Vice Principal UnOfficed
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Join host Lisa Hill, a retired vice principal as she shares her funny, wild, and sometimes woeful public education school stories that will not only leave you feeling like you’re listening to a comedy special, but wondering how the American K12 educational system endures.
Hill is a former teacher, school counselor, college professor, and vice principal who never planned on having a career in education. But, thanks to her father, god rest his soul, she did!
So, listen in as Lisa Hill reveals the crazy and entertaining K12 school antics that she experienced during her lengthly career in public education And who knows? You might just pick up a little nugget of knowledge along the way.
Vice Principal UnOfficed
Vape Quakes & Cigarette Breaks!
Join host Lisa Hill as she shares the nicotine nonsense that happens during the school day. Whether it be in the school bathroom, classroom, or office, vaping and smoking in school happens on a daily basis. Seriously, despite it being illegal to smoke anything in a K12 school, there is always someone who sneaks a puff or a drag during the school day.
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Where's your kid headed after high school? We are from carpool to college two accomplished educators, college and career consultants and parents who guide families through the entire journey from freshman year planning to senior year success. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2:On this episode of Vice Principal Unofficed. Join me your host, lisa Hill, as I share the nicotine nonsense that happens during the school day, whether it be in the school bathroom, classroom or office. Vaping and smoking in school happens on a daily basis. Seriously, despite it being illegal to smoke anything in AK-12 school, there is always someone who sneaks off for a puff or a drag during the school day. So let's get laughing and learning. Attention students, I mean listeners. The stories in this podcast are told from the host's personal and varsical point of view. All names and identifiers have been omitted or altered to protect identities. Now get to class and enjoy the show. Hello folks, welcome back to Vice Principal Unauficed. I hope you're all doing well. Before we jump into today's episode, I've got a couple of quick things to share. First, if you didn't know, vice Principal on Office won Best Comedy Podcast from the Women Podcasting Network. A huge thanks to Jennifer Hensel and the Women Podcasters Network for sponsoring the awards and, of course, a massive shout out to you, our amazing listeners, supporters and the whole podcasting community for tuning in, sharing laughs and embracing the wonderfully weird world of school life behind the scenes. Second, this podcasting journey has connected me with some incredible fellow educators who were also out there creating great content for the educational community. I've added links to their shows on the Vice Principal Unafficed website, so make sure to check them out. From Carpool to College with Tracy and Tara, and Control Shift Lead with Jim and Adam these podcasts are packed with great educational messages and fresh perspectives you'll love.
Speaker 2:All right, let's dive into today's episode. As you may have guessed from the title of this episode, I'm going to be talking about smoking and vaping in schools. But to get there, I've going to be talking about smoking and vaping in schools. But to get there, I've got to start from the beginning. I think I told you in an earlier episode that my dad was a heavy smoker. Honestly, I can only remember a very short period of time in my life when he was not smoking, and you can probably guess when that was. Anyway, when I was little, my dad didn't just smoke cigarettes, he would also light up cigars while playing gin rummy with my great uncle. And I've got to admit, I loved the smell of those cigars. The cigarettes not so much, but those cigars. Their cherry, woodsy smell reminded me of walking through the woods. So, naturally, little me assumed that if those cigars smelled so good, then they had to taste good too. But holy shit, was I wrong? One night, after the end of a gin rummy game, I begged my dad to let me try a puff of his cigar, and his answer and my mom's was always a hard no. And it was that night too. But as kids do, I wore him down. So to probably just shut me up, my dad handed me the cigar and let me take a puff. The result Instant throw up All over my mom's fairly new carpet. You know that carpet, the one I set on fire. Episode 10, if you need a refresher.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that throw-up moment ended my need for a smoke break for at least a little while. Well, that and the time a kid in my second grade class brought a whole carton of cigarettes to school. Good old Zigsby McGee. My seven-year-old brain was like what just happened. But our teacher, she was on another level. She was so mad I swear the veins in her forehead formed into the word Nope, because in her world a second grader bringing a carton of cigarettes to school is like a Class A felony. Now, looking back, I have no idea what Sixby McGee planned to do with that carton of cigarettes Sell them at recess, hand them out like Halloween candy, birthday treats, who knows. And while the story is funny, it's also kind of sad, Like who was watching Sixby McGee at home and whatever happened to that kid, because after second grade I never saw Sixby McGee again.
Speaker 2:And speaking of childhood smoking memories, I'll never forget the first time I got to peek into the teacher's lounge. You know how when you're a little kid you think your teachers are basically gods, like they don't eat, sleep or go to the bathroom basically gods, like they don't eat, sleep or go to the bathroom. They just exist to teach and occasionally yell at Zig Zieg McGee. Well, one day on my way to the girls' restroom, I spotted a golden opportunity. The staff lounge door was cracked open and when I thought no one was watching I had to look. So I leaned in and peeked through the tiniest gap and there it was A teacher Mid-bite cigarette in hand. My seven-year-old mind was absolutely blown. It was like catching Santa Claus at a drive-thru. Blown it was like catching Santa Claus at a drive-thru, kind of like. My second grade teacher's brain probably exploded when Sixby McGee strolled in with what looked like a whole tobacco distribution center in his backpack. Who knew smoking in school could be such a source of childhood excitement.
Speaker 2:When I was in high school I once got in trouble for taking too long in the bathroom. I swear hell isn't gone for more than 10 minutes and trust me, I know when kids are milking a bathroom pass 10 minutes is not milking it. God, I hate it when teachers pull that Like. Have you seen how long it takes teachers to use the restroom, especially when they're trapped in professional development? Please Wait, where was I? Oh, okay, so important story context here.
Speaker 2:Smoking was banned at my high school, but when this very compassionate teacher scolded me for my extended bathroom break, I told her look, I had to use a different bathroom, the one near your classroom. That girl's bathroom is the smoking bathroom. It was always packed and it reeked. I'm talking about a full-blown cocktail of Love's Baby Soft perfume, bonnie Bell lip smackers and cigarettes Ah, the teenage 80s fragrance. Anyway, at first this warm-hearted educator didn't believe me. So I told her go check it out for yourself, and she did. Her go check it out for yourself, and she did.
Speaker 2:Apparently, the adults in the building had no idea that students had unofficially designated certain bathrooms as student smoking lounges, like unless your sniffer was completely broken. You couldn't miss the ashtray fog that slapped you in the face when you walked down that hall. Good lord, sometimes teachers are clueless. Not to mention, some of the girls in that bathroom scared me a little bit. I didn't want to get beat up. I mean I was cool, but not smoking in the bathroom cool, but not smoking in the bathroom cool.
Speaker 2:Now I'll admit, as a kid I never smoked at school, probably because the girls' smoking bathroom was terrifying. But I did give cigarettes a try in high school. My best friend and I thought we were so grown up we went to a drive-in, lit up some cigarettes and munched on Reese's, the cigarettes, or the brilliant combination of both. It surely wasn't the Reese's Pieces, but that was the end of my regular cigarettes and Reese's Pieces for me. The champagne, however, still a yes, the drier the better. And because you know me, I wasn't totally swayed by my earlier tobacco tragedies In college I gave it one more go. I tried clove cigarettes. I even gave cigars another shot. I could actually blow smoke rings, but only under the influence of alcohol. Ah, the 80s. I was cool, but as it turns out, I really wasn't. I threw up Again and that, folks was truly the end of my tobacco journey. Oh, Lisa Ann.
Speaker 2:Sorry, mom, but that's what happened. I know you think I'm perfect, but let's just move on with the show. Okay, let me just say if you're a smoker, no judgment. And if you're not a smoker, same no judgment either way. Now my dad he smoked a lot, but he also grew up in a time when smoking wasn't just normal, it was practically expected. He was born in 1930, and back then nearly every adult in his life smoked.
Speaker 2:According to the Stanford research into the impact of tobacco advertising. According to the Stanford research into the impact of tobacco advertising, tobacco companies were pushing their product hard in the 1920s and 30s. They created ads that didn't just allow smoking. They made it look healthy, sophisticated and downright patriotic. While I was doing research for this episode, I came across an ad featuring a doctor holding a cigarette while claiming that smoking helped soothe throat irritation and coughs. Last I checked, smoking caused throat irritation, coughs and, you know, cancer. But sure, doc, light it up. I also found a US military ad promoting cigarettes for soldiers. And get this. During World War II, american soldiers received more free cigarettes per day than they did toilet paper. I'm not kidding. The US government was basically like cleanliness, optional Nicotine mandatory.
Speaker 2:It wasn't until the 1970s that cigarette use started to decline in the US and honestly, I can't help but wonder what was going on in this country before then. All right, maybe it had something to do with the fact that many women just lit up Virginia Slim and stayed quiet, because women didn't have a lot of decision power. Before the 1970s, seriously, women couldn't even get a credit card in their own name. Schools barely played women's sports, but they were allowed to smoke. Ironically, once women started gaining real rights, like financial freedom and visibility in society, thanks to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974, that's when the tobacco industry began to change. Coincidence? Eh, probably not, because, let's be real, mom always knows best.
Speaker 2:Anyway, back to my dad. He started smoking in the Navy, which makes sense, knowing what we know about how the military practically handed out cigarettes like candy. And like many people from his generation, he didn't quit until he had to. Speaking of wild times, did you know? People used to smoke inside hospitals, like inside the actual patient rooms. It didn't matter if you were a doctor, a visitor or the person hooked up to the oxygen tank. You could smoke. I mean, nothing says healing environment like a cloud of marlboro fog hovering over someone recovering from surgery, ether rubbing alcohol, an open flame what could possibly go wrong? But here's the point of today's episode.
Speaker 2:Like the rest of society, remember, k-12 schools are a microcosm of our society. So for many decades high schoolers could smoke in their school. Yep, many high schools in the US actually had designated student smoking lounges. Why? Because there was no federal minimum age to possess or smoke tobacco. State laws were all over the place and in many places it wasn't even illegal for teens to smoke places it wasn't even illegal for teens to smoke. Like what the hell people? How much money was the US government making from big tobacco back then?
Speaker 2:Now, believe it or not, k-12 education was actually ahead of the curve. In the 1980s, many school districts banned smoking inside their buildings before they even had to. So by the time I hit high school, student smoking lounges were starting to go away. But, believe it or not, it wasn't until 1994 that the federal government finally banned smoking in all K-12 schools through the Pro-Children Act. Basically, if your school received federal money, you had to go cold turkey on the cigarettes. But here's the twist as cigarette smoking rates dropped in the 1980s, cocaine use hit an all-time high. So we had these new anti-smoking ads, but no one was saying don't do drugs. Yet that didn't happen until Nancy Reagan showed up with her Just Say no campaign. See what I mean? The 80s were wild.
Speaker 2:So why am I telling you all of this? Because even though smoking was banned in K-12 schools decades ago, students, and sometimes the adults, still break the damn rule, which means I've got stories. Oh, do I have stories? When I started my career in K-12 education, I knew people were going to smoke inside the school Duh, whether it was adults or students. It was bound to happen. But when smoking was completely banned in schools back in 1994, I thought naively that at least the adults would follow the law. Yeah, I really misjudged that one.
Speaker 2:Because then came vaping. Now I've never vaped. Honestly, it kind of scares me. I don't know what's in those little cartridges and I've seen what kids try to refill them with with what God only knows. I've also watched both colleagues and students who were clearly desperate for a nicotine fix bolt to the nearest exit. The second the dismissal bell rang, just to take a few frantic puffs and finally exhale like they'd been holding their breath all day. Frantic puffs and finally exhale like they'd been holding their breath all day, which is why I titled this episode Vape Quakes and Cigarette Breaks. Of course I really wanted to call this episode.
Speaker 2:Vaping or smoking at school is like catching the lunch lady eating pizza rolls. It's wrong, but somehow you understand Because, seriously, folks, smoking anything at school is just more shit. You can't make up. And yes, mom, I know Sorry for the language, so let me tell you some smoking stories. Stories Remember when I shared the story about my first teaching partner, the one who smoked and napped in their office? If not, go back and listen to episode one.
Speaker 2:Anyway, the district we worked for wasn't exactly known for forward thinking. Change only happened when it was forced by parents, the community or because the law required it. God forbid anyone come up with their own idea. So when the school finally announced that staff could no longer smoke in their classrooms you know where the students might actually be present they decided to offer teachers an alternative space to get their nicotine fix. And where in the school did they choose for this new smoking lounge? Wait for it, the boiler room. Yep, wait for it, the boiler room. Yep, that hot, poorly ventilated space full of combustibles like gas and oil. That's where they moved the teacher smoking lounge. You had to climb down a narrow set of stairs just to get there. I went there once and immediately thought nope, never again. I could already hear my safety director dad, lecturing me about how insanely dangerous it was to be smoking in the boiler room. Hey, motley Crue, I got a new version of a song for you. Where was I? Alright? Like I said earlier, most states have laws that prohibit smoking on school grounds. That means schools don't allow smoking anywhere on their property, inside or out. Eventually, every district I worked for followed that law. The result I worked for followed that law. The result Some adults in the building followed the rule and some absolutely did not.
Speaker 2:Now you'd think educators, people who are literally supposed to model good behavior for students yeah, you would think those people would be on board with following school rules, especially the ones tied to health and safety. I mean, K-12 schools are out here teaching kids how to live healthy lifestyles. But hey, whatever floats your boat, grownups and if you're human which, if you're listening to this podcast, I assume you are then you know there's always that one co-worker, the one who fully understands the rule or mandate but somehow doesn't think that applies to them. So they either flat out break it or find a way to tiptoe right up to the edge. To tiptoe right up to the edge.
Speaker 2:I once had the pleasure of working with a group of bus drivers who, without fail, would arrive at the school parking lot a good 20 to 30 minutes before their afternoon shift. Rain, shine, heat or cold, it didn't matter. They'd park their buses right by the school front doors, then gather in a little huddle just off school grounds to jabber away and sneak in one last smoke break before their afternoon routes. And honestly, I can't say I blame them. Can you even imagine driving around a bus full of smelly surly adolescents at the end of a long school day? I'm sure that nicotine fix felt less like a habit and more like survival. And, to be fair, the bus drivers were technically following the school rules no smoking on school property. But the spot the bus drivers picked to smoke, right on the main street, which coincidentally is also where the school playground sat is also where the school playground sat. Yes, there were times when students were on the playground while the bus driver puff posse took place. Then again, I say good for them.
Speaker 2:The bus drivers didn't seem the least bit concerned about what anyone thought of their little puff posse. And let's be honest, it was probably better than having a group of full-blown assholes trying to drive a bunch of annoying parents' precious little cherubs home. See what I did there Ash holes. I thought it was funny. Okay, moving on, I swear there must be some kind of unspoken bond between co-workers who smoke on the job, because no matter what school I worked in, there was always a little team, much like the bus drivers, who would sneak off together for their daily smoke break. Maybe being in the school smoke club was like joining a wannabe comedian's open mic. You know, each person gets their turn up on stage and shares their latest strange but true school story, while the rest nod and say same buddy, we got you. Or maybe not, but seriously, staff smokers always seem to have this special kind of camaraderie.
Speaker 2:I didn't work directly with this next group, but I couldn't help noticing this puff posse of paraprofessionals ooh say that three times fast managed to leave the school grounds together for their smoke break a couple times a day, five days a week. The paraprofessional puff party, or the PPP, had a dedicated spot too. They'd gather under a bridge by the town railroad tracks for their little puff party. And, just like the bus drivers, the PPP didn't care about the weather, the noise of passing trains or the fact that the school windows gave a perfect view of their smoke circle, though what always baffled me was how they took their smoke break all at once. Break all at once, I mean. Paraprofessionals are hired to support students, especially ones who need extra help that a classroom teacher can't always provide. So who exactly was with the kids during these bridge side puff breaks? Apparently no one, and apparently it didn't matter because nobody ever seemed to complain. And then there was the teacher I worked with who was, let's say, not in great health and never believed school rules applied to them. So when the federal smoking ban came down, this teacher responded with a simple hell no. And instead took their planning period to sit in their car in the school parking lot and puff away like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Speaker 2:Time out Yep, here it comes again. Oh my God, people, planning time is work time. I don't know how many times I've had to say this. No, you cannot use your planning time to get your nails done. No, you cannot use your planning time to run out for a quick haircut. No, you cannot use your planning time to squeeze in your daily three mile run just because you're too busy after work. Planning time is exactly what it sounds like Time to plan. It's part of your paid work day set aside so you can prepare quality instruction, whatever that might look like, so your students can actually learn something. If planning time was supposed to be break time, then schools would have called it break time. Okay, I'm done. Back to my smoking story. Okay, I'm done Back to my smoking story.
Speaker 2:So here's the funny part of this smoking teacher story. This teacher always claimed they drove off of school grounds to smoke their cigarettes. Yeah, that was about the farthest from the truth as you can get, because one day, while I was on parking lot duty which honestly was much better than lunch duty I spotted this teacher sitting in their car. They were leaned back in the seat with their eyes closed. Now, keep in mind I said this teacher wasn't exactly in the best of health. I knocked on the window no response. Knocked again Still nothing. I called their name and again, still nothing.
Speaker 2:At this point panic started to set in. Was this teacher dead? I had no idea. So I left my post of parking lot duty and ran inside to grab my fellow vice principal yes, the same guy who almost killed me in a fire. If you want that story, check out episode 10. Anyway, we ran back out to the car and thank goodness this ornery teacher was just sound asleep and apparently hard of hearing. Honestly, I shouldn't have been surprised by this, because this was the same teacher who refused to wear shoes at the graduation ceremony because they'd sunburn their feet. See, you just can't make this shit up. See, you just can't make this shit up. All in all, I guess I should be thankful for the co-workers who at least smoked outside, because after the official smoking ban in schools, another building I worked in struggled like hell to make over their old teacher smoking lounge. So this old smoking lounge, well, it sat right across from the school cafeteria and yeah, I know what some of you are thinking. While I was stuck doing stupid lunch duty, the smoking crew was just across the hall living their best life, laughing, eating, puffing away and tossing me the occasional wave Ash holes.
Speaker 2:Eventually, the school got with the program and shut the smoking lounge down to be in compliance with federal law. The school leaders then had a brilliant idea to turn this stale, smoke-stained room into a second staff lounge, because clearly a tiny school with barely enough time for one staff break absolutely needs two school lounges. Sure, whatever. Now, keep in mind this was way before HGTV made makeovers cool. There was no Trading Spaces, miracles or Extreme Makeover Room Edition with Ty Pennington happening here.
Speaker 2:The renovation, basically, the custodians slapped a new coat of paint over the porous cement block walls and called it a day. But here's what the school leaders didn't account for. What happens in an old, un-air-conditioned smoker's lounge? When it gets hot, the walls bleed. Hot, the walls bleed. I'm talking yellowish goo, which was actually nicotine and tar oozing right through the paint, making the room look and smell like a chain-smoking ashtray from 1972.
Speaker 2:Now I'm sure there's some industrial strength cleaner out there that could strip that nastiness from the walls and you'd think a school custodian could track some down. But no, that would require effort and thinking Like finding the product, asking administration for permission, waiting on budget approval, placing an order approval, placing an order, then actually using the stuff properly. Oh, hear me out. The custodian could have run down to the local hardware store and bought it for half price, but no, that would make too much sense in K-12 education. So the solution Just paint over the gunk again and again and again. I swear I am not making this shit up. Just think of all the time and money wasted on those damn porous cement walls. The main staff lounge could have had cable TV, massage recliners and maybe even a wet bar. Meanwhile the custodian spent more time in that room than in any classroom in the building. Gotta love those school priorities.
Speaker 2:As for the smokers, they were not happy. Their sacred lounge was gone and now they had to walk off school grounds to smoke, cutting into their break time, which was probably also their planning time. So for the rest of the year we had cranky cooks, testy teachers and downright surly support staff. Now I thought banning smoking in schools would cut back on the urge for a quick cig break. But no, that's not what happened, because then along came vaping. If you didn't know, vaping has actually been around a lot longer than you think. Vaping has actually been around a lot longer than you think.
Speaker 2:Back in 1963, a guy named Herbert Gilbert invented and patented a smokeless, non-tobacco cigarette. Herbert claimed his device released flavored air. No nicotine, just flavor. But let's be honest, people weren't giving up their nicotine anytime soon, so Herbert's invention never really took off.
Speaker 2:Fast forward about 40 years to Han Lick, a Chinese pharmacist from Shenyang. After losing his father to lung cancer, han developed the first practical e-cigarette that used a nicotine solution. He hoped it would help people quit smoking. Nice idea, but again, nicotine is nicotine and people love their nicotine. So Han founded a company called Ruyon and suddenly pod mods, kind of like the Keurig of nicotine, were everywhere. Naturally, other companies jumped on board, including Juul Juul. Oh, that company knew exactly what it was doing. They dumped millions of dollars into marketing that clearly appealed to minors.
Speaker 2:And guess what happened next? Yep, k-12 school vice principal. Life got a whole lot harder. Why? Because catching a kid vaping is nearly impossible. These things are tiny, they smell good like mangoes or cotton candy and, frankly, anything that smells better than teenage musk is usually welcomed in a classroom. Trust me, if a teacher turns their back for even a second, a kid hooked on vaping won't think twice about sneaking a hit right there in class. And no, their classmates aren't going to rat them out. Doesn't matter if they're best friends or mortal enemies. Today's teens do not snitch the whole. If you see something, say something, campaign. Yeah, it basically skips over vaping skips over vaping. Don't believe me, go ask a teenager.
Speaker 2:One time I actually caught a student vaping and confiscated a $400 vape. Yep, you heard that right $400. Why did I confiscate it? Because vape juice typically contains either nicotine or marijuana, both illegal for kids to have and especially illegal at school. Remember that federal law I mentioned earlier. Not to mention who in their right mind gives a kid a $400 vape? Or how does a kid have $400 to buy a vape? Or how does a kid have $400 to buy a vape? Well, apparently a very generous or unhinged parent, because when I called home to report the incident, the parent didn't ask if their child was okay or what happened. Nope, they asked if they could have the $400 vape back Because you know it was expensive.
Speaker 2:That was one of those moments where I felt like I had to step in and help a parent learn how to parent and honestly, as a vice principal, I spent a lot of time doing just that coaching parents on how to raise their kids. Most of them appreciated it. Some even brought me gifts. But then there were those parents, the ones who didn't appreciate a damn thing, and let me tell you they make for some great stories, which I'll definitely share in a future episode.
Speaker 2:Anyway, since it's illegal to smoke or vape at school, school leaders often have to call the police when a student is caught. Trust me, it's hard to do and no one wants to do that. But life can be a whole lot harsher when these kids grow up and learn consequences outside the school walls. So educators try to teach kids while they're still under our wings Because, let's face it, some parents just don't do their job. But God bless the ones who try. I know it isn't easy. Oh, believe me, I know. Okay, back to the police. If a student's caught with cigarettes, the school calls law enforcement and the kid gets a citation. I know it sounds mean to do, but school leaders have to follow board policy and those policies. Well, they're written with the intention of helping kids grow up and become responsible adults. It's that microcosm thing. Now, if a student's caught with a vape, it's the same deal, but with one added step.
Speaker 2:The police often test the vape pod for THC, because most of those pods don't just contain nicotine anymore. Some kids even try to make their own vape juice, mixing all sorts of shit together, and God only knows what's in that mess. Of course, I could usually tell when a kid was high or drunk. Drunk's an easy one. But I find it funny how kids think they're being slick. Glazed eyes, that funky smell moving like a sloth through molasses, it's not subtle. Just showing up to school drunk, you're going to get caught. So maybe wait till school's out, or better yet, just don't do it. But I know, and you know, kids are going to test boundaries. If you think otherwise, it's time to take off those rose-colored glasses. That kind of naivete might actually be doing more harm than good. As for the adults, well, now that old smoking lounges are gone and no one wants to hike out to their car, I'm sure some folks are sneaking their nicotine fix right in their classroom with their vape, hopefully when the kids are out of sight. But seriously, just like I said to the kids, how about you wait till school's out, or better yet, just don't do it. Again, I'm not judging. Okay, one more story before I wrap up today's episode.
Speaker 2:I once worked with a school leader who clearly had an addiction to nicotine, and hey, I'm not judging him for that. But here's the kicker this dear leader would vape in their office during the school day while students and staff were in the building. Did the leader have remorse? Nope, or have remorse Nope? Concern that it was, you know, illegal. Also a no. Did anyone else seem to care? Not really. Did I do something about it? Well, that's complicated. You really have to understand the whole dynamic I was working in to get why I handled it the way I did. But I'll tell you this it became really hard to discipline students for vaping when it was pretty clear the rules didn't apply to the adults. Still, I did my best and I coped by playing a little game I like to call what's that flavor wafting through my office wall? And let me tell you I got pretty good at it.
Speaker 2:Some of the vape scents were surprisingly pleasant. My office almost smelled like a Yankee candle, but that blueberry scent Absolutely not. I like to eat blueberries Absolutely not. I like to eat blueberries, but vape blueberry juice it smelled like someone tried to boil cough syrup. Sadness and a dirty old, stiff sock found in the boys' lockerakes and cigarette breaks are a very real part of K-12 school life. And just to be clear, I'm not condoning smoking, vaping or anything in between. So please, no angry messages if you didn't love what I had to say in this episode.
Speaker 2:We all know the risks that come with lighting up or puffing up with a cigarette or a vape. I mean, I admitted that I've tried smoking myself, which usually resulted in me throwing up, but I was never quite as bold as Zigzy B McGee or the Puff Posse in the girl's bathroom. And, yes, my dad was a dedicated smoker. But these stories I'm sharing they're just that stories. Some are funny, some are frustrating, but all of them are real. And while I found humor in them, I'm pretty sure my mother still doesn't find my childhood smoking experiments very amusing.
Speaker 2:Lisa Ann, still, humor's what got me through some very tough work days. It's part of my resilience. And don't you think we all carry some form of resilience inside us, whether it's mental, emotional, physical, spiritual or some mysterious blend of all of the above? Resilience is what gets us through, even if on some days it shows up disguised as a vape quake or cigarette break. And as Bender so eloquently said in John Hughes' classic 1985 movie the Breakfast Club, smoke up, johnny. Well, kids, the dismissal bell is ringing, so until next time on.
Speaker 2:Vice Principal in Office, push in your chair, put your name on your paper, be kind to your classmates, put your phone away and use your indoor voice or not. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed the tales from Vice Principal on Office as much as I enjoyed sharing them. And it is also my hope that you were not only entertained by this episode, but that you walked away with a little nugget of knowledge that gave you some insight on how working in a school is not for the faint of heart, some insight on how working in a school is not for the faint of heart. But, as I've said before, life is short, so you got to do the best you can to leave the world in a better place than when you got here. And, of course, for the love of God, see the humor in life. It's a lot more fun and a little easier to get through the ick in life with a smile on your face. Trust me, with what I've experienced throughout my career, I'd be like a cold-hearted broad whose embrace is colder than a Yeti's if I hadn't smiled through the yuck.
Speaker 2:Catch you next time on Vice Principal on Office. Join me, your host, lisa Hill, on July 29th for a new episode of Vice Principal on Office Internal Affairs. Not to Remember the School Edition, who knew the faculty handbook needed a section called School Staff Romance. What Not to Do Turns out. While some staff stuck to their assigned school duties like you know, teaching others turned duties as assigned into their own romantic elective Extra credit. Anyone Catch you next time on Vice Principal Unofficed?
Speaker 2:Hey students, I mean listeners. Thanks again for tuning in and if you've enjoyed today's show, please leave me a review. It really helps grow the show. And don't forget to hit the follow button so you don't miss an episode. Trust me, you don't want to be late for this detention. And, listeners, if you've got a school story of your own that you'd like to share with Vice Principal on Office, I'd love to hear it. Just head over to my podcast website and fan mail or email me your story and, who knows, your story might even get a shout out on a future episode. Thanks so much for listening and for your support.
Speaker 2:Vice Principal Unofficed is an independent podcast with everything you hear done by me, lisa Hill, and supported through Buzzsprout. Any information from today's show, along with any links and resources, are available in the show's notes. So if you want to do a little homework and dive deeper into anything I've mentioned, head over to my podcast website and check it out and a big thank you to Matthew Chiam with Pixabay for the show's marvelous theme music and, of course, a huge shout out to my mother. This podcast is for the purpose of entertainment only, like the recess of your day, and not a platform for debates about public education. Though you never know, you can learn something. And just a reminder that the stories shared in this podcast represent one lens, which is based on my personal experiences and interpretations, and also reflect my unique perspective through humor. Names, dates and places have been changed or omitted to protect identities and should not be considered universally applicable. Until next time, keep laughing and learning.
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