1. Predict School Violence2. Prevent School Violence3. Focus Resources on Schools4. Strengthen the System5. Develop a Crisis Management Plan6. Create an Orderly Climate for Learning

These strategies are, of course, not meant to be used in isolation These strategies are, of course, not meant to be used in isolation of one another; a combination of all or some of the strategies, of one another; a combination of all or some of the strategies, depending on your school climate, will surely help you create a depending on your school climate, will surely help you create a

safe school.safe school.

Chapter 12: Creating Safe SchoolsChapter 12: Creating Safe Schools

Collect and analyze dataIdentify problem students and provide support

Identify problem teachers and provide support and training

Chapter 12: Creating Safe SchoolsChapter 12: Creating Safe Schools

Strategy #2: Prevent Strategy #2: Prevent School ViolenceSchool Violence

Chapter 12: Creating Safe SchoolsChapter 12: Creating Safe Schools

Toughen Weapons Laws: What specific policies should a principal advocate in order to achieve this?

Deal with Violent Students: What specific strategies should a principal use?

Strategy #3: Focus Strategy #3: Focus Resources on SchoolsResources on Schools

►Teach Violence PreventionTeach Violence Prevention►Establish Task ForcesEstablish Task Forces

Chapter 12: Creating Safe SchoolsChapter 12: Creating Safe Schools

How could a principal implement this How could a principal implement this strategy considering the other financial strategy considering the other financial

demands a school faces?demands a school faces?

Strategy #4: Strengthen Strategy #4: Strengthen the Systemthe System

► Improve the implementation of rules and Improve the implementation of rules and regulations in schoolregulations in school

Chapter 12: Creating Safe SchoolsChapter 12: Creating Safe Schools

How, realistically, can a principal affect How, realistically, can a principal affect these systems that are seemingly out of these systems that are seemingly out of

their jurisdiction?their jurisdiction?

Strategy #5: Develop a Strategy #5: Develop a Crisis Management PlanCrisis Management Plan

► Form a School-wide Crisis Management TeamForm a School-wide Crisis Management Team► Conduct an Ongoing, School-wide Safety AuditConduct an Ongoing, School-wide Safety Audit► Develop Policies and Procedures for Various EmergenciesDevelop Policies and Procedures for Various Emergencies► Conduct Safety DrillsConduct Safety Drills► Develop a School-wide Discipline PlanDevelop a School-wide Discipline Plan► Provide a Means for Students to Communicate Information to Provide a Means for Students to Communicate Information to

StaffStaff► Teach Students Alternatives to ViolenceTeach Students Alternatives to Violence► Evaluate Administrative Practices of the SchoolEvaluate Administrative Practices of the School► Use Resources to Identify Students “At-Risk” for Violent Use Resources to Identify Students “At-Risk” for Violent

BehaviorBehavior

Chapter 12: Creating Safe SchoolsChapter 12: Creating Safe Schools

Strategy #6: Create an Strategy #6: Create an Orderly Climate for LearningOrderly Climate for Learning

► Establish and Emphasize GoalsEstablish and Emphasize Goals► Establish Rules and ProceduresEstablish Rules and Procedures► Improve Teacher-Student Relations in the Improve Teacher-Student Relations in the

ClassroomClassroom

Chapter 12: Creating Safe SchoolsChapter 12: Creating Safe Schools

What specific rules and procedures would be What specific rules and procedures would be most helpful in creating a safe school?most helpful in creating a safe school?

What specific strategies can a principal and/or What specific strategies can a principal and/or teacher use to improve teacher-student relations?teacher use to improve teacher-student relations?

What are the pros and cons of each of the six previous strategies?

Beside creating safer schools, what are the other positive outcomes of these strategies?

Which of the strategies (or combination of strategies) would you be most likely to implement in your school and why?

Beyond these six strategies, what else can principals do to ensure that their school is a safe one?

Chapter 12: Creating Safe SchoolsChapter 12: Creating Safe Schools

Early Warning Timely Response 10

This is the responsibility of the student, the school and the home.

•Attitude that all children can achieve academically and behave appropriately•Adequate resources and programs •Expectations are communicated clearly

Students whose families are involved in their growth in and outside of school are

more likely to experience school success.

•Make parents feel welcome in school•address barriers to their participation•keep families positively engaged in their children’s education•support families in expressing concerns•support families in getting the help they need to address behaviors that cause concern

When these links are weak, the risk of school violence is heightened and the

opportunity to serve children who are at risk for violence or who may be affected by

it is decreased.Everyone must be committed:

•families•support services•community police

•faith-based community•community at large

Positive relationship with an adult who is available to provide support when needed

is one of the most critical factors in preventing student violence.

•Opportunities should exist for adults to spend quality personal time with children•foster positive student interpersonal relations•encourage students to help each other•feel comfortable assisting others in getting help when needed

Children come to school with many different perceptions - and misconceptions - about death, violence and the use of weapons.

Teach children. . . . .• about the dangers of firearms•appropriate strategies for dealing with feelings•expressing anger in appropriate ways•resolving conflicts•that they are responsible for their actions

A major source of conflict in many schools is the perceived or real problem of bias and

unfair treatment of students

Effective schools . . . . .•Communicate to students and the greater community that all children are valued and respected•there is a deliberate and systematic effort to establish a climate that demonstrates care and a sense of community

It has been found that peers often are the most likely group to know in advance about

potential school violence.

Schools must create ways for students . . . .•to report potential school violence in a protected manner•to support and foster positive relationships between students and adults•to feel safe providing information about a potentially dangerous situation

It is very important that children feel safe when expressing their needs , fears and

anxieties to school staff.

When students do not have access to caring adults, feelings of . . .

•Isolation•rejection and

•disappointmentare more likely to occur, increasing the probability of acting-out behavior

The referral system must be appropriate and reflect federal and

state guidelines.

•School Counselors•Student Assistance Teams

•School Social Workers•School Nurses

•School Resource Officers

School-based before and after school programs can be effective

in reducing violence

Effective programs are well supervised and provide children with support and a range of options such as . . . . . .

Counseling TutoringMentoring Cultural ArtsCommunity Service ClubsAccess to Computers Help with

Homework

In addition to their academic mission, schools must help

students become good citizens.

•Schools stand for the civic values set forth in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. . . .Patriotism -Freedom of Religion, speech and press -Equal protection/nondiscrimination -Due process/fairness•Schools also reinforce and promote the shared values of their local communities such as honesty, kindness, responsibility and respect for others•Schools should acknowledge that parents are the primary moral educators of their children and work in partnership with them

Schools must openly and objectively examine circumstances that are potentially dangerous

for students and staff and situations where members of the school community feel

threatened or intimidated.

•Continually assess progress by identifying problems and collecting information regarding progress toward solutions•Share this information with students, families and the community at large

Youth need assistance in planning their future and in developing skills that will

result in success.

•Provide students with community service opportunities•work-0study programs•apprenticeships•help connect students to caring adults in the communityThese relationships, when established early, foster in

youth a sense of hope and security for the future.