Week 6 Jo Kawabata

In this week's article, "Is WiFi in Schools Safe?" by Brian Spero, the safety of arising integration of technology into educational environments are questioned. Spero discusses with Camilla Rees how electromagnetic fields emitted by electronic devices and namely wi-fi routers can impact the mental health of students. Rees cites many scientific research correlating to how the waves that flood the air on campuses can severely impair the learning environment, making students experience anxiety, depression, cardiovascular irregularities, and sleep disorders among various other symptoms. Rees later also states how many schools across the country are in denial of the detrimental effects and other demerits of using technology in the school environment.

I personally believe that while EMFs and waves emitted by wi-fi may have effects on our health, the magnitude to which it effects is so small that it could be negligible compared to other factors in our lives. I think the benefits that the innovations in technology brings reduce more stress in the first place as it often enhances our learning and making communication a lot easier. While I do not think that it is absolutely deniable that it may affect mental health of students, I believe the article fails to consider many of the other and perhaps more obvious stress factors. For example, as an Asian American student, I feel pressures from my parents or stress related to my future are much more significant sources of stress. Other students may even face discrimination, bullying, and other more serious causes that I believe are more significant to address than EMFs where technology brings us lots of benefits with a questionable minor demerit.


With all that said, I do believe that this generation spends a lot of time on the screen and it causes a lot of other problems unrelated to EMFs that may cause emotional or mental illness. I am always surprised seeing children with cellphones as I never had my cellphone until a year before high school.

Question: To what degree do EMFs or other waves contribute to emotional or mental illness and is it enough to have to be addressed further with a broader outreach?

References:
Brunken, J. (2013, November 11). Less screen time, more free time. Retrieved May 07, 2017, from http://www.happykidsschool.com.tw/asla-program/happenings/lessscreentimemorefreetime

Spero, B. (n.d.). Is Wi-Fi in Schools Safe. Retrieved May 07, 2017, from http://bostonparentspaper.com/article/print.php?id=3009522