Vaping in the Girls' Room!

[siap]

I'm a high school teacher and have been vaping since Sep. 3. I'm one of the only teachers in the building lucky enough to have my own bathroom which I share with the teacher next door to me. Since I got my e-cig, I've stopped going out back except during my planning period when I hang out with a friend - usually I just go in the bathroom between classes. My friend just ordered a 510 like mine and she said that when hers comes in, she's going to use it in the teachers' lounge at lunch. I'm a little weary of this. I haven't shown it to my principal yet for this reason: I'm afraid she'll make me go outside. For now, I know I'm not doing anything wrong and putting no one in harm's way. She's a GREAT boss. However, if she tells me I can't vape inside, THEN I'll be doing something wrong if I continue to do so.

Anyone have an opinion? Is it worth the risk? I ask because a public school is quite a different environment from anywhere else.

 

[Moonflame]

I think a lot would depend on the personality of the principal. I have a friend who teaches English. She would show videos of plays they were studying to her lower level classes who she knew couldn't grasp the plays by reading them, but could get a lot of the concepts by seeing the material performed. The principal told her she was no longer allowed to show videos of plays because, "Plays are meant to be read, not to be seen." No amount of explaining that plays are meant to be performed and watched, otherwise what are the stage directions for, would change his mind. This is not the type of person who would look at the rational points of e-cigs not being smoking.

The other thing you might want to think about is how the other teachers you share the lounge with will react. If there is even one who will throw a hissy fit about someone exhaling something that looks like smoke it might be a good idea to keep the vaping in the bathroom. That type of person can create enough problems by complaining that the principal might have to tell you to go outside just to keep the peace. Hanging out with teachers has taught me that there is usually at least one of these types in any school. They delight in making other people's lives miserable or more difficult and try to control the behavior of others just because they can. There tends to also be one of these types in every church and every neighborhood watch group .

 

[siap]

First of all, I am literally laughing out loud at the "Plays are meant to be read, not seen" quote!! (I'm an English teacher, too.) The one element of drama that makes it DRAMA is that it is meant to be seen, not read! That's why Shakespeare never wrote his plays in whole! Ok, sorry. I get a little emotional about literature! LOL

Back to my original topic: I agree with you. I think I'll tell her that if she chooses to do that, that's fine (we have different lunches), but not to bring my name into it. I'm happy in my bathroom! I don't think school is the best place to be singing the praises of inhaling a drug, regardless of how much safer than cigarettes it is.

 

[AngelBunny]

I would just stick to the restroom ... if the person you share it with knows that you are vaping in there and doesn't mind then I see nothing wrong with that. Your principal may feel differently ... but since it isn't illegal or prohibited on school grounds and isn't setting off the fire alarms then I think the "don't ask don't tell" route would be a better idea.

I teach at an elem. school and have yet to try vaping at work ... mainly because I have issues with my administration and can do NOTHING right as far as they are concerned and also because I teach in a sustainable building (runs on solar power ... landscapes off of collected rain water ... open environment (I am the one of only three teachers in the building with a door on my classroom ... because I am the music teacher)) so I am worried that the strange technology in my building would extend to strange fire alarms that my vaping would set off. I also don't lock my door because it seems unfair for me to be able to lock myself in when the other teachers can't ... wouldn't want someone walking in on my vaping.

 

[siap]

Actually, the teacher with whom I share a bathroom doesn't know. I haven't felt the need to say anything. Actually, a teacher from down the hall who is quite pregnant asked if she could use my bathroom so she wouldn't have to walk all the way to the other one. I had just finished a good vape last week and opened the door and there she stood. I sweated the whole time she was in there - I figured if anyone could smell it, a pregnant non-smoker would be the one - but she didn't say a word!

 

[1inchgroup]

Your ladies room must be a lot more bearable than the mens room at my office. There's no way in hell I'd even think about going in there for a break. Trying to get away from the stink of tobacco...but exchanging it for the stink in there isn't an option.

Know why poo smells so bad you can taste it? Little microscopic pieces of it floating through the air are inhaled...

*gag*

 

[siap]

That's pretty bad. Luckily, I share the bathroom with only one other teacher. Between the two of us, we only "use" it about 5 times a day. If there were people in and out all day, I might feel differently. I look at it the same as I look at my bathroom at home - which is where I used to go to smoke analogs to get away from my kids! So I guess I'm just used to hanging out in bathrooms! LOL

 

[1inchgroup]

Smells like someone had squirrel for dinner last night...

Sorry, your post started me laughing, I had to contribute.

 

[DaMulta]

Ha, I remember smoking in the Men's Room in HS, and the Teachers were always trying to catch us lol.....

Vapping would of been so much easier in HS.....

 

[AngusATAT]

I teach at an elem. school and have yet to try vaping at work ... mainly because I have issues with my administration and can do NOTHING right as far as they are concerned and also because I teach in a sustainable building (runs on solar power ... landscapes off of collected rain water ... open environment (I am the one of only three teachers in the building with a door on my classroom ... because I am the music teacher)) so I am worried that the strange technology in my building would extend to strange fire alarms that my vaping would set off.

Actually, you should be fine as long as you don't blow vapor into a smoke detector or near one. Just stealth vape. Hold the vapor in until there is nothing left to exhale. I do it in my cubicle all day long with my 510.

 

[mELIANTE]

Actually, you should be fine as long as you don't blow vapor into a smoke detector or near one. Just stealth vape. Hold the vapor in until there is nothing left to exhale. I do it in my cubicle all day long with my 510.

Won't that be bad for your lungs? Keeping the liquid in, I mean.

 

[sbphotog]

I haven't been gutsy enough to vape anywhere they don't allow smoking., but I would probably lean more toward "what they don't know won't hurt you" philosphy, in your case.
I don't know, something about vaping in a school where there are impressionable teens and the FDA's whole agrument about the e-cig and children...might add fuel to the fire, ya know?

 

[AngusATAT]

Won't that be bad for your lungs? Keeping the liquid in, I mean.

It's no worse than vaping it in the first place.

Your avatar kinda creeps me out... 8-o

 

[telsie]

In a school situation, I'd keep it quiet and stick to clandestine bathroom vaping as long as possible. Once it became known, I have no doubt you'd find yourself outside and the school district would have a new no-e-cig policy. It wouldn't matter that it's not dangerous; it would only matter that it looks like smoking.

 

[feenoir]

infrequently used bathrooms are the way to go. Or, just say you were constipated if someone complains about you being in there too long.

 

[Liz!]

I'm a teacher too. And I have a 3 hour seminar this semester, in the evening. I take a break here and there and slip into the ladies or down a hall. I'm on the 4th floor and it would just take too long to go outside.

I say stealth is the way!