Vaping in MS - Is Your MS Proactive About This?

[Anonymous]

I recognize that this is not a problem unique to MCPS and that kids all over vape in MS. And that this occurs in higher SES schools just as much as in lower.

But it really feels like it is out.of.control.

DD tells me there are kids vaping in the hallways. She claims you can sometimes even smell it as you walk down the hallway. She hates going into the bathrooms and basically holds it unless it’s an emergency.

What do your MSers say about this?

Is there anything the schools can do? I know our MS does try to have teachers around in the hallway and there are cameras, but I don’t get much of a sense of enforcement.

[Anonymous]

vaping in the hallways? how is this permitted?? doesn't anyone notice? that's insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:vaping in the hallways? how is this permitted?? doesn't anyone notice? that's insane.

That is what I’m trying to gauge. Is this just how MS is. Kind of like how kids used to smoke in the boys room, etc.

Vaping is much easier to hide than smoking cigarettes.

We’re at a nonW school so not sure if it’s worse or better than other MSs.

[Anonymous]

If they are vaping in the hallways, it's not like they are just standing around openly vaping. They're sneaking puffs and exhaling into a jacket or something. The thrill is to do it and not get caught. Total middle school mindset. Adults will of course stop it if they find out, but look at the ratio of adults to kids in a building- far more kids in semi-supervised spaces during transitions than adults can possibly monitor.

If it is a real issue, bring it up with administration and brainstorm ideas where the PTA could help out. Even just having additional adults in the halls occasionally can quell some behaviors.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if they could use video cameras with pattern recognition or something like that to pick up offenders. I'd imagine this is an issue across the nation. I hate to think of my kids breathing second hand vaping byproducts...

[Anonymous]

Are there consequences if a student is caught vaping at school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if they could use video cameras with pattern recognition or something like that to pick up offenders. I'd imagine this is an issue across the nation. I hate to think of my kids breathing second hand vaping byproducts...

But you're ok with video cameras with facial/pattern recognition in school hallways?

[Anonymous]

at least the county is outlawing flavored juul.

[Anonymous]

A Juul is relatively small and flat. It can be palmed so that it’s not visible. A kid takes a puff and then stuffs it back in a pocket, bag, or locker. Depending on the size of the puff and light conditions, the exhaled vapor may not even be particularly visible at a distance.

Being in the hallways is helpful but not always practical. Teachers need the bathrooms, a chance to have a few minutes of conversation with students who need extra help/attention, a moment to respond to administration emails, an opportunity to set up for the next class, etc. during the time between bells.

Camera surveillance might fill it where teachers cannot, but then adults would have to search student belongings and/or pants pockets after the fact (which can get into tricky issues). If a student anticipated the search at all, he or she would just chuck the device somewhere and make a scene about the search itself. If the search was successful, the repurchase cost of vaping accessories is not particularly high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A Juul is relatively small and flat. It can be palmed so that it’s not visible. A kid takes a puff and then stuffs it back in a pocket, bag, or locker. Depending on the size of the puff and light conditions, the exhaled vapor may not even be particularly visible at a distance.

Being in the hallways is helpful but not always practical. Teachers need the bathrooms, a chance to have a few minutes of conversation with students who need extra help/attention, a moment to respond to administration emails, an opportunity to set up for the next class, etc. during the time between bells.

Camera surveillance might fill it where teachers cannot, but then adults would have to search student belongings and/or pants pockets after the fact (which can get into tricky issues). If a student anticipated the search at all, he or she would just chuck the device somewhere and make a scene about the search itself. If the search was successful, the repurchase cost of vaping accessories is not particularly high.

Agree that these are definitely part of the challenges.

I think camera would be useful so that there’s proof versus just a teacher making an allegation.

Don’t think having parent volunteers in the hallway would accomplish anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recognize that this is not a problem unique to MCPS and that kids all over vape in MS. And that this occurs in higher SES schools just as much as in lower.

But it really feels like it is out.of.control.

DD tells me there are kids vaping in the hallways. She claims you can sometimes even smell it as you walk down the hallway. She hates going into the bathrooms and basically holds it unless it’s an emergency.

What do your MSers say about this?

Is there anything the schools can do? I know our MS does try to have teachers around in the hallway and there are cameras, but I don’t get much of a sense of enforcement.

Ridicule and caning are effective deterrents.

[Anonymous]

The administration talked to the kids about it. My son and his friends never vaped, and did not detect much vaping going on.

It must depend on the middle school. He was at the one closest to NIH, with a lot of scientist parents, so kids knew it wasn't great for their health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recognize that this is not a problem unique to MCPS and that kids all over vape in MS. And that this occurs in higher SES schools just as much as in lower.

But it really feels like it is out.of.control.

DD tells me there are kids vaping in the hallways. She claims you can sometimes even smell it as you walk down the hallway. She hates going into the bathrooms and basically holds it unless it’s an emergency.

What do your MSers say about this?

Is there anything the schools can do? I know our MS does try to have teachers around in the hallway and there are cameras, but I don’t get much of a sense of enforcement.

Ridicule and caning are effective deterrents.

I feel like most of the kids who have a decent head on their shoulders know how stupid it is to vape. So, maybe those kids can ridicule the kids who are vaping so that it becomes less 'cool'? Though, likely the kids who do vape are addicted and the ridicule will not be an effective deterrent.