Even at low levels, the presence of lead in the bloodstream has been found to slow a child's development. Children may begin displaying learning and behavioral problems, be unable to remember what they have just been taught, be excitable or hyperactive, have an inability to pay attention, get frustrated quickly, be aggressive or violent, and have a lowered IQ. Children poisoned by lead are seven times more likely to drop out of school.
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How does lead poisoning affect education?
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Teachers often face the consequences of childhood lead poisoning without even knowing that is what they are seeing. Here are some common symptoms:
- Children who cannot sit still long enough to read a sentence
- Children who seem bright enough but just don't seem to learn
- Children who act out every impulse
It doesn't take many such children in a classroom to disrupt learning for all the students.
Teachers who do not realize that these may be symptoms of lead poisoning may feel overwhelmed with frustration at their seeming inability to teach these children. You need to understand that neither you nor the child has failed. The failure is the community's in not preventing this invisible monster from stealing this child's future.
If you suspect lead poisoning, check your student's file to see whether there is any documentation of blood lead level testing.
- Even though it is NYS Law to test children at ages ONE and again at TWO, not all students have been tested, so there may not be any information.
- But if there is a report of elevated blood lead either at the present time or in the past, consider the possibility that the behavior you are seeing is not willfulness or poverty or stupidity, but lead poisoning.
- Just like children with other types of brain damage, children who are lead poisoned can learn. But they need special help, and they may never learn as well, or as quickly.
NEW TRAINING FOR EDUCATORS
The LAMPP Project in partnership with the Healthy Environments for Children Initiative at UCONN is very pleased to announce the release of their new lead awareness training for educators, "Lead Poisoning: Limiting the Ability to Learn." This free training is now available on the LAMPP web site and they encourage anyone in education to take advantage of this excellent training.
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The training has been designed to raise educators' awareness of lead poisoning and enhance their ability to respond to the needs of children harmed by lead. Please forward an invitation to participate to any educator or educator organization you know and simply have them follow this link http://www.connecticutchildrens.org/lampptraining to take part in the online training. It's free, informative, and easy to follow.
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There are separate modules for Classroom Educators, Administrators, and personnel from Health Services, Family Resource Centers, Pupil Support Services, Private Schools and Child Daycare Facilities.
ROCHESTER LEAD SAFE SCHOOLS POLICY (pdf)
- In September 2007, the Rochester Board of Education approved a school-based lead paint monitoring policy. In a 6-to-0 vote, the board approved a first-ever policy that will train school custodians to monitor schools for the presence of lead paint. The policy directs the district to avoid the use of lead-bearing building products; collaborate with community partners and communicate with parents and staff regarding the risks of lead exposure; recommends the use of the best scientific evidence available to prevent exposure to lead; and requires annual reports regarding visual lead paint inspections and remediation.
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