TEENS: Eighteen years ago the tobacco industry signed a pact to stop directing advertisements at teens. However, two Boston-based researchers indicated that cigarette makers are still spending large amounts of money for magazine ads targeted at middle-and high-school students.

This study reported that these ads for cigarette brands reached 82 percent of U.S. teens. Even though the number was down from 88 percent the year before, it was still considered much too high. The co-author of the study, Dr. Michael Siegel, a public health specialist at Boston University, said the findings show that the tobacco companies failed miserably at protecting teens from cigarette advertising. It's obvious that no matter what the tobacco companies say, they'll still be encouraging teens one way or another to "light up and enjoy life."

Smart teens will accept such advertisements for what they are — a way for tobacco companies to increase sales. When a teen becomes addicted, the tobacco companies have a user of their products for a long time.

Think about it! If a 15-year-old becomes addicted to tobacco, it's possible he or she will smoke for 60 or 70 years — unless death from a smoking-related illness cuts off the revenue stream.

A DOCTOR'S DEGREE ISN'T NECESSARY TO BE A GOOD TEACHER

DR. WALLACE: I'm concerned that you continue to promote attending a two-year community college. I'm aware that a student can attend a community college for two years and then transfer to a four-year college or university to earn a degree, but I'm not convinced that the instructors at community colleges are equal to those at four-year institutions.

I graduated from a four-year school and the great number of my instructors had their doctor's degree. My friend attended a two-year community college before graduating from a four-year school. She told me that instructors with doctorates were extremely scarce at the community college.

Is it possible that you attended a community college and that's your primary reason for promoting them? — Jan, Lincoln Nebr.

JAN: I promote community colleges because they give many students an opportunity to receive quality higher education that they might not otherwise have. This education will serve the student well regardless of whether he or she wants to become a cosmetologist or an attorney. It's possible for a student to spend two years at a community college and, by taking required courses, transfer to any four-year college or university in the country — just as your friend did.

The teaching staffs at community colleges are excellent. They're usually on a par with the staffs at four-year schools. Many teachers who have Ph.D.s are excellent instructors, but it is not necessary to possess a doctor's degree to be a superb teacher.

I did not have the pleasure of attending a community college.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Khánh Hmoong