high schools in this area have already set up smoking areas. Grady has now followed the example of others in an attempt at controlling the smoking problem. Announcement of this procedure was first made at 8th grade orientation.
Before the lounge was established, if a student was found smoking he was immediately suspended. Now students may legally smoke during the specific time allotted. However, if a student is found smoking at any other time or in any other place except this area, Mr. Miller says, that he will be suspended at once.
This area is reserved for upperclassmen. Eighth and ninth graders will not be allowed to smoke in this area without written permission from their parents. If an underclassman is found smoking without his parent's permission, he will be suspended.
Opposing Opinions
There are two opinions to the idea of the creation of the smoking area.
The first is that this is a concession to the students and should be abolished.
Many feel that the old ruling on smoking should he enforced and not bent.
It is also felt that the addition of the smoking lounge would encourage
the younger students to smoke.
The other side of the argument agrees that the formation of the smoking area is a compromise, but that it also benefits the students indirectly. Previously students had been sneaking out of class in order to smoke. Many feel that it is better to have the students in class and allow them a limited time for smoking than not to have them in class at all.
The following is some of the views expressed by members of the faculty and student body:
Asa G. Yancy, 8th grade, "It is absolutely wrong because no one should be smoking anywhere especially on school grounds."
Barbara Tate, 10th grade, "If a person feels the need to smoke then there should be a place in which smoking is permitted."
Wayne McNatt, 10th grade, "For a long time smoking has been a problem at our school. There have been harsh disagreements and people have been sneaking around to smoke. Our students don't realize the health situation they are getting into, but if they insist on smoking there's no use in trying to stop them."
Miss Caye Thomason, biology teacher, "It seems that a specific location for smoking would cut down on the fire hazard and bad appearance to our visitors thatthe present situation presents. I would not like to think, however, that the lounge would influence any more students to start smoking."
Mrs. Eugene Sanders, science department head, "Both good and bad people smoke. Smoking produces no good results. Smoking is something to do. Do people give it thought?" Mrs. Sanders went on to say that a child should be restricted from smoking until he has been taught to evaluate his action and his thoughts. In conclusion she stated that the establishment of the smoking area was simply a giving in to a popular idea.
Mr. Harold Miller, assistant principal, stated that although the formation of the smoking lounge was a concession he would much rather see the students in class than suspended because of skipping to smoke. He also expressed the view that the smoking lounge is only having its trial run. It is not as yet a permanent part of Grady. If the rules are broken, the smoking area will be done away with entirely.