A Healthy Schools Celebration
May 6th, 2010National Healthy Schools Day 2010 generated 10 national and 45 state and local events around the country. Many minds were focused on making schools safer and healthier places to learn and grow, from the nitty gritty -- green cleaning trainings, garden groundbreakings, webinars and workshops -- to the lofty -- gubernatorial proclamations, awards announcements, and legislative resolutions.
Here in California, the legislature passed the California Healthy Schools Day Resolution recognizing April 26th as "California Healthy Schools Day." Championed by Assemblywoman Julia Brownley with help from the Green Schools Initiative and children's health advocates, the resolution encourages schools to take steps to improve indoor air quality, reduce cleaning costs, and safeguard health by switching to independently certified green cleaning products.
"Too many children miss school because of chronic illnesses such as asthma that have been linked to toxic chemicals present in many school cleaning products," Assemblywoman Brownley said. "Keeping children healthy in school and ready to learn is the most important thing parents, schools and industry can do to brighten their future and revitalize the state's economy. Switching to safer cleaning products will create a healthier environment and reduce asthma triggers."