This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
'These kids are getting sick at school but not at home.' - Rodney Palmer.
Barrie (18 Aug. 2010) - A group of parents in Barrie is demanding that schools turn off wireless Internet before students head back to school next month, fearing the technology is making kids sick.
The parents say their children have experienced a host of symptoms, ranging from headaches to dizziness and nausea and even racing heart rates. They also include memory loss, trouble concentrating, skin rashes, hyperactivity, night sweats and insomnia.
Rodney Palmer of the Simcoe County Safe School Committee says the reports have been collected from 14 schools in Barrie, Bradford, Collingwood, Orillia and Wasaga Beach since the local school board decided to go wireless. Parents believe Wi-Fi may be the problem.
"These kids are getting sick at school but not at home," Palmer says. "I'm not saying it's because of the Wi-Fi because we don't know yet, but I've pretty much eliminated every other possible source."
The parents complain they can't get the Simcoe County school board or anyone else to take their concerns seriously, even though the children's symptoms all disappear on weekends when they are not in school. They have offered to pay for wired connections if the board switches off the Wi-Fi, Palmer adds.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE