Eye protection crucial in chemistry class

I applaud Ms. Falguni Soni (the high school teacher recently featured on your front page May 12) for her ardent desire to instruct her students in science and particularly in chemistry. She must, however, set a good example in all aspects of chem lab protocol, the most important of which is safety. I see that she is not wearing any eye protection as she conducts her chemical experiment. In this case safety glasses would be a minimum requirement. Goggles or a splash shield would be even better protection for her eyesight and for the eyesight of her young students.

It is important for her students to learn chemistry (one of my favorite subjects), but it is even more important that the children's eyes are not damaged by chemical splashes that can blind them for the rest of their lives. I ask all chem teachers to lead by example in regard to lab safety, and especially when a picture of them is widely distributed on the front page of a newspaper that is read by thousands of readers.

James Pajcic

Mount Prospect