“Parents fear kids’ retinas will be toast from eclipse, demand DOE action!”
So, apparently parents are losing their minds over the upcoming solar eclipse, fearing that their precious little angels will burn their retinas out from staring at the sun like a bunch of tiny daredevils. I mean, sure, it’s a rare event and all, but do we really need to go into full-on panic mode here?
The Department of Education is being bombarded with requests from parents to do more to protect their children’s eyes during the eclipse. Because, you know, it’s the DOE’s responsibility to make sure Timmy doesn’t end up blind because he couldn’t resist staring directly at the sun. Maybe we should also ask them to make sure little Susie doesn’t stick her finger in an electrical socket while they’re at it.
Experts are warning that looking at the sun during the eclipse can cause serious damage, especially for kids. So, parents, instead of relying on the DOE to save the day, maybe take a moment to actually talk to your children about the dangers of staring at the sun. Crazy concept, I know.
But fear not, concerned parents, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has swooped in to save the day with their recommendation of using certified solar viewing glasses. Because nothing says “fun science experiment” like strapping on some dorky glasses to look at the sun.
Some schools are planning to keep students indoors during the eclipse or provide them with safe viewing options like live streams or pinhole projectors. Because, you know, we can’t risk little Jimmy accidentally catching a glimpse of the eclipse and suddenly thinking he’s the next Galileo.
So, parents, take charge and educate your kids about the dangers of staring at the sun without protection. And maybe throw in some common sense while you’re at it. Because if we have to rely on the DOE to save our children from their own curiosity, we might as well just pack it up and call it a day.
In the end, let’s hope that Monday’s solar eclipse will be a lesson in both science and common sense for everyone involved. And if little Timmy ends up with a sunburned retina, well, at least he’ll have a good story to tell at show and tell.
Image:
Source: New York Post
URL: https://nypost.com/2024/04/04/us-news/solar-eclipse-could-damage-students-eyes-as-theyre-released-from-class-parents/