Granada Hills : Making Choices Focus of School Discussions

Dressed in a sequined evening gown, Kim Little of the Valley Community Health Clinic advocated the use of cigarettes to about 120 eighth-graders gathered in the school auditorium at Robert Frost Middle School.

“Smoking gives people pleasure and enjoyment,” said Little, playing “Virginia Slimes,” a cigarette company spokeswoman in a satirical play put on by the clinic. “I represent a product that brings in thousands of dollars daily. It’s a great pastime.”

Her remarks were greeted with a mixture of boos and cheers from the students.

The play was part of a recent day of youth guidance discussions at the Granada Hills school recently.

School officials invited several community organizations, local business representatives and Los Angeles Unified School District psychologists to talk to the students about such subjects as substance abuse, smoking, career goals and teen-age dating.

Students learned about common misconceptions some youths have of the opposite sex, probable causes of teen-age drug and alcohol abuse and the impact the media can have on teen values.

They also attended career information talks given by law, real estate, entertainment and retail industry professionals.

“We wanted to present them with a series of information that reflected their everyday concerns,” said Bill Gorback, the school guidance counselor. “We’re looking to get the kids to perform responsible decision making.”

Little and other actors affiliated with the Valley Community Health Clinic attempted to teach students about the negative effects of smoking.

Their play, called “Tobacco Talk,” was conducted in the style of a TV tabloid talk show, and guests and the student audience were asked to ponder the effects of smoking.

“Nicotine is . . . a very addictive drug,” said Sean Blodgett, who played an anti-smoking advocate. “Some say it is more addictive than heroin or cocaine.

“Tobacco not only contains nicotine, it also contains 4,000 other chemicals, 43 of which are known carcinogens. In other words, they can cause cancer.”