Cigarettes on School Property, Would You Say Something?

I would have said something. Then again, parents who smoke make me ill with their selfishness. I hate smoking, I'm probably not the person to ask.

You could have said "There's a pretty strict policy about smoking on or near the grounds, just thought I'd let ya know"... and that's about all you could do.

No, I wouldn't say anything. You don't work for the school. It's a school rule and it's up to school administration to handle any rule breaking. It would be fine, however, for you to let admiinistration know that parents are smoking on school grounds. You don't have any authority there.

I am a smoker and I would NEVER smoke on school property!! I dont smoke anywhere near my kids, they dont even know I smoke.

Im sorry, its very inappropriate to smoke on school grounds. What a great example to set for your children and others!

People are crazy, I wouldnt say anything to them yourself, please tell staff about this, if they dont do anything about it, please tell them AGAIN!

Totally with you!

Maybe she had a really terrible morning! Don't be a busybody. If it's an ongoing issue, a school official will say simething to her. It doesn't sound like you were forced to breathe her smoke, so that means it's really none of your business. In the future if you do say something to skmeone in tjis type of situation, prepare to get your butt chewed out!

I have to disagree with Kathy. Smoking IS a big deal.

My daughter has Cystic Fibrosis and cigarette smoke puts her health in jeopardy.

Ms. Smoker has no right to smoke on school property. She has no right to subject my daughter (or any other child) to her 2nd hand smoke when trying to get to school. I would have said something to her.

It is time that smokers show some consideration for the people around them who have to breathe in the smoke they are blowing out. Some smokers are considerate, but MANY are not which is why laws unfortunately end up having to be put in place to protect people.

I think that it is really bad manners to smoke on school property knowing that it is not allowed. I don't really understand the pull of such a nasty habit. However, I would not have said something directly. If anything, I would bring it to the attention of a staff member to address.

Unless I were a school security officer I wouldn't think it was any of my business.

I might have said, "I'm not sure you are aware, but it's actually against the school policy for anyone to be smoking here, just thought I would let you know." I don't know though, depends on the situation, if it was crowded, if I would have to walk through a bunch of kids to do it and make a scene... I probably would have kept quiet, and instead pointed it out to a teacher. Aren't teachers usually out in front of the school welcoming ids in?

Yes. I would say something. I would also point it out to a school staff member.

Your lucky your school district has such a great policy. Our school district does not and allows parents to smoke on the school grounds. What I can't stand that immediately following a concert, play or awards ceremony there are several people right outside the front door smoking.

I would have been a brat and started to cough and make a production. I'd wave my hand in my face. Just be a butt. I'll fully admit it. Why? Because if I confront her head on I know more than likely, because I'm allergic to smoke and get really sick of seeing people smoke so I've done it all, that if I say something more than likely she'll scream from the trees her rights to smoke. blah blah blah! I do however know that 100% of the time when I act like a giant baby and make a production they get the point and I'd say I've got a 90% chance she'll put the thing out. Otherwise I can talk very loudly to my child about the perils of smoking and how it's a bad decision.

Hey I know I'm a brat but it works the vast majority of the time and with this method I've never had anybody every say anything directly to me. I know not all smokers are bad people but in my experience someone who is jerky enough to be smoking at a school pry is.

I'm one of those people that smokers probably hate, because yes, I would have said something. Absolutely. In fact, I work at a public university and smokers must be 30 feet away from any building on campus. When they aren't, I directly remind them of the rules. I'm not rude about it, however.

Leave it school staff and anyone that doesn't smoke always has a problem with it. I would not smoke at school and I don't smoke with my kids around but its a never ending tit for tat. Imo its a free country for both of you and if your gonna complain tell the school. Like you said who would be the bigger nuisance? The smoker or the lady pisssing the smoker off and causing a tiff? Good luck mama!

I actually find myself forced with this dillemma every single Tuesday evening when I pick up my daughters from childcare (which is held in an elementary school building). It is a private school, but a school none the less, but it happens to host a bingo night EVERY Tuesday. Which means that I must walk through a pack of them to get in the door (they aren't allowed in the building before childcare is officially closed.) IMO the school is exaserbating the problem by putting empty cans outside the door for smokers to deposit their butts in! Now, I only have one more school year at this school before my youngest moves on to Kindergarten at a different school, but I still feel VERY irritated. I can deal with the lack of parking, but this is a REAL issue. When I mentioned it the first time to fellow parents, they just laughed and said there is nothing they can do and they've been trying for years. WOW!

I would not have, assuming she wasn't puffing in my face. People are selfish and self-absorbedand there is a millions things going on at that school - people cutting into carpool, people tailgating into school without showing id, people sending their kids to school with illnesses. I would pick my battles. It's lousy behavior, but it probably would have no effect. As for my child observing such behavior, well, smoking is real - people do it, and I would rather take it as a teaching moment about it being dangerous, and addictive and a struggle for so many, than to waste my breath on some one with clearly bad judgment.

I wish I was the kind of person who would say something, but I wouldn't have.

I am smoker, fairly heavily, but I am also annoyed by many smokers behavior. I am the one darting around, trying to hide, so strangers kids don't see me. I pick up other peoples butts off the play grounds and have been known to go into rages over tossed butts out of cars.

This reminded me of when my mom walked out of open house was not even out the door yet and was lighting up, I just about died. had to keep my cool and gently remind her that things are way different now. No more smoking at school. It is kind of weird when you think about it, when I was a kid it was common place to have people outside the school smoking.

I would have said something because I have a son with asthma and when he is exposed he starts hacking and wheezing! Not cool because someone was stressed out and couldn't wait to cross school boundaries for their smoke (that is shared with anyone within close proximity).

I would alert the principal, but not approach her myself. I would also use her as an example to my kids of someone using poor judgement.

This reminded me of high school in the 80s. When students could smoke outside all they wanted (myself included - but have been smoke free a long time). And on rainy days, you could smoke inside in the vestibule.

I can't imagine HS without smoking. Yes, I know it's good that they don't allow it anymore but this post brought back memories. When a hot guy was outside smoking, you could go out there and smoke with him and chat. :)

Sadly, there are some people out there who need professional help and could fly off the handle at you (and I'm not talking about the 50% of parents who think their kids are smarter than the rest of the world or the 25% parents who think their kids misbehave because they are too smart for the class, I'm talking about the 1% who really need help.) She's already shown Very poor judgement so she could be in that 1%. Unless you can point to a sign and shrug like "not for my fault, sure wish we could light up", I recommend leaving it for staff. If you see it again tell the principal there is a woman smoking near the front(side) door in the AM.

Our hospitals are smoke-free campus wide, which means that technically you aren't even supposed to smoke in your car in the parking lot... we were visiting my SIL there and saw a lady smoking in front of the building standing in front of the 'smoke-free campus' sign. my BIL took her picture.

I could see if it were near a fireworks stand. I worked one this past holiday and had to remind several people about the policy, but in this case Its an issue for the staff. Otherwise you're just being nosy.

i would probably have said something. I have done that before - a couple of times at sporting events when people are smoking outside the school or near the football field!

GrandmaT and Momma L said what I would say. If I was near the person, I might give a friendly reminder of the school policy. If she was far away, and I was busy, I wouldnt bother unless I see it happen several times. With it being the first day, I figure none of us are used to all the rules and it might have skipped her mind but she will remember later when the routine is, routine. But with all the confusion and newness of the first day, I wouldnt bother. Next week, yes. But in a friendly way. Im not going to jump down her throat and scream about the rules and detriment to health.

I wouldn't have said anything. You don't know what she has on her plate before getting to the school. It may have been a horrible morning, week, month and maybe it was her "babies" first day of kindergarten and that is what she needed to keep it together for those few minutes of dropping her child off. Give her credit for even being there to take her child to school some don't even take the time to do that. Or who knows, maybe she is one of those rude smokers that dont care where they are and light up. So saying anything wouldn't make a difference anyways. Either way its done and even if there is a next time, I would look the other way then also.

It may sound crazy but yes her taking those two or three puffs before getting to the door would have calmed her nerves that maybe she needed. Lets just hope she put it in the ashtray instead of on the ground for a kid to pick up... I would be more worried about that one... and yes Im a smoker. Just not a rude one.