‘Well, Er, Smoking Stunts Your Growth' A Model Answer?

Workers in America have proposed that knowledge of the immediate physiological effects of smoking is of greater relevance to teenagers than knowledge of the long-term risks of smoking-linked disease. As a preliminary stage in developing simple, practical investigations of the immediate effects of smoking, suitable for secondary school pupils in science or biology classes, a list was drafted of types of models for the physiology of smoking. It was thought that the models might allow the difficulties inherent in measuring physiological changes in smokers in a school laboratory and the ethical problems raised, to be avoided. However, the models in turn raise other ethical issues. One investigation, showing the effect that smoke has on germinating peas, is considered. It conforms admirably to pragmatic criteria set for class practicals. However, it raises further questions concerning intellectual honesty and conflicting health messages. Comments by pupils serve to illustrate this.