School safety has especially been an issue over the last few decades, and will continue to be a problem. However, it is possible for school officials and educators to improve school safety by increasing their knowledge of peer dynamics at particular age groups, and by planning proactive measures to decrease peer harassment as well as peer violence. Often times, students in schools who are labeled "bullies" are seen as untouchable by other students. It is necessary for school officials to begin proactively changing schools in order to create an environment that will encourage the student population to actively denounce acts of peer violence or peer harassment, and to report such events to the appropriate school officials.
This blog is an arena for educators to read and report recent research and literature related to school safety. It is also a place for educators to offer suggestions for improving school safety. Hopefully, this blog can play a small part in keeping school safe for children and adolescents.
9 comments:
Chris,
I think you will get a lot of hits on your blog because this is one of the most important issues facing schools today. As parents and teachers keeping our kids safe is always uppermost in our minds. The nation has been in a constant state of aprehension over the safety of our children since 911, Columbine, etc. Hence the zero tolerance policy. My opinion is that as long as we have trailers we would not be able to adequately protect children form danger. Everyday I think about how best to educate and keep my students safe.
I remember growing up when school was the safe haven and violence was a minor scuffle which teachers and the principle could easy resolve. Today the resolving of issues can lead to grave consequences for school staff and other students. Keeping school safe is something that all parents should be involved in along with educators.
Frank
School safety is a great concern for all administrators and educators. As a principal of a private school, occassionally, I was faced with a trouble student but our budget did not warrant me just kicking out students and families. Many people think that private schools are better because you can pick and choose your students. That is true to a certain degree, but sometime the need to make ends meet get in the way and you end up dealing with incidents that you would normally axe immediately. Of course, I am not talking about major crimes - but repetitive bullying, fighting and disrespect. We have expelled kids, but it can take a longer time then expected. The board would ask that you find a positive way to deal with the situation, rather than expel a kid whose family is a financial supporter. Julia
On the heels of several recent tragic events, I think that this is an excellent topic for a blog. Of growing concern for many parents, educators, students, and other stakeholders is how best to go about achieving the level of safety that everyone expects and deserves. It is my hope that students are also aware of the part that they play in keeping educational facilities safe. Staff and students minimizing incidents that could prove dangerous and even fatal only serves to promote the idea that schools are places to be feared.
Chris, I love that fact that your blog isn't just for educators, but that there is a link for parents. We all know that the root of issues belongs in the home; therefore, including families in all we do is extremely important.
Mendi
Safety runs deeper than violence. Ill repaired older schools are a haven for accidents waiting to happen. To be sure school violence and bullying are huge factors contibuting to potential problems but when looking at school sfaety there is really so much more to consider.
Ami
School safety is a looming issue in our school communities. The issues that involve this phenomenon do not just belong to our schools, but to our communities and the families of our students.
Schools work hard to minimize these occurrences, but often times parents have not been proactive in monitoring their children.
We have to take our school safety efforts literally to the streets so that we can more effectively manage incidents, as well as communicating to the entire community.
Chris, we really do need to educate ourselves on what to recognize as possible signs of potential violence or violent behavior. During this summer, I visited an elementary school and my middle school aged neice was with me. We were looking at group photos taken at this school during the school year---my neice pointed out to me that a few of the boys were displaying gang signs! Wow! Obviously, the school staff person(nor anyone in the school who looked at the photo) had any idea of what the hand signs represented. Educators must be educated on recognizing signs of violence and other problems.
Dedra Baskin
First, let me commend your design - I liked the way you listed websites to the right side
to make it easy for those interested to have easy access to information.
As for the topic, keeping our schools safe continues to be an area that educators,
parents, and the general public continue to be concerned about. Look at Virginia Tech as
an example...I never imagined a college campus to be a place to worry about safety. As
a mother of a high school senior, I am concerned about where my daughter will attend,
but I also realize, no place is completely safe.
Christina
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