Safety at school allows children to look forward to being in an encouraging environment, promoting social and creative learning. If by any chance, their safety is not met, children are at constant risk and may stop showing up. Promoting school safety creates an open space for kids to learn and explore many new things.
Students of all ages require a safe learning environment for their better education and development. Research continues to illustrate children who feel unsafe at school perform worse academically and are more at risk for getting indulged in drugs and delinquency.
Both government and private school are faced by the major crisis of safety and security. The school boards meet with teachers and parents to listen and suggest solution about their children’s issue. State and federal governments should take steps to improve school safety and law enforcement as the nation realizes the importance of the issue and how its impacting children’s future.
Increased Violence In School
Increased violence in schools is a major concern for the education sectors. Violent acts in schools occur at all educational level with 8% of students involved in at least one physical fight at school and 6% missing school at least once in a month because of security fault.
Witnessing acts of violence can also cause intense fear in students as well as staff members, making the school environment a distressing place.
Recently Maharashtra school education department issued guidelines on school safety stating, “Every school and junior college should install CCTV’s at the main entrance, campus and exit gates. Every child’s attendance should be marked thrice a day while sending messages to parents if their wards are absent. Even no child should be punished in such a way that could cause mental or physical trauma.”
Digital Safety
With a higher number of teachers using technology to educate their students, the need to understand and promote safe internet usage is critical. Online, children are at risk of being bullied by peers and being taken advantage of by adults preying on younger folks. Exposure to inappropriate content and disturbing images and language should also be considered when using computers or tablets in the classroom.
According to a report, 55% of LGBT students report being cyberbullied, and 15 % of high school students have experienced this as well. Kids who are in an environment where bullying takes place are more at risk for suicidal behaviors compared to students who are not exposed to bullying.
Encouraging Healthy Environment
Safety in schools is necessary to support the academic success of each child. It provides them the opportunity to learn and achieve their dreams. A policy on school safety promotes learning and feeling of school unity with a decreased level of violence.