Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

By the mid-80s, kids generally couldn’t smoke in school in the US. Each school district or town or state had their own rules, though. I was told by kids a few years older than me that my high school allowed seniors to smoke in the early 80s. The 70s I think there were even fewer restrictions on the kids, but there were designated areas. You didn’t smoke in class.

But it changed mid-80s for students. There’s a famous 1989 song called “Smoking in the Boys Room” by Motley Crue, referencing kids going to the bathroom to smoke and then quickly leaving before getting caught.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5oVBvxA0mm0

Smokin' in the boys room

Teacher don't you fill me up with your rule

'Cause everybody knows that smokin' ain't allowed in school

Checkin' out the hall, makin' sure the coast is clear

Lookin' in the stalls, nah, there ain't nobody here



It's way older than that. "Smokin' in the Boys Room" is originally by Brownsville Station, 1973.

Random ashtray history: the massive SAGE computer system (1958), built for air defense, had ashtrays and cigarette lighters physically built into the computer consoles.


Brownsville Station was singing that song in the early 70s:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokin%27_in_the_Boys_Room

It obviously varied by area of the country, or perhaps school district. There was no smoking at our schools in the 70s.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: