I Received This Forwarded E-Mail Today

[6Foot2]

SSITA Safe Schools Information Technology Alliance

Dear Headteacher and Board of Governors,

 

We know that this is an extremely busy time of year for you but we would like to let you know about three important announcements in May which impact on school health and safety policies.

 

1. The Council of Europe Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs voted unanimously to ban Wi-Fi and mobile phones in schools.

 

The Council of Europe is a non-legislative body but influences policy making within the EU.

(8.3.) concerning the protection of children:

8.3.2. ban all mobile phones, DECT phones or Wi-Fi or WLAN systems from classrooms and schools, as advocated by some regional authorities, medical associations and civil society organisations.

 

Download pdf or visit the Council of Europe website for the html version.

 

2. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted the above resolution, recommending that schools “give preference to wired internet connections”

 

... for children in general, and particularly in schools and classrooms, give preference to wired Internet connections, and strictly regulate the use of mobile phones by school children on school premises.

 

Quick View (pdf)

 

3. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of The World Health Organisation, classified radio frequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (group 2B).

 

http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf

 

Lastly, you will find that the British Medical Journal press release gives a clear and simple overview of these developments.

 

wifiinschools.org.uk/resources/BMJ+May+2011.pdf

 

Please, for the sake of the children in your care, consider these recommendations and their implications when reviewing your health and safety policies.

 

With best wishes,

SSITA

 

Call: 0121 704 9988 or visit us online SSITA - Home

BCM SSITA London WC1N 3XX

 

[i have stripped out some links that were included here as when I looked at the URLs they seemed a little odd (they might have been genuine but I wanted to err on the side of caution)]

 

It seems to be suggesting that they will try to ban wireless networks in school. Have we heard of this? I think it would be unworkable/thrown out as schools have invested a lot in their wireless networks [we certainly have!]

 

Thoughts?....

[jinnantonnixx]

I think this has done the rounds before.

 

However, as a non-legislative body myself, my view is that wi-fi is really cool, so continue as you were.

Edited July 18, 2011 by jinnantonnixx

[AyatollahPies]

I'm off to buy shares in builders of Faraday cages and Tinfoil Hats.

[elsiegee40]

I'm sure this has done the rounds before and I'm equally sure that, were it true, it would have been all over the news by now.

 

I've just found this response from Lord Hill last year: Cavisoc - Reply from Lord Hill

 

SSITA also need to know that schools no longer have Boards of Governors and haven't sone so for many years, they have Governing Bodies... if this is wrong, what else is?

[elsiegee40]

Ah, just found this: Council of Europe calls for limit of mobile phone, WiFi use in schools - Information Policy

 

The Council of Europe represents 47 European nations, and includes nearly every country in continental Europe, and also includes Russia, Turkey, and other countries along the Caspian Sea, including Azerbaijan and Armenia. While its recommendations are often taken into consideration by European countries, it is not part of the European Union, and it is not a lawmaking body.

My bold

[HaleStorm]

i sent a reply to the SSITA page telling them in no uncertain terms to stop contacting the schools i work for/with and if they do i will forward the emails to the relevant body and pursue the matter as harrasment

 

i as of yet have had no reply

[jinnantonnixx]

I have a solution. I intend to market radiation shields for Wi-Fi devices.

 

The power of the the Wi-Fi device would have to increase to maintain the signal strength, of course, but it's a small price to pay for peace of mind.

 

They will be available in different colours, and I hope to take orders by the end of the week.

[HaleStorm]

I have a solution. I intend to market radiation shields for Wi-Fi devices.

 

The power of the the Wi-Fi device would have to increase to maintain the signal strength, of course, but it's a small price to pay for peace of mind.

 

They will be available in different colours, and I hope to take orders by the end of the week.

 

spraypainted fast food trays?

[jinnantonnixx]

spraypainted fast food trays?

 

Rumbled again. Damn your hide.

[sted]

I have a solution. I intend to market radiation shields for Wi-Fi devices.

 

The power of the the Wi-Fi device would have to increase to maintain the signal strength, of course, but it's a small price to pay for peace of mind.

 

They will be available in different colours, and I hope to take orders by the end of the week.

 

just get teh kids wearing lead lined hazmat suits with built in farrady cages would also give them some exersise as they would be quite heavy

[jinnantonnixx]

With fluorescent waistcoats. We mustn't forget the fluorescent waistcoats.

[elsiegee40]

Forms... definitely more forms needed... and risk assessments for every child as an individual in every room in the school

[Arcath]

This always makes me laugh, a lot of my schools have gone down the Laptop trolleys and managed wireless instead of the fixed ICT suite route. Ban wireless and there will be a fair few schools who now have no way to teach ICT properly without a massive investment in buildings and infrastructure.