If experts were to issue report cards on the welfare of our children, American schools would receive a big "F" in skin cancer protection and education.

Recent studies indicate that American schools are failing miserably when it comes to protecting students from the ultraviolet rays that cause skin cancer. The grim results show that these schools are not only failing to help protect our kids, they actually discourage those students who try to protect themselves.

In recent years, a study was conducted at schools across the United States to see what steps were being taken to encourage students to take precautions in the sun. The somber indications are that most schools were doing absolutely nothing. Only three percent of schools had guidelines in place to share with their students. Those sun-smart schools are planning outdoor activities during off-peak sunlight hours and offering alternate indoor activities on high UV index days.

Children taking part in outdoor activities should be encouraged to wear hats, sleeves and sunscreen during the peak sunlight hours of 11 am to 3 pm. Again, only a little more than three percent of schools have made the grade by following these protective guidelines.

Another frightening statistic shows that in more than 66 percent of schools, teachers are not allowed to apply sunscreen on students, unless they have been given a doctor's written prescription. Making matters even worse, fewer than five percent of schools have sunscreen available for those students who request it. This is not the lesson that we should be teaching our kids. Most schools ban hats to reduce the spread of head lice, and sunglasses are also banned at most schools. In regards to outdoor school areas, fewer than 20 percent have shaded areas available to provide students with a protective escape from the sun.

It's high time to give school principals some sun safety lessons. At the time of this study, nearly 70 percent of school principals felt that alerting students to the dangers of UV exposure was a waste of time and resources. Others claimed to be unaware that spending a lot of time in the direct sunlight on the school playground, could increase students' risks of acquiring skin cancer. A full 84 percent of principals, on the other hand, admitted that their students often spent a lot time outdoors during peak sunlight hours.

If schools are really going to provide the protection and education that our children need and deserve, they're going to have to make some changes. The report suggested the following improvements:

* Planting trees can beautify the schoolyard and provide necessary shade for students.
* Structures should be built to create shaded areas, and wider overhangs could be added to all school buildings. This alone would offer protection for many students.
* Every effort should be made to schedule outdoor activities before or after peak sunlight hours.
* The use of sunscreen should not only be permitted, but also required, for all students. A doctor's note should never be a prerequisite for teachers applying sunscreen.
* Students must be allowed to wear hats and sunglasses during outdoor activities.
* Health class curricula should include lessons on skin cancer. Students must be taught the causes, effects and prevention of this potentially deadly disease.

It's not always easy to encourage children and teenagers to make smart choices, particularly when the negative effects won't come into play until decades later. Even so, these are lessons that must be taught, and school is the sensible place to start. As parents, teachers and principals, we all share a responsibility and a duty to keep our kids well educated and safe.

There are schools failing in their sun smarts, and those teachers and principals must be taught a few lessons, as well. If we fail to teach students about proper sun protection, our kids will suffer in the end. Joelle Applebe