Anti-smoking efforts cause school friction
(Boston) -- The war on teen smoking is heading to the toilet.
High schools across the country are locking the restroom doors
in an effort to keep students from puffing away in the stalls.
Some schools have had to reopen the toilets after non-smoking
students complained to local health officials. The non-smokers say
many were being punished so authorities could catch a few smokers.
The debate over bathrooms is flaring up in the wake of a new
survey that shows more than 36 percent of high school students are
smoking -- a nearly two percent increase over 1995.
Many schools say they have smoking cessation and educational
programs for their students, but need penalties as well. Some
schools impose fines, detention and suspension when students are
caught smoking.
(Copyright 1998 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-04-15-98 0516EDT