On Monday, Aug. 21, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth and blocks all or part of the sun. To see a total eclipse, where the moon fully covers the sun for a short few minutes, you must be in the “path of totality.” Ohio is too far north to be in the path of totality, but Ohioans will see a partial solar eclipse at around 2:30 pm. NASA has put together an interactive eclipse map that allows you to click on a location and see the calculated eclipse times and duration for that location.
For schools that will be in session on Aug. 21, the eclipse offers a chance to host an unparalleled learning experience for students. Many schools already are making plans to view the event and incorporate it into curriculum and activities for the day. If you’re looking for suggestions, the American Astronomical Society (AAS) and the NASA Eclipse website have compiled a list of eclipse-related websites and educational materials.
Incorporating the eclipse into student learning opportunities should be done conscientiously to ensure student safety. According to NASA, “looking directly at the sun is unsafe except during the brief total phase of a solar eclipse…which will happen only within the narrow path of totality.” At any other time, it is not safe to view the eclipse without the proper precautionary measures. Failure to adhere to proper precautionary measures can result in permanent ocular damage and vision loss.
Schools should start thinking now about how best to take advantage of this learning opportunity without also assuming potential liability. Believe it or not, there have been lawsuits filed against school districts for injuries sustained by children who observed solar eclipses while on school premises. Some potential options to discuss with your school’s attorney include:
- Purchasing eclipse-safety glasses. To date, five manufacturers have certified that their eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers meet the international standard (ISO 12312-2) for such products: American Paper Optics, Baader Planetarium (AstroSolar Silver/Gold film only), Rainbow Symphony, Thousand Oaks Optical, and TSE 17.
- Parental notice. Consider sending home information about the learning experiences the district will offer students and encouraging parents to talk to their children about how to stay safe. If the district will provide viewing opportunities, consider providing parents with the ability to “opt out” of the opportunity in exchange for an alternative learning experience.
- Adjust school hours or close school. Across the country, a few districts have elected to adjust school hours or close schools altogether on Aug. 21, citing potential traffic concerns, heat factors and other student safety concerns, and the timing of the event (occurring near the end of the school day) as the key reasons for the decision. As you discuss whether to adjust your school calendar, keep in mind the minimum state requirements for annual hourly totals, as well as the requirement to consider the compatibility of any proposed calendar change with the scheduling needs of any JVSD, community school or chartered nonpublic that would be affected by reason of student enrollment or shared transportation.