Boston.com is reporting that a new law went into effect on January 1st in Massachusetts that will require that all children in day care longer than four hours and/or who eat a meal to have their teeth brushed on-site. Parents are allowed to opt out of this rule (at least for the time being).
In a time of rising unemployment, dropping house prices, a growing state fiscal deficit, and terrorism, this is the priority of the State of Massachusetts?
According to an article at WCVB TV Channel 5 in Boston, one daycare center has already begun to put the program in place with a few guidelines:
- "We're providing the toothbrushes, the holders, the cases and the toothpastes, as well," said Chan. (Nicole Chan, who works at Knowledge Beginnings in Needham, Mass.)
- Teachers are the only ones who can hand the child their toothbrush.
I understand the need for good oral hygiene, but I have a few questions:
- Who is going to enforce this mandate?
- What new agency is going to be formed (and funded) to pay for this?
- If these children were at home with their mothers, would their teeth be brushed at noon?
- What will be the penalty is a daycare center does not comply?
- What is the health risk to a child who mistakenly grabs or is handed the wrong toothbrush?
- Is there any way to store a large number of used toothbrushes in a sanitary environment?
This whole idea seems like a nightmare to me. It truly seems to me to be the embodiment of the "Nanny" state.
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