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United Educators of San Francisco Resolution on Enhancing Technology Safety in San Francisco Unified School District

May 1, 2020 | 0 comments

San Francisco Educators Pass Resolution Calling For Safer Technology Standards For All San Francisco Schools

Read this online at United Educators of San Francisco HERE. 

Enhancing Technology Safety in San Francisco Unified School District

WHEREAS, cell phones emit radiofrequency energy when they send and receive signals to and from cell towers, and
 
WHEREAS, cell phone usage in the United States continues to increase, especially among children, and
 
WHEREAS, the science surrounding the emission of radio-frequency energy from cell phones has not reached a level of consensus within the scientific community, and
 
WHEREAS, current research is suggesting long-term high usage of cell phones and the concomitant exposure to the energy emitted by those cell phones may impact human health, and
 
WHEREAS, the developing brains of children and adolescents may be more affected than others by cell phone use, and
 
WHEREAS, the California Department of Public Health, in December of 2017, issued guidelines on reducing exposure to radiofrequency energy from cell phones, including (1) keeping cell phones away from your body, (2) reducing or avoiding use of cell phones when it is sending out high levels of RF energy, (3) not sleeping with the cell phone in your bed or near your head, (4) removing a headset when not directly on a call, and (5) do not rely on “radiation shields” or other products claiming to block RF energy, electromagnetic fields or radiation from cell phones, and
 
WHEREAS, the science in this area is still evolving, enough concern exist that implementing simple steps can reduce exposure for children, adolescents and adults, and
 
WHEREAS, the public school district in Ashland, Massachusetts, through its own review of the matter, has instituted district-wide “best practices for mobile devices” aimed at reducing wireless radiation exposures, and
 
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that UESF place this matter as an agenda item for discussion in the UESF/SFUSD Labor-Management Health and Safety Committee at the first meeting of the committee following passage of this resolution, and
 
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that said agenda items will include (the discussion of the CA DPH guidelines for reducing exposure to RF energy from cell phones, (2) the development and dissemination of SFUSD best practices for the reduction of RF energy, (3) recommend that all students and families have access to the CA DPH guidelines via the SFUSD Student/Family Handbook, and the posting of the CA DPH guidelines in every classroom (see attached) and 
 
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that UESF publicize to its members, via e-mail blast (including a link to the CA DPH guidelines) and via publication with the union’s newspaper, the CA Department of Public Health guidelines for reducing exposure to RF energy from cell phones, and
 
THEREFORE, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that UESF urge its members to follow the CA DPH recommendations in their personal and professional use of devices emitting radio frequency energy.

Key Elements of Safe Technology Resolutions and Position Statements 

Educator unions around the world have passed several types of resolutions and position statements on the issue of cell phone and safe technology.

EHT recommends that resolutions incorporate three issues:

1. That member’s health be protected with safer technology network infrastructure on the school campus. This includes consideration of internet connections as well as cell towers.

2. That students and staff be educated on safer cell phone and technology use as a daily part of everyday life in the classroom.

3. That the union develop materials and a process to advocate at the state and federal level to promote safe technology at these levels of decionmaking.

Three Resolutions and Position Statements To Consider

United Educators of San Francisco’s Resolution on Safer Technology 

This resolution is focused on ensuring the Califoria Departmentof Health advisory on cellphones is disseminated to students, parents and staff. Read it here. 

New York State Teachers Union Resolution on the Hazards of Wireless Radiation Emission

This resolution educates on reducing wireless exposures to memners and educating on how to eliminate sources of wireless in schools. Read it here. 

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association Position Statement

This position statement reviwed classroom infrastructure and puts forward that Wi-Fi may present a potential Health and Safety risk or hazard in the workplace. Read it here. 

In order to see the range of resolutions passed by educators please go to our webpage that has compiled a list from around the world.

 

Key Elements of Safe Technology Resolutions and Position Statements 

Educator unions around the world have passed several types of resolutions and position statements on the issue of cell phone and safe technology.

EHT recommends that resolutions incorporate three issues:

1. That member’s health be protected with safer technology network infrastructure on the school campus. This includes consideration of internet connections as well as cell towers.

2. That students and staff be educated on safer cell phone and technology use as a daily part of everyday life in the classroom.

3. That the union develop materials and a process to advocate at the state and federal level to promote safe technology at these levels of decionmaking.

Three Resolutions and Position Statements To Consider

United Educators of San Francisco’s Resolution on Safer Technology 

This resolution is focused on ensuring the Califoria Departmentof Health advisory on cellphones is disseminated to students, parents and staff. Read it here. 

New York State Teachers Union Resolution on the Hazards of Wireless Radiation Emission

This resolution educates on reducing wireless exposures to memners and educating on how to eliminate sources of wireless in schools. Read it here. 

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association Position Statement

This position statement reviwed classroom infrastructure and puts forward that Wi-Fi may present a potential Health and Safety risk or hazard in the workplace. Read it here. 

In order to see the range of resolutions passed by educators please go to our webpage that has compiled a list from around the world.