Ontario Teachers' Union Calls For Health-Related Classroom Wi-Fi Ban

New submitter KJE writes "The CBC is reporting that an Ontario teachers' union is calling for an end to new Wi-Fi setups in the province's 1,400-plus Catholic schools. The Ontario English Catholic Teacher's Association (OECTA) says computers in all new schools should be hardwired instead of setting up wireless networks. The OECTA, in its paper (PDF), said the 'safety of this technology has not thoroughly been researched and therefore the precautionary principle and prudent avoidance of exposure should be practiced.'"

Worry about real health risks

[Dr. Hellno]

Maybe I'm being paranoid, but personally I'm much more concerned about the ubiquity of old lead pipes in the school buildings around here. Lead leaching into the water supply is a huge risk, especially for children, in whom it can cause learning disabilities. That's right, drinking the water in these schools is, statistically, causing learning disabilities in at least some of the students. But that would cost a whole lot to fix, and so instead we hear unsubstantiated hocus-pocus about wi-fi signals.

Re:Call your union rep

[Fluffeh]

When I was in year three (That's when I was about eight, not sure what third grade means outside of Australia) I had an amusing argument with my teacher about "geometry". She claimed that if you stood right at the right spot at ground level, you could see all base four corner stones of a square pyramid. The argument ended up with me being sent to the headmasters office because I called her ignorant and facetious, but I did have my sweet moment when the headmaster informed her that she was wrong and that I was right.

Teachers do think they know it all. I guess that teaching little kids all day every day makes them think they are some sort of fountain of knowledge and information.

Having said that, I also know a few teachers who are very well informed, intelligent and I would consider all round great people.

Re:Call your union rep

[Anonymous Coward]

This came to mind: http://www.wtfeck.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/mile-vs-kilometre-detention.gif

Re:Call your union rep

[Dave Emami]

Read a theory a while ago (by some psychologist whose name I wish I could recall so I could give proper credit) that stated that fear of things like radiation, chemicals, and germs stems from the same underlying source as the older fear of witchcraft -- people tend to be more afraid of something they can't understand and/or can't see, compared to things which are objectively more dangerous but which they can see and comprehend. Hence things like the fear and revulsion generated by poison gas usage in WW1, even though you were many times more likely to be killed by bullets or shells. In this case of the article, people hear "radiation" and react viscerally without any further thought.