Also, don't miss this handy 'letter to the teacher' re the required supply list and where you stand re green products. At Nature Moms Blog: http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2008/08/12/green-school-supplies-letter-to-teacher/

Happy back to school to all the moms and their little ones!

Enjoy while it lasts . . . Time goes fast. It is so true. Mine are teenagers, and nearly all out of the nest. Lots of time for blogging, and thinking about ways to green the world.

Lately, I am spending a lot of time worrying about biodiversity:

http://lamarguerite.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/getting-biodiversity-onto-the-cultural-radar-screen/

Note recommendation to immerse children more in nature, so that they feel more of a part of the living chain.

I've been thinking lots about the fundraising - which you'll experience soon enough!

http://surelyyounest.blogspot.com/2008/07/back-to-school-greener-fundraising.html

And also about trying to make our school a waste-free school (getting everyone on board to bring reusables):

http://surelyyounest.blogspot.com/2008/08/back-to-school-waste-free-lunches.html

Thanks for the tips! Great post and I hope your kid has a great year.

Thanks for the linkage! Thought you might also be interested in this letter to the teacher about green school supplies:

http://tinyurl.com/5mb8uq

I'm pretty bummed about our school's policy...they pool all the supplies. In other words, your kid might end up with the crayons some other kid's mom bought. I get why they do it, but I don't like it!

Some of the concerns raised here remind me why we homeschool. (there are many more :o) As far as health goes, at home my children breathe purified air, drink purified water, eat what I want them to eat, and actually get to DO physical activities AND art. Imagine that! I don't have to worry about carpet in their classroom causing allergies or illness, what comes out of the water fountain, or what toxic cleaners the teacher is using to clean. Nor do I have to accept a teacher who knows less than me about these things educating my kids!

ACMI SEALS ARE GARBAGE AND HAVE NO GOVERMNENTAL REGULATORY VALUE. THEY ARE A MARKETING GIMMICK TO SELL THEIR SEALS FOR WHICH THEY CHARGE ROYALTY FROM MANUFACTURERS,YES ROYALTIES AND TRICK CONSUMERS. DO A SEARCH AND REPORT NON-TOXIC SEALS TO CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMISSION

Being a teacher who developed seizures after working at two different toxic schools, I wanted to give a word of warning. Even if the school has a policy of only spraying on weekends, holidays, and posting the dates, the custodians don't always follow the rules.
Make sure your teachers don't use plug in air fresheners.
There also is a marker that uses Xylene solvent that teachers purchase over the internet. Parents don't always know. If your student starts having health problems, or seems zoned out, gets shaky handwriting, or seems altered, be alert and investigate. (school buses can also give carbon-monoxide poisoning, besides benzene exposure)

My son developed tremors after his teacher used Lysol every time a child sneezed or coughed. After 4 years, his handwriting still has not fully recovered. My daughter also developed allergies and asthma.

I now home school and would never again send my children to a regular school. There is also the perfumes the other students pour on themselves (especially Jr High)

My partner and I are the owners of Modern Mermaids Eco-Friendly Products and I would like to share our alternative to chemical hand sanitizers with you. They are called Sweet Tingly Mint Hand Foamys and are the absolute safest product on the market without alcohol or synthetic fragrance. Please see us at www.modernmermaids.com.

Thanks!

Audra Conklin

I am a mother who home schools. For me the illnesses we used to face are almost non existent in our home. We don't use handsanitizers either. To me, killing all germs creates a void and weakens the immune system.
The best way to keep our childrens bodies functioning well is to feed them fruits and vegetables, few junk treats, no sodas and much water. A healthy body will sustain them and a mind not befuddled by sugars and artificial ingredients is a stronger mind, a mind that is not hungry for more crappy food, but instead hungry for knowledge, for knowledges sakes.
Chemicals in the classroom are an OSHA standards violation. I think it would be best to notify the school that your children aren't to be in the same room as many of these carcinogens or at least while they are being used.
Good luck out there!

In our house we're trying to save money by packing lunches, but I was concerned about creating excess waste with paper lunch pages and disposable water bottles. I saw these great reusable kids Klean Kanteen bottles in Domino magazine, avail at www.reusablebags.com

I think finding safe, BPA-free products like these for my family is a step in the right direction. I can't control whose crayons my son ends up with or what kind of tissue they use but I can at least pack him a healthy, responsible lunch.

-Colette