Students are encouraged to bring their own wireless devices to school to use outside classrooms.
“We are encouraging students to bring their personal wireless devices,” said SD51 Superintendent Michael Strukoff. “We’re looking at how they cannot only get on the Internet but how they can access the network files.”
“We’ve modified our policies at our last board meeting, where we essentially deleted stuff that said you can’t use (these technologies),” explained Strukoff. “We hope to have updated policies by January for students to use it.”
Strukoff pointed out that the devices, such as laptops, should be used properly and during appropriate times.
Martin Weatherall, founder and co-director of WEEP (Wireless, Electric and Electromagnetic Pollution), is concerned about students and the general population being constantly surrounded by wireless emissions.
Weatherall discovered he was electrically sensitive around seven years ago when he became sick. After moving to a new location with no emissions, he felt his health return.
“We like to warn people about the dangers and we’re trying to get the government to make changes and regulations safer,” said Weatherall. “I try to do my best to bring the dangers forward so people can take reasonable steps to make things safe… It may take years for the harm to show.”
Strukoff stated, “At this point in time, we’re following the guidelines from our chief medical officer and Health Canada.”
Students are safe and they are within guidelines for wireless connectivity to be accessed at schools, said Strukoff.
“There’s a lot of controversy in other parts of Canada but as long as we’re getting those reports from our chief medical officer and Health Canada saying its safe, then we’re putting it into our schools,” he concluded.