Last year senior Corey Crowther was caught with chewing tobacco for the first time. His punishment was somewhat unconventional.

“I had to swallow it,” said Crowther. “It felt like maggots crawling down my throat.”

According to the Springdale School District’s Student Handbook, the punishment for the first offense of tobacco use in school is three days of suspension. The second offense punishment is five days suspension and warning of expulsion. If a student is caught a third time, that student will be expelled for the remainder of the semester.

“State law prohibits smoking or use of tobacco or products containing tobacco in any form in or on any property owned including school buses,” which is found on page 84 of the District Policies Handbook.

Another student, senior Joey Dawson, was also turned in for the use of tobacco.

“I got in trouble last year and I got three days of out of school suspension (OSS). I was bummed because I was way behind in school,” he said.

Apart from breaking the law, students who choose to use tobacco products at school also are in violation of the school rules. Teachers who catch students using these products at school have a policy to follow.

“I would take the student ID and refer them to their class’ principal,” said English teacher Elizabeth Wheeler. “If possible, I’d take them to the office straight away.”

The question of why students choose to use tobacco still remains. And to further the question, why bring it to school? Some of these students feel that it helps their learning process.

“It relieves stress,” said Dawson. “I focus on academics more than anything when I have it at school.”

“It calms me down. I think I have ADD or ADHD, so I always have to be doing something. It helps me out,” said Crowther.

Tobacco is a cause of concern for the health of these students as well. Tobacco can cause oral and lung cancers, ruins taste buds, and makes users more susceptible to gum, heart, and lung disease according to information from the school nurse Janet Gershner.

“My father died in March of 2000. He smoked cigarettes from age 15 to age 60. He quit smoking, and five years later was diagnosed with lung cancer that had already spread to his brain and bones,” she said. “He suffered through 17 months of chemotherapy and radiation before he died at 65. Cigarettes took my father from me. Please don’t start, and if you already smoke or use smokeless tobacco, quit.”

Along with Mrs. Gershner, other teachers worry for their students’ health.

“I worry for my students who use tobacco because I know it’s a dangerous path for their health and future,” said Mrs.Wheeler.

The rules are made very clear about school policy in the first week of school. Students are aware of the rules, although some may question the lack of tolerance.

“I understand the punishments, but I don’t think they’re fair because I’m not polluting the air or anyone else around me, and I’m not causing a disruption or harming anyone,” said Dawson.

According to assistant principal Michael Shepherd, approximately 10-12 students are turned in each year for tobacco use in school. Smokeless tobacco is of greater concern, as not as many students are smoking as they are dipping. The school’s main step for prevention is education.

“I think education is the biggest piece in that, making sure students understand the natural consequences. It’s becoming less of a problem over the years because it’s less socially cool to be a smoker than it once was,” said Dr. Shepherd.