Parents pull kids from schools
Wi-Fi concerns spark protests
- By Teresa Latchford
- |
- Nov 09, 2011 - 7:05 PM
Wi-Fi concerns. Lynnette Haralampopoulos (from left), Debbie Pellegrini, Christine Marrin, Deb Little and her daughter, Isabella, 10, discuss plans to protest the use of Wi-Fi in schools. STAFF PHOTO/SUSIE KOCKERSCHEIDT
‘If there is any doubt, (Wi-Fi) should be removed, as our children don’t have a choice. They have to be in school.’
A group of about 80 parents from across the region plan to demonstrate at the York Region District School Board office in Aurora Nov. 23.
Many of the same parents, including Richmond Hill’s Lynnette Haralampopoulos, are pulling their children from public schools to enroll them in private schools or provide home schooling to control their exposure to the radiofrequency energy emitted from wireless equipment.
“We want to bring awareness to parents and teachers who don’t know it could be detrimental to our children’s health,” Ms Haralampopoulos said of the protest.
There is debate about whether Wi-Fi is harmful and because there is doubt about its safety, the school board should eliminate its use as a precaution, she said.
Ontario chief medical officer of health Dr. Arlene King released a statement last year assuring parents wireless technology poses no threat to children in school.
However, the World Health Organization produced a statement in the spring, reclassifying radio frequency emitted by wireless devices as possibly carcinogenic and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recommended schools and classrooms give preference to wired Internet connections and strictly regulate the use of cellphones by children on school premises.
“If there is any doubt, it should be removed, as our children don’t have a choice. They have to be in school,” Ms Haralampopoulos said. “We still don’t know what the long-term effects are for children who are exposed.”
The group, led by concerned parents in Oak Ridges and Newmarket, also started a letter-writing campaign this month targeting the Education Ministry and local MPPs.
The campaign has gone national, with parents from other provinces joining the cause.
This spring, parents from across Canada will gather to protest in Ottawa.
The question of wireless network use in schools is guided by reputable public health authorities who currently don’t see a cause for concern, York Region District School Board spokesperson Ross Virgo said.
“If that advice should change in the future, we will be prepared to act,” he added.
The health ministries, regional health unit and other reputable experts haven’t advised the school board there is a threat to the health of students or staff due to wireless technology.
“We are quite mindful there are scientific opinions out there that say otherwise, but we believe we are up-to-date on the advice of reputable health experts,” Mr. Virgo said.
It is concerning to see parents protest the school board’s decision at the expense of their children’s learning, he said, adding the public board will continue to monitor the debate and discussion surrounding the issue.
Although the concerned parents all have children in public schools, York Catholic District School Board also uses Wi-Fi in schools.
Find reporter Teresa Latchford on Twitter @TeresaLatchford
http://www.yorkregion.com/news/article/1241107--parents-pull-kids-from-schools
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