School Safety – Keeping Kids Safe
Parents and Schools Collaborating to Keep Children Safe at School
Aug 26, 2009
School safety is a topic with broad meaning and ranges from the serious (drugs and gang activities) to the often less covered school bus and crossing safety. Although topics like gang activities and drug abuse are important, the media coverage on these topics is frequent. However also newsworthy are safety issues that pertain to traffic, school bus transportation, general security, and bullying behavior.
Safety Issues
The road to school can take several forms beginning with walking and ending with the school bus. No matter what route a child takes, children need to be aware of certain safety rules.
Crossing Safety
Children learn at a very early age to look both ways before crossing the street. Nevertheless, road safety involves more than yielding to on-coming traffic. Since people drive cars and people can be unpredictable, children need to grasp and acknowledge the fact that there are careless drivers who cause many serious accidents.
For this reason, the first important rule of traffic safety is to stay at least 5-10 feet away from the curb. Other rules:
- Never step off the curb without looking left, than right, and then left again. This is more than merely looking both ways. It is a rule of driving as well.
- When in a group do not assume someone is going to check for on-coming traffic. Everyone in the party should be responsible to check for traffic.
- Always use a crosswalk or corner, and never try to cross from in-between two cars.
- If riding a bicycle to school, never ride it across the street, instead walk the bike across.
School Bus Safety
It is the responsibility of the school bus driver to transport children safety to school. However, to accomplish this task, the driver must focus on driving only. He should not be driving and disciplining children at the same time.
To solve this problem many schools have added a second adult to supervise and discipline. Moreover, parents need to instruct their children on proper school bus etiquette:
- While waiting for the bus stand at least 5-10 feet from the curb.
- Do not step off the curb until the bus has made a complete stop.
- Wait to enter the bus, do not shove or push others to get on the bus first.
- Immediately upon entering the bus, find a seat, and do not block the aisle.
- Do not make any loud noises or throw any objects as this could startle the driver.
- Upon arrival at the school, remain seated until the bus driver has made a complete stop.
School Ground Safety
Upon arrival at the school, instruct the child to go directly to their designated drop-off spot or inside the building.
If there is a playground, instruct children on its proper usage:
- Use equipment as designed and intended
- Do not throw rocks, food, or other objects
- Do not shove or push
School Security Policies and Procedures
Most schools have developed policies and procedures related to building safety, which includes: secured entrances, check-in policy, metal detectors, and closed circuit monitors.
Children need to respect and adhere to these policies. Children should never:
- Prop-open exit doors
- Forget to wear school ID badges
- Give out personal locker combinations
- Overlook suspicious looking people or behavior; report it to school officials
Bullying Behavior
Conflict resolution is something that comes with age and maturity. That being said, no child should have to endure intimidation, fear, and physical abuse by another child. Many schools have designed anti-bullying programs to help children deal with this serious problem. Additionally, parents play an integral role in helping children cope and deal with bullies.
One of the best ways to accomplish this is through talking. The family table is one of the best places to talk. Parents often learn a great deal about their children during dinnertime chat.
In conclusion, parents entrust the school system to keep their child safe while in their care. Many programs are in place for this purpose. However, parents must also take an active approach in educating their child on school safety. By working together, the parents, school officials, and teachers can provide for a safer school environment.
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