To strengthen security, high school principals once again allowed high school students to smoke in establishments. An authorization that violates the regulations in force.
Since the terrorist attacks of November 13, 2015 in Paris, France has lived to the rhythm of the state of emergency. And high schools are no exception. To strengthen security in schools, some directors of general or vocational high schools have once again authorized high school students to smoke within these establishments. The controversy swells …
“No, it’s not a joke”, explained to the daily The world, Michel Richard, Deputy Secretary General of the National Union of National Education Management Personnel (SNPDEN). The main union of heads of schools in fact asked the government on February 2 to allow smoking inside high schools, in order to prevent the risk of an attack.
But without waiting for the official response from the authorities, some heads of establishments have already plunged into a breach. That offered by the Ministry of National Education which published, at the end of November, a circular (n ° 2015-206) indicating that in high school, “specific areas can be set up within schools in open air spaces to prevent students from leaving high school during interclasses”. This fear is all the more amplified since in recent days, telephone threats against high schools in Paris and Lyon have multiplied.
Evin law not respected
For many associations of tobacco control, the interpretation made of this text by the principals is, on the one hand, dangerous, on the other hand, illegal. In a statement, the National Association for Prevention in Alcoholology and Addictology (ANPAA) writes that “this authorization directly violates the regulations in force which totally prohibits students and staff from smoking in the premises of establishments and from arranging reserved spaces. smokers, including in uncovered areas ”.
By contravening this provision of the Evin law, establishments are even exposed to a 750 euros fine and smokers to 450 euros.
To drive the point home, the ANPAA recalls that the prevalence of smoking among young people is high enough “so that we do not let our guard down”. A recent survey highlighted that 44% of 17-year-olds say they have smoked in the previous month and 32.5% already smoke regularly.
Faced with these figures, the ANPAA officially asked Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the Minister of National Education, to organize “quickly a consultation meeting with all the associations fighting addictions, the principals, the Ministry of Health and MILDECA (2) and to firmly remind those in charge of high schools that the necessary safety of pupils must not be at the expense of their health ”.
Discord between ministries
These anti-smoking activists have already received the support of the Minister of Health, Marisol Touraine, and prominent doctors involved in the fight against tobacco. Among them, the famous pulmonologist, Bertrand Dautzenberg, who, on his Twitter account, recently wrote: “teachers ask for a smoking room in high school courses, I say” no “. (Because of this measure Editor’s note)), 3 high school students per class will die of tobacco 22 years too early. It is illegitimate to allow smoking in high schools in the name of safety. Safety is zero smokers in establishments, ”he hammered.
(2) Interministerial mission to combat drugs and addictive behavior
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