The National Jewish Welfare Board reported today that, because smoking is considered a harmful habit for young people, a ban on smoking was instituted last week for the 2, 300 teenage members of clubs meeting at the Jewish Community Centers Association of St. Louis. Until recently the youngsters could smoke in teen lounges but nowhere else in the Center facilities.
I. E. Millstone, president of the St. Louis agency, said the action was taken because of the Centers’ sense of responsibility to the young people in its charge. He pointed out that Center officials felt that they had to maintain standards on behalf of their younger members, despite parental permission which may have been given for smoking elsewhere.
The new ruling was adopted as a result of a petition by the Centers’ Senior High Council asking that smoking privileges be broadened. The Council was asked to prepare a program on the pros and cons of smoking. After a consideration of the findings presented at the program, it was decided that smoking is “a harmful habit” which youngsters should not develop, and the Centers’ board ruled against teenagers smoking on the Centers’ property or at Center functions.
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