HOW TO GET RID OF SMOKING

Contributed by Blesilda A. Tamoro, Teacher III, Sta. Rosa Elementary School, Pilar 

One of the problemS of society is smoking. The number of smokers seemS to be increasing. What may be the causes of this problem? How does it start?

The following are some of the causes:

1) influence of “barkada”

2.)curiosity may make a person  experiment with different kinds of cigarettes in the belief that he

is the master of situation and can quit any time

3.) high frustration in the feeling of stress, disappointment and depression.

4.) low level of education-those who are ignorant of the dangers of smoking

5.) family disorganization

6.) racial and economic discrimination

7.) easy access to cigarettes

8.) boredom

The person becomes a slave to cigarette and his craving becomes greater and greater. The expense also increases and when he does not have any more money, he may resort to stealing. The personality of smokers disintegrates as the person loses in his appearance. He loses appetite and would rather have cigarette than eat. He sometimes suffers from malnutrition and becomes an easy prey to many infections. Sometimes he is not a productive citizen of society. In fact, he becomes a menace, since he may do things against the society to satisfy his craving.

The following may help a child avoid or get rid of smoking:

1.) Check what has been accomplished with children and follow-up from time to time.

2) The school is a small society and all those enrolled should be made to feel that they are part and parcel of the school.

3.) Provide a warm healthy school climate.

4.) Find out the interests of children and provide outlets for these child a small.

5.) Develop worthwhile values.

6.) Have the pupils distinguish between right and wrong behavior.

7.) Help him to become a productive citizen of society.

8) The school should take up issue about smoking and impress upon the children the evil effects of cigarettes.

9.) The teacher should be on the look-out for smokers and report this to the parents.

10.) The school and also the parents should cooperate in seeing to it that their children do not become victims of smoking.

11.) The children should be warned against accepting any thing that is offered to them free.  12.) Where vendors of cigarettes to students are reported to the proper authority. A child who is starting to smoke should be treated like a patient who needs treatment.

13.) The guidance counselor of school should try to find out what started the child in the first place.

References:

Cook, Lloyd Allen and Cook, Elaine Forsyth, A Sociological Approach to Education, 3^rd ed. New York: McGrawHill Book Co., Inc., 1960, Chapter 12.

Nash, Jay B. Philosophy of Recreational Leisure. St., Louis: The C.V. Press Mosby Co., 1953. P. 34.

Slavson, S. R. Recreation and the Total personality. New York: Association Press, 1946.

Stanley, William o., Smith, B. Othaniel, Benne, Kenneth D., and Anderson Achibald W. Social Foundations of Education. New York: The Dryden Press, Inc., 1956, Section B.

Weinberg, Carl, Educational and Social Problems. New York: The Free Press, 1971. Chapters 3 and 5; pp. 20-22.