September 1st has arrived. Summer break (in Israel) is over.
My daughters, along with many other children, have returned to schools, which have for years now become ” a greenhouse for radiation “, mainly radiofrequency radiation. One of my daughters is already sensitive to radiation and has often returned from school with headaches (during vacation, she barely has any pain — unlike school, our home is low-radiation, and there is no use of cell phones or wireless devices). Fortunately, we managed to get through the last school year without her sensitivity worsening.
Radiation in a typical classroom
In a regular classroom in today’s Ministry of Education schools, the main problem is the children’s cell phones. Even if they’re kept in their bags, the smartphones continue to transmit and emit radiation, creating relatively high background radiation levels in the classroom — levels at which studies have shown biological and health effects.
In addition, there is constant radiation from the wireless router (Wi-Fi) in the classroom, as well as from wireless peripherals (Bluetooth) connected to the teacher’s computer, such as a wireless keyboard or mouse.
My daughter took a few measurements last year using her home-use radiation meter, and the results showed radiation levels ranging from 1 to 5 milliwatts per square meter — in an empty classroom, with no students present, only bags with phones, a router, a computer, and peripheral equipment.
Secret cell phone use
I can say that my daughter repeatedly reported throughout the past year that some children use their cell phones daily, secretly under the desk (and this is even in an advanced “gifted” class). Even when the teachers started collecting the phones, it didn’t succeed in stopping the usage, since some students began bringing two devices — one they handed in, and the other they used under the desk.
Even more radiation during digital lessons
During “digital” lessons, where all the students use smartphones, tablets, or laptops, the radiation increases even more. According to measurements my daughter took in class last year, it can reach up to 50 milliwatts per square meter. Needless to say, neither of my daughters participates in these lessons.
Additional radiation from external sources
All this doesn’t even take into account the radiation coming from external sources, such as a cell tower facing the school (radiofrequency radiation), or high-voltage power lines and transformers (low-frequency magnetic fields) located near the school.
Unaware of the danger, and continues to radiate
The cell phones and wireless technologies in classrooms and in children’s use endanger children’s health — not just those who are already sensitive. But the Ministry of Education and most parents keep pushing for more and more use and more and more technology, thinking it’s progress.
Change?
To be honest, last year it seemed that awareness started to grow that just having cell phones in the classroom is a problem that affects learning. Not because of radiation — but because of distractions. In Tel Aviv, it was announced that there would be no cell phones allowed in schools this year… we’ll see. Here in Zichron Yaakov, the local council also announced a similar plan, with the intention to eliminate all cell phone use in schools. Some even spoke about completely banning phones from entering the school, and that digital learning would take place via tablets… we’ll see what actually happens.
By the way, the change here in Zichron Yaakov came after a series of incidents showing a decline in children’s and teens’ behavior.
Next – AI revolution
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education announced a new revolution — introducing AI into schools. As part of this plan, there was also talk of installing small cell antennas in each classroom (called “signal boosters”), which would likely increase the radiation exposure even more.
From my narrow point of view, I hope this idea is dropped and that AI is used in classrooms through tablets and computers rather than cell phones. That way, there would be no need for more antennas and more transmissions inside the class — and my daughters could skip those lessons.
Some hope
I truly hope that this year there will be less radiation exposure in schools, and that the number of days my daughters come home from school with headaches will be lower.
