You've come a long way, babies

Thirty years ago today, the minuscule minority of Quebecers who didn't smoke were up in arms by reports that parents were authorizing their elementary-school children to smoke cigarettes at school.
Here's a rough translation of one report by Le Chimples:But for the most part, the millions who continued to enjoy fine tobacco products just lit up another Mark Ten, shrugged an approving, Hmmm and turned the page.


The ultimate irresponsibilityPARENTS GIVING CHILDREN WRITTEN PERMISSION TO SMOKE AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLLe Petit Journal
Pp. 5, 10 Sept. 1977

AS the federal health ministry has been working on commendable long-term efforts to discourage people from smoking, it comes as disturbing news that others are systematically undermining the good WORK of preventing the dangers of tobacco.

That's the view of the Catholic schools of Montreal where, we recently discovered to our shock and dismay, that some major institutions complain that they don't know how to respond to letters from parents authorizing their elementary-school children to smoke.

At last we have seen it all. Such interference is both scandalous and unthinkable on the part of irresponsible parents who seem to have no idea what harm they can cause their offspring, who face the risk of cancer and all the illnesses that can result from the frequent use of tobacco, the "killer weed."