The media hype suggests that school violence is rampant, is it? How can we make students feel more secure in an environment that is relatively safe and where they have to spend a great deal of time?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

School violence is not rampant. To make students feel more secure at school, the National School Safety Center recommends (see page 250-251 in text):
o School safety must be part of the agenda and parents, teachers, staff, and administrators must take active roles in school safety.
o Developing safety plans that are district-wide in addition to individual school plans is essential.
o School libraries should contain as much information as possible about safety.
o Develop systematic, district-wide reporting systems to collect information on accidents, disciplinary problems, vandalism, security problems, and child abuse.
o Create individual school safety brochures or develop district-wide brochures to provide parents and other interested parties with ways to help create safe havens where children can learn.
o Continue to develop and revise safety policies.
o Create an advisory group consisting of interested adults and students.
o Become involved in America's Safe Schools Week.
o Identify individual partners in the community who can help shape community opinion.
o Establish public relations committees to promote schools, teachers, staff, administration, and students.
o Publish newsletters that promote schools and what is going on there, particularly new safety initiatives, for the community.