Parents' Top Ten School Safety Concerns for Their Child
From the time their baby is born, parents are always on the lookout for potential dangers that could harm the child. Investigating safety measures in your child's school is just as important as baby-proofing your house because your child still needs you to provide a safe environment. Before you sign the form or send in your tuition check, make sure that the school you chose will be a safe place for your child -- physically, emotionally and academically.
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Approachable Staff
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The people who will be safeguarding your child for the majority of his waking hours should be kind and approachable. You should be made to feel, by both the principal and your child's primary teacher, that they can be spoken to should a problem arise.
Informed Staff
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Aside from being on the lookout for each child's general happiness, the teacher and principal should be well-versed in the symptoms of bullying, depression, anxiety, learning disorders and other common childhood problems. The most concerned and caring teacher cannot help a child if she doesn't know that he is suffering in the first place.
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Safe Neighborhood
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The type of neighborhood that your child's school is in can affect the population of its students and the safety of the building. If your child's school is in a dangerous neighborhood, he should not be allowed to walk to school by himself or to stay there after hours. This might mean that he cannot participate in after-school activities simply because the building is too dangerous after dark or that he cannot arrive at school before the staff gets there.
A dangerous neighborhood can also attract unsavory students with greater access to weapons than those in a safe neighborhood or with a greater proclivity toward bullying.
Police Surveillance
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Any school is a potential target for violence because of the high concentration of people within, made up of mostly children who are generally helpless.
If your child's school is in a dangerous neighborhood or runs a high risk of being targeted, you should make sure that it maintains a good connection with the local police department. The police should be on call to help the school should any problems arise, and if necessary, a constant police surveillance should be maintained.
Fire Department Connection
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The school should be in close contact with the local fire department in case of emergency and should run regular fire drills so students know how to act in case of a fire.
Medical Personnel Connection
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The school should know how to quickly get in touch with the local hospital or ambulance system in case of a medical emergency.
Nurse on Staff
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Every school should have a nurse on staff to take care of children who are sick or take regular medication. The nurse should know when to advise the parents to pick up their children and take them home, how to detect a fever or other contagious illness, and how to administer medication or shots for children who need it during school hours.
A school staff should also include a social worker, speech therapist, special education tutor and tutors for advanced students to make sure that the needs of every child are being met.
Decent Student Population
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The population of your child's grade can greatly affect his school experience, in both negative and positive ways. Before sending your child to a certain school, make sure that the children who will be in his class are, overall, kind, welcoming children who suit your child's specific personality.
Teacher Supervision
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Students should be supervised from the time they get off the bus in the morning until they get on the bus in the afternoon, including lunchtime and recess hours.
Certified Bus Company
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The bus company itself should be certified for safety to make sure that your child's ride home is as safe as possible. The driver should instill confidence in you that your child is in good hands during his ride home.
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References
- Photo Credit school image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
