Safety Concerns Mount as NYC Schools Dismiss During Solar Eclipse

Edited by:  TJVNews.com

As the anticipation builds for Monday’s solar eclipse, parents across New York City are voicing growing concerns over the safety of their children as schools dismiss just in time for the cosmic spectacle. According to a report on Thursday in The New York Post, the eclipse, which is set to peak around 3 p.m., coincides with the end of the school day and as such, parents are urging the city Department of Education to take proactive measures to safeguard young students from potential eye damage.

The looming eclipse, during which the moon is expected to cover 89 percent of the sun, presents a tantalizing yet perilous temptation for youngsters. As was reported by the Post, parents fear that children, drawn by the allure of the celestial event, may be inclined to stare directly at the sun, risking irreversible damage to their retina cells and even partial blindness.

Farzann Mitul, a 35-year-old Burger King manager and a concerned mother whose 12-year-old attends J.H.S. George J. Ryan in East Flushing, Queens, expressed frustration over the lack of preemptive measures by the city. “The city should do more to protect our kids… If anything happens to my son, I’m going to blame them,” Mitul told the Post, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

Sonia Regis, a 28-year-old beautician and mother of a 6-year-old, echoed similar sentiments, expressing apprehension over her son’s propensity to disregard warnings. “They’ll look at it and become blind. My son is one of those kids… If you tell him not to look, he’s going to look,” Regis lamented, according to the Post, thus underscoring the challenges of enforcing safety precautions with young children.

The timing of the eclipse, visible in the Big Apple between 2:10 and 4:36 p.m. with a maximum view at 3:25 p.m., poses a logistical challenge for schools as students are dismissed and left unsupervised to travel home. Mintonwanou Aivoddi, a taxi driverwhose 4-year-old attends Bright Beginnings Preschool in Jamaica, Queens, expressed concern to the Post over the inherent curiosity of children. “Children are curious—my son, too… You might tell them, ‘Don’t look up,’ but you know how they are, some are going to do it anyway,” Aivoddi observed, acknowledging the difficulty of preventing children from succumbing to their innate curiosity.

Katherine Colon, a 39-year-old mother whose 5-year-old attends P.S. 35 in Hell’s Kitchen, expressed profound concern for her child’s safety. “I’m afraid for my child,” she admitted to the Post, highlighting the inherent risks posed by the eclipse. With her daughter’s curiosity and the absence of proper protective eyewear, Colon fears that even a brief glance at the sun could result in irreparable harm.

As concerns escalate among parents, calls have emerged for the city to take decisive measures to safeguard young students. The Post reported that suggestions range from early dismissal to the closure of schools on Monday to mitigate the risks associated with the eclipse. With the clock ticking towards the celestial event, parents are united in their plea for proactive measures to protect their children from harm.

The decision to cancel classes stems from the recognized risks associated with looking directly at the sun during a solar eclipse. Such actions can lead to solar retinopathy, a permanent photochemical injury to the eye’s macular tissue caused by harmful solar radiation, according to the information provided in the Post report. Following previous solar eclipses, reports of this condition have spiked, with U.S. eye doctors witnessing a surge in visits post-2017 eclipse, according to health reports.

In light of these concerns, the New York City Department of Education has taken steps to ensure that students receive proper guidance on safety measures ahead of the eclipse. Jenna Lyle, a spokeswoman for the department, emphasized the commitment to prioritizing the safety and well-being of young people, as was noted in the Post report.  Teachers have been instructed to offer safety tips to students, aiming to educate them about the risks associated with direct sun exposure during the eclipse.

While recognizing the importance of safety precautions, the New York City Department of Education clarified that the city is not within the path of the total solar eclipse, the report in the Post said. As a result, schools in the city will remain open, with no changes to dismissal times or afterschool programming.

As the solar eclipse approaches, the focus remains on educating students about the importance of eye safety and ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect them from the dangers of direct sun exposure. With schools playing a pivotal role in promoting safety awareness, students can enjoy the eclipse safely and responsibly, without compromising their health.