Posted on 07/31/2007 8:15:41 AM PDT by qam1
SYDNEY (AFP) - There was a time when wearing sunglasses would have been seen as too cool for school, but for pupils at a pioneering primary in Australia they are now a compulsory part of the uniform.
The move is aimed at protecting young eyes from the sun's dangerous ultraviolet rays, and education authorities say they are considering adopting the plan at all state schools.
The headmaster of Sydney's Arncliffe Public School, where sunglasses are now compulsory for children from kindergarten through Year 6, said they had no problems wearing the glasses in the playground.
The "sunnies" as they are called in Australia, would soon become "routine" for the pupils, Stephan Vrachas told commercial radio.
The education minister of New South Wales state, of which Sydney is the capital, said the government would consider making sunglasses compulsory in all public school playgrounds.
"It is conceivable that in certain environments it might be appropriate to wear sunglasses when they are playing in the sun," John Della Bosca told reporters.
Excessive exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays, already blamed for skin cancers, can also lead to cataracts, experts say.
A specialist at Sydney Eye Hospital told the national AAP news agency that wraparound glasses were the best for eye protection and children should be encouraged to wear them from the age of three or four........
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Supposedly the ozone layer in the Southern Hemisphere is screwed. Australia, IIRC, has some of the highest rates for skin cancer. It might just be that Australians are more of an outdoor people though...
Nanny State Bump
Soon this will be kids have to wear sunglasses all the time during the day. Body Armour to ride a bike, now sunglasses and we wonder why kids just sit at home playing video games
I read somewhere that one in four Aussies will get skin cancer. That’s a lot of people.
Their future’s so bright.....
You only get one set of eyes. It's just smart to protect them.
Individual school regulation. Nothing wrong with it.
Or maybe this is a backdoor way of getting muslim traits in place. If sunglasses are worn and accepted, then there is no ID argument for banning head scarves.
I do believe it’s the right thing to do, along with the children’s parents probably applying a coat or two of sunblock. The sun over Australia is brutal, and whenever I go to visit, I’ll be carrying a small tube of sunblock.
At least they’re not allocating time for Muslim prayers like some of our schools do.
I think the best way to do that is to keep them closed all the time.
And the Australian sun is any different from the Florida sun 6 months offset? I don’t think so. Same latitude.
Just like government to cause a bigger problem than they’re trying to fix.
Wearing cheap, optically incorrect sunglasses will can screw up your eyes.
The white population of Oz is derived primarily from the fair haired and fair skinned peoples of England, Scotland and Ireland. It is a disadvantage to live in a VERY sunny climate, with that kind of genetic inheritance.
That said, why not require nomex clothes, kevlar vests and crash helmets for everyone, everyday? /s
I’m in Florida; ALWAYS have my sunglasses.
Nanny state Ping.
Sunglasses are a very good idea for everyone, especially children — but the government telling us to do so is insane.
Latitude may be the same from the equator, but I remember reading somewhere that the ozone layer is thinner in the southern hemisphere.
I’d like a kevlar vest please. And a .50 caliber rifle. And a cool logo patch of some kind. In black. Like a ninja. But with more firepower.
Yes, we are all terminal.
I disagree with you, it is a public, not a private school.
The education minister of New South Wales state, of which Sydney is the capital, said the government would consider making sunglasses compulsory in all public school playgrounds.
If the government is going to "consider it" it is as good as done.
BTW - Is it hard to concentrate with the constant sound of black helicopters surrounding you?
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