Ban Sharpie Markers From LaCrosse Elementary School Art Rooms

Ever wonder what a closed room of 20+ kids all using sharpie markers smells like? This isn't about kids huffing markers, the goal of this petition is to ensure that our children are not exposed to large doses of Inhalants in school. This concern directly impacts children as young as age 4. Please sign this and back us in our effort to make classrooms free of questionable supplies. Thank you in advance for your support.

One day I went to pick up my child from school for a dentist appointment. My child was in Art class during that time so I went in the art room to find my 6 year old daughter and all of her class mates drowsy from Sharpie Marker fumes! Every student in that Art room was using a marker, and the smell was so strong I began to feel dizzy and "high" myself in only a matter of minutes! When I asked the art teacher about it, she said that she didn't notice any smell.

Clearly there was a problem here, so I took my concerns to the principal of this school. I was told that the issue had been addressed and that the teachers would no longer use these markers in their class. This made me feel much better about my child's future art creations, but only temporarily. It turns out that only after a month or so they began to reintroduce these deadly markers back into the projects, with the concern that they didn't want to let the markers go to waste by not using what they had in stock. I was then told that Sharpies were found to be "nontoxic" so it was no longer a concern. This took place in 2015.

The beginning of the 2016 school year, the only item listed on the elementary school supply list for Art was...you guessed it, 2 packs of sharpie markers!?! Why? I thought we had gone through this already! I thought the principal said she agreed to removing these dangerous markers! Why is no one doing something about this? I did a LOT of research trying to figure out why they would be considered non toxic and what I found was that the ink is non toxic to your skin but the solvents used in this marker were in fact a harmful inhalant when not used under "normal use conditions" according tho the MSDS. So what is the normal use for a Sharpie? It is when one person takes off the cap and uses it to write one label then puts cap back on. The way the classrooms are using these markers falls under the misuse category.

http://www1.mscdirect.com/MSDS/MSDS00018/73261240-20150117.PDF

I told my children that they were not allowed to use these markers in their art classes, and when my daughter refused the sharpie, her art teacher told her that she would just have to go over my daughters pencil drawing with the sharpie for her. How is that art?

There are SOOOOOO many different types of art materials to work with, why this need for Sharpie?!

I began to start asking around, other parents, other art teachers, and what I discovered was that every single school in the Lacrosse area uses Sharpie markers as their go to product for drawing and that 100% of the parents were completely unaware that their child is being exposed to these toxic, brain damaging fumes for around 45minutes every day or so. Most parents thought that the markers were being used by the teachers to write student names on various things. Most of the art teachers that I spoke to were quite nonchalant about the concern, and one teacher even told me that Sharpie markers were non toxic so it wasn't a concern for her, and that she had been using them for over 30 years! Wow, if you want non toxic why not use Crayola, but for a kindergartner why not just uses a black crayon?!

This issue needs to be discussed more, and changes need to be made to our art rooms. I am an artist and when I was in Elementary school I used pencils, clay, yarn and glue. I was in high school the first time I ever even heard of Sharpie Markers. Sharpies are an Adult art tool, not a four year old's main drawing utensil!-Inhalant- Inhalants, including Sharpie markers, can cause severe illness, such as neurological damage or even death. An inhalant is characterized by the National Institute on Drug Abuse as "breathable chemical vapors that users intentionally inhale because of the chemicals' mind-altering effects." Other examples of inhalants include cleaning solvents and paint cans.

-The strong stench of a Sharpie marker is a nuisance to some, yet a tool to get high for others. Sharpies emit toxic fumes that you or your child can sniff to enter a short euphoric state. Also known as "huffing" or "sniffing," many children are taking part in this dangerous habit.

-Addiction- Continuous exposure to inhaling Sharpie markers can lead to unconsciousness. Many young people, however, are testing the boundaries and becoming addicted to the effect of inhalants. Sniffing items such as Sharpies for intoxication purposes can lead to further substance abuse problems. Inhalants are a gateway drug, which means that they do not contain addictive properties but may lead to the use of harder, addictive drugs.

-Signs of Inhalant Abuse-Pay attention to your child to identify the warning signs of possible inhalant abuse. A telltale sign of inhalant abuse is a constant bloody nose. Further physical signs include spots and sores around the mouth, red eyes and nausea. Inhalant abusers may also suffer from nausea and have a constant aroma of chemicals on clothes or the body. Slurred speech and unexplained anger and anxiety are also common symptoms of huffing or sniffing.

Please sign this petition and lets get these Markers out of our schools. Thank You!

 

Here is more facts and information for you to consider:

http://www.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_get_high_of_a_sharpie?#slide=1

http://www.teenhealthfx.com/answers/alcohol-smoking-drugs/inhalants.detail.html/45680.html

https://teens.drugabuse.gov/national-drug-alcohol-facts-week/drug-facts-chat-day-inhalants

 https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061107172618AAuIeog

http://messageboard.inhalant.org/post/its-so-hard-to-stop-but-i-am-trying-so-hard-2231218

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbSRMuZjNlg

http://www.ehow.com/list_7411423_dangers-sharpie-markers_.html

https://blogs4brownback.wordpress.com/2008/04/16/the-sharpie-a-dangerous-gateway-drug/

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Sharpie_(marker)#Ingredients_and_toxicology

Non toxic--MSDShttp://www.irwin.com/uploads/documents/124_SharpieFine.pdf

vs. same thing different results...they are dangerous! MSDS

http://www1.mscdirect.com/MSDS/MSDS00018/73261240-20150117.PDF

 and....MSDS

 http://www.uline.com/PDF/MH-734.PDF

 which states........

 "Other Information-

To the best of our knowledge, the information

contained herein is accurate. However, neither the above named

supplier nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any liability

whatsoever for the accuracy or completeness of the

information contained herein. Final determination of suitability of any material

is the sole responsibility of the user.

All materials may present unknown hazards and should be used with caution. Although certain hazards are

described herein, we cannot guarantee that

these are the only hazards that exist."

 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!