One of the lines in that anthem of teenage rebellion goes like this: “Everybody knows that smokin’ ain’t allowed in school.”

Were the song recorded today, that line might have to be changed a bit. While smoking still isn’t allowed, the practice of vaping isn’t allowed in school, either.

That, of course, doesn’t mean the students don’t.

Justin Daggett, superintendent of the Manson Northwest Webster School District, along with Manson High School Principal Kevin Wood have seen the devices in their school.

“We have in the past year confiscated several vaping devices,” Wood said. “We have seen a decline, though.”

Kerry Ketchum, principal of Southeast Valley High School in Gowrie, said the students there know it’s against the rules and try to work around them.

“It’s not occurring as much in the high school as much as we thought,” he said. “They’re smart enough not to bring it into the building. We have other students report they’re vaping in their cars. They’re very careful about not being seen.”

Jesse Ulrich, superintendent of the Fort Dodge Community School District, said it’s seen in Fort Dodge as well.

He said that it’s part of students testing boundaries.

“Yes,” he said. “We are seeing it. There’s always been something. Smoking in the boys room or somewhere else. Vaping is just the latest. It’s harder to detect, though.”

For a student caught with a vaping device or the “juice” that goes into it, there are consequences.

“We treat it as any other illegal substance,” Ulrich said. “We work with local law enforcement to test what they’re vaping is just nicotine or if it’s a narcotic.”

At MNW, possession of a vaping device or the juice is a violation of the code of conduct.

“We get the authorities involved, too,” Daggett said. “They use their discretion to decide whether to ticket or not.”

In Gowrie, law enforcement isn’t usually involved.

“We confiscate the device,” Ketchum said. “We get the parents involved and let them take action at home. We do not call the police.”

Each school system uses a similar system of staggered consequences. For example, a student’s first violation might result in several days of suspension or detention, loss of eligibility for student athletics and extra curricular activities.

A third violation could result in being suspended for the remainder of the school year.

That’s in addition to any legal and parental consequences.

All the districts have active education programs in place to inform their students about the dangers of vaping. Each school has its own way of doing that. The education effort is usually incorporated into the health curriculum.

“We do that through our health class,” Ketchum said. “Each student is required to take two trimesters. One during their freshman year and one during their sophomore year. That’s where we cover that.”

The schools also put up posters to warn the students and use social media to get the word out.

At Fort Dodge Senior High, the school is also able to enlist the help of School Resource Officer Bryce Presswood. Ulrich said he’s not just there for enforcement; he also helps with their education efforts.

Regular tobacco products such as cigarettes and chewing tobacco are actually less frequently encountered than vaping.

“We found a pack of cigarettes with a couple in it,” Wood said. “You don’t see that very often.”

Since the federal government recently raised the age to purchase tobacco and vaping products to 21, the schools have seen little change and none expect much.

“The hope is yes,” Daggett said. “They’re so accessible. A graduate will buy them and provide them. They’ll find a way to get them.”

Ketchum is optimistic.

“I’m hoping it will make it harder for the kids to get their hands on it,’ he said.

One advantage to a 21-year-old limit rather than 18 is that there’s a wider gap between the students’ age and those able to purchase.

“Raising it to 21 can make that distance,” Ketchum said.

Ulrich isn’t optimistic it will help.

“No,” he said. “I don’t, honestly. People who don’t want to follow the rules or don’t care, raising it from 18 to 21 won’t help.”

He hopes the message gets through.

“I hope they make good choices for their bodies,” he said. “We try to educate them that this has a negative long-term effect.”