Talking Points

We need legislation that makes our schools healthy because:

• Children are more vulnerable to dangerous chemicals and other toxins.
• Parents have a right to know about any dangerous chemicals and other toxins in their children’s schools.

Kids are more vulnerable to dangerous chemicals.

• Children drink more, eat more, and breathe more per pound of body weight, making what may be a safe chemical exposure to an adult, extremely toxic to a child.
• Childhood is a “critical period” in human development when exposure to a dangerous chemical can cause permanent damage or even death.

“Sick schools” prevent children from learning.

• The productivity of teachers and students is greatly reduced due to discomfort, sickness, or absenteeism.
• “Sick schools” increase the risk that school rooms or buildings will have to be closed, and occupants temporarily relocated.
• “Sick schools” strain relationships among the school administration, teachers, and parents.

Some kids are more sensitive than others to dangerous chemicals.

• Thousands of parents have children that are more sensitive to chemicals than others, but they have no way of protecting their kids when they go to school.
• There are likely thousands more parents that may not realize their child is chemically sensitive and are mystified as to why their child is sick all the time.

Normal kid behavior puts children more at risk.

• Kids are smaller and, therefore, closer to pesticides and other dangerous chemical residues that may be present on or near the ground.
• Kids play in the dirt, on the grass, and on carpet more often than adults do; also, they tend to put their hands and other objects in their mouths more often than adults do – this behavior increases their risk of exposure to dangerous chemicals and pesticides.

Parents have a right to know.

• We require most schools to get written parental consent to give our kids an aspirin, but allow schools to expose our kids to dangerous chemicals without consent.