CHICAGO, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Fifty-two city 6th-8th grade students today debated in the Chicago City Council Chambers how to spend the tobacco settlement funds, specifically advocating that at least 50% of the $9.1 billion be spent to keep kids from s

The overall winning essay was written by Christine Ann Garcia, a student at George Washington School on East 114th Street. Her essay emphasized using the settlement proceeds ``on tobacco awareness education, to fund an anti-tobacco campaign, and to help cure tobacco-related diseases....We the people should have programs to teach people of all ages and children especially how bad tobacco usage is.....We can also reduce health risks of second hand smoke.'' Garcia presided over the Junior Council as Mayor. Garcia was assisted by Junior City Clerk Fitria Birowo from Robert Healy School on South Parnell Avenue. Birowo's essay poignantly describes concern over her father's smoking: ``My father smokes. I often question why he started and why he doesn't quit. At first he just told me to be quiet, that little girls 'should be seen and not heard.' As I grow older, though, he tries to tell me. He always warns me not to start.'' 14th Ward Alderman Edward Burke kicked off the session by introducing Mayor Garcia. The American Cancer Society began the Great American Smokeout in 1977 to encourage smokers to stop smoking for one day as a first step to becoming an ex-smoker. It is the most popular to quit smoking, even more so than New Year's Day.

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