Preparing for a School Board Presentation on Tobacco-Free Schools

Transcription

1 Preparing fr a Schl Bard Presentatin n Tbacc-Free Schls Making a presentatin t the schl bard is a critical step in securing r defending a tbacc-free plicy. It is the bard that is ultimately respnsible fr plicy enactment and enfrcement. Here are sme issues t cnsider in planning and cnducting the presentatin. Prir t the schl bard presentatin Addressing the Schl Bard Planning the Presentatin Wh Shuld Speak t the Schl Bard? Handuts and Materials Dealing with Challenges and Cunter Arguments Prir t the schl bard presentatin Prir t the schl bard meeting, assess r re-assess the psitin f individual members f the schl bard n the tbacc-free schl plicy. If pssible, d this in face-t-face meetings. Hw many are in favr f the plicy? What makes it imprtant t them? Thse wh are in favr shuld be given additinal supprtive infrmatin that will allw them t effectively articulate the reasns fr their psitin. It is als imprtant t find ut which members are neutral. They may lack critical infrmatin n the issue that can mve them t change their psitin. Finally, try t meet with thse wh d nt supprt the plicy. Why are they against it? While yu may nt be able t change their psitin, yu will be better able t anticipate and prepare fr their questins and challenges during the presentatin. Assemble and distribute infrmatin packets (see belw) befre the meeting. Regardless f their psitin, all schl bard members shuld be well prepared with infrmatin n the issue befre the presentatin. Addressing the Schl Bard Planning the Presentatin The bard meeting shuld be well rchestrated. The cntent addressed in the presentatin will depend n many factrs: wh is presenting; issues and cncerns f the schl bard; cmmunity supprt fr enacting a 100% tbacc-free schl plicy and the amunt f time available t present. Belw are sme ideas n tpics t include in the presentatin and wh might prvide this infrmatin. Base yur decisin n what tpics t select, and wh will prvide the infrmatin, n what yu think will be mst influential t the schl bard. Encurage speakers t adpt a cllabrative, rather than an us against them attitude, with the schl bard. After all, yu are all n the same side in striving t d what s best fr the

2 yuth in the schl district. Ask each speaker if they can pledge their supprt and the supprt f their agency (if feasible) t wrk tgether with the schl district in making this plicy change a success. Infrmatin n the health effects f tbacc use. The presenter shuld be a credible medical/health prfessinal. The health directr f the lcal health department r well-knwn r influential physician in the cmmunity wuld be ideal t have n yur side. The infrmatin shuld address the effects f tbacc use n the healthy develpment f children, the effects f secndhand smke, the particular effects n children with asthma and similar cnditins, the relatinship f smking t cmmn childhd illnesses, such as ear infectins and upper respiratry infectins (cmmn causes f schl absence), the extremely addictive nature f nictine fr yuth, the impact that tbacc use has n learning, and the fact that if a child can cmplete high schl withut using tbacc he r she is likely t be tbacc-free fr life. Impact f schl tbacc use n yuth/yuth pinin f a tbacc-free schl plicy. The presenter shuld be an articulate, well-spken yuth advcate wh has been invlved in the issue. A member f the Teens Against Tbacc Use (TATU) r ther student anti-tbacc rganizatin wuld be ideal. A student with asthma wuld als be a gd chice. The presentatin shuld ffer the yuth perspective n schl tbacc use, starting ut with hw are they affected by tbacc use n campus and their pinins n the issue. Des it bther them t see teachers using tbacc n campus? D they believe this prvides a pr rle mdel fr students? Des allwing tbacc use n campus cntradict health messages they receive in the classrm n the dangers f tbacc use? Are they bthered by tbacc use at schl sprting events? Students shuld als nte that they d nt have a chice t nt attend schl, and thus avid expsure t tbacc. Therefre, it is the schl bard s respnsibility t prvide a safe and healthy learning envirnment free frm expsure t knwn carcingens, and ne in which adults are rle mdels fr healthy behavir. Students may als want t share their cncerns abut tbacc use amng their peers and hw they think this plicy will lead t a decrease in tbacc use amng yuth. Students may want t present signed petitins r summaries f student surveys t demnstrate supprt fr the plicy change. Schl administratr s perspective Schl staff can prvide infrmatin n tbacc use prevalence within the schl district, current tbacc preventin effrts, and infrmatin n hw this plicy will supprt cmprehensive schl health effrts. They can als prvide an verview f the benefits they anticipate with the passage f a 100% tbacc-free schl plicy. Fr instance, a 100% tbacc-free schl plicy: Prvides psitive rle mdeling by adult emplyees and visitrs; Reduces children s bservatin f tbacc use and takes a firm stand against it;

3 Supprts, rather than cnfunds, preventin messages delivered in the classrm Prvides a safe envirnment fr students by reducing expsure t envirnmental tbacc smke. This can lead t a reductin in student absences frm asthma, ear infectins and upper respiratry infectins all f which are directly related t envirnmental tbacc smke. Prtects children frm a dangerus and addictive drug; Cmplies with federal legislatin prhibiting smking inside schl buildings and des nt cnflict with state law n smking in public places; Mdels respect fr state laws designed t limit access t tbacc by children; Prepares students fr the realities f a smke-free wrkplace; Practively prtects schls frm unnecessary risk f future liability (i.e.: asthma attack that is triggered because a child is expsed t smke in a schl setting); Reduces cst f cleaning and maintenance n grunds and athletic fields; Reduces the risk f fire due t smking materials. Wh Shuld Speak t the Schl Bard? Cnsider inviting the Safe and Drug Free Schl Crdinatr, Healthy Living Crdinatr r the persn charged with cmprehensive schl health effrts; a principal; a cach; a cunselr; and/r a schl nurse. The presenter may want t prvide a summary f survey results f schl emplyees, which shws widespread supprt fr the plicy change. Sme ther presenters t cnsider: Parents A parent can make a very cmpelling and emtinal presentatin in supprt f 100% tbacc-free schls. Parents wh are als influential in the cmmunity are ideal. Key pints fr parents t make include: Parental expectatins Parents expect the schl bard t prvide a healthy and safe learning envirnment, free frm expsure t knwn carcingens. Whether at schl, r participating in after schl events, they need t be assured that their children s health is f primary imprtance; Rle mdels Schl staff shuld be psitive rle mdels fr yuth. Allwing tbacc use n campus teaches yuth that it is kay, and suggests that the cnsequences fr tbacc use may nt be as bad as they are tld in the classrm. Tbacc-free zne. Yuth are bmbarded by messages in magazines, in theaters, n billbards

4 and n televisin t use tbacc prducts. Half f Nrth Carlina yuth live in hmes where there is at least ne tbacc user. Schl shuld be a place where yuth are safe frm this cnstant influence. Prviding 7-8 hurs a day where yuth are free frm tbacc can have a real impact n their decisin t use tbacc prducts. Mixed messages. It is pintless t take the time t deliver preventin messages in the classrm, nly t allw adults t use tbacc prducts n campus. Risk fr children with asthma. Secndhand smke is very detrimental t children with asthma and similar respiratry cnditins, and is knwn t be a trigger leading t asthma attacks. New research shws that children expsed t secndhand smke use tbacc at alarming rates. Schl shuld be a place where these children are safe, rather than at risk frm expsure t tbacc smke and frm addictin. The parent may want t present signed petitins and/r a summary f surveys f cmmunity members which demnstrate widespread supprt within the cmmunity fr the plicy. Law enfrcement Plice fficers, especially lcal DARE fficers, and schl resurce fficers can prvide infrmatin n issues related t enfrcing the current tbacc plicy. Fr example, have they encuntered prblems enfrcing a tbacc use plicy that allws sme peple t use tbacc prducts, but nt thers? They can als discuss benefits they anticipate if the schl district implements a 100% tbacc-free schl plicy. Lcal health rganizatins Staff frm the lcal Healthy Carlinians Calitin, the American Cancer Sciety, the American Lung Assciatin, r the American Heart Assciatin can be effective speakers n the issue. They can pint ut that the vast majrity f tbacc users started befre the age f 18, making it imperative that schls jin with parents and cmmunity rganizatins in ding everything pssible t prevent tbacc use. They can als utline the supprt and resurces they can prvide t the schl district when the plicy is in place. The representative can als present letters f supprt fr the plicy frm cmmunity agencies and rganizatins. State agency representative Staff frm the Tbacc Preventin and Cntrl Branch r frm the Department f Public Instructin may be available t prvide the larger picture, and t prvide additinal encuragement t the Schl Bard t cnsider the issue. They can als share experiences f ther schl districts acrss the state, and serve as back up if questins arise that lcal staff are unable t address.

5 Have supprters present at the meeting. Even with a planned presentatin, there may be an pprtunity fr supprters t address the Schl Bard during the public cmment prtin f the meeting. Handuts and Materials Assemble infrmatin packets and distribute them t schl bard members during the week befre the presentatin. Packets may include: Letters f supprt frm lcal agencies such as the lcal Healthy Carlinians Calitin, the Health Department, and the American Lung Assciatin. The current plicy and the prpsed plicy; Summary results frm surveys and petitins; An verview f tbacc-free schls highlighting why this is such an imprtant issue; FAQ s n tbacc-free schls; A map f tbacc-free schl districts. Cpies f mst f these items are available frm the Tbacc Preventin and Cntrl Branch. Dealing with Challenges and Cunter Arguments In preparing fr the presentatin, yur team will have identified sme f the cunterarguments they will face during the presentatin frm ppnents t the issue. Make sure yu are clear n the mtivatin behind the challenge. Knwing why a schl bard member r cmmunity member is challenging the plicy will help yur team t cunter the challenge with arguments that specifically address the reasns presented. Dn t wait fr yur ppnents t bring them up after the presentatin. Instead, use the presentatin as an pprtunity t practively acknwledge these cncerns and ffer infrmatin r slutins. Here are sme cmmn cunter-arguments and strategies fr addressing and respnding t them: This plicy is nt supprtive f the tbacc farming cmmunity Acknwledge the rle that tbacc plays in the cmmunity. At the same time, nte that the health f yung peple is even mre imprtant. A 100% tbacc-free schl plicy will nt result in lcal tbacc farms failing yet it will help t ensure that yung peple remain tbacc-free. This will have a direct and lifelng benefit t yuth and t the cmmunity. This plicy will be impssible t enfrce As a part f yur presentatin, summarize the UNC-Schl f Public Health research prject shwing that, fr schl districts that clearly and cnsistently cmmunicate the plicy, enfrcement was nt an issue. Pint ut that while schl persnnel initially may fear appraching vilatrs, the situatin is rarely cnfrntatinal when handled cnsistently and tactfully. In the presentatin, ffer sme simple, creative

6 steps the schl district can take t enfrce the plicy that have been successfully used by ther schl districts. Emphasize that the benefits f the plicy will far utweigh any f the minr initial hassles f enfrcement. Include the handut Tips fr Enfrcement in any materials prvided t Schl Bard Members and encurage them t review the infrmatin. Attendance will drp at sprting/ther schl events Mentin that research has shwn that schl districts with a 100% tbacc-free schl plicy in place have nt experience a decrease in attendance at schl events. In fact, it has been demnstrated that fr every ne attendee lst, six new nes are gained. Researchers fund that many peple particularly nnsmkers avided cming t events such as ftball games where they may be uncmfrtable due t tbacc smke. Many parents als avid attending because they dn t want their children expsed t the smke, r t the rle mdeling f tbacc use. Als pint ut that peple wh attend schl events are usually schl supprters, such as parents, students, and frmer students. The vast majrity will be supprtive f and willing t cmply with schl plicies. Finally, discuss hw tbacc users particularly smkers are accustmed t cmplying with smking restrictins. Yet these peple still attend mvies, fly n airplanes, and attend church, all places where they cannt smke. Adults have a right t smke Pint ut that children have a right t breathe clean air. Mentin that adults als have a right t drink alchl and carry guns, but these are nt allwed n schl prperty. Yu can als defuse this challenge by re-framing tbacc-free schls as a children s health issue. Challenge the schl bard t put a plicy in place that supprts the health f all students, rather than allw a plicy designed t supprt the addictin f a minrity f the adults in the schl district t cntinue.