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too many sharpies

Originally uploaded by h. wren

Public schools, or at least Harris Park Elementary School in Adams County, CO are free of the scourge of Sharpie markers.

“Principals make hundreds of decisions everyday based on our best judgment. And in that time, smelling that marker, I felt like, ‘Wow, that’s a very serious marker,’” Benisch said.

Despite the medical evidence, Benisch promised to draw an even clearer line on markers.

“We’ve purged every permanent marker there is in this building,” he said.

Of course, being a public school, scientific evidence is not useful.

In his letter suspending the child, Benisch wrote that smelling the marker fumes could cause the boy to “become intoxicated.”

A toxicologist with the Rocky Mountain Poison Control Center says that claim is nearly impossible.

Dr. Eric Lavonas says non-toxic markers like Sharpies, while pungent-smelling, cannot be used to get high.

Actually, I think the principal is right on this case. I sniffed markers as a child. And just last evening, while labeling a DVD copy, I sneaked a sniff of Orange Sharpie. 30 years later, and I still can’t give up the habit. That’s some good stuff man.

Tags: schools

9 Responses to “The sweet smell of Sharpie”

1. on 06 Apr 2008 at 7:57 pm   Not June Cleaver

   This makes me think of those purple “ditto” sheets we used to get in school. Sometimes the entire classroom would smell toxic. We’d all hold the papers up to our noses and sniff/inhale the smell. Nobody got high from it to my knowledge!

2. on 06 Apr 2008 at 11:45 pm   Phil

   Next he’ll make all students wear deodorant so nobody “gets high” smelling their armpits.

3. on 07 Apr 2008 at 4:16 am   mull-berry

   If sharpies go, then are dry-erase markers next?

4. on 07 Apr 2008 at 8:45 am   Nance Confer

   Permanent marker + 8-year-old = who the hell thought this was a good idea!?

   Not the non-existent “huffing” problem. It’s the “permanent” part I think would have gotten these markers banned long ago.

   Nance

5. on 07 Apr 2008 at 3:16 pm   Brian

   I was offered sharpies in school, I listened to Nancy and just said NO

6. on 07 Apr 2008 at 5:06 pm   Ulrike

   I’ve used Sharpies in front of my kids, but I talk to them about the risks.

7. on 07 Apr 2008 at 6:34 pm   Nance Confer

   Well, at least someone is listening to me, Brian.

   Nance

8. on 08 Apr 2008 at 8:02 pm   Kim

   Congratulations, you’ve taken the first step to recovery.

9. on 12 Apr 2008 at 1:34 pm   Valerie

   Ditto sheets. Mmmmmmmmmm.