Safe School Initiatives

Reasons to invest in violence prevention go beyond threat mitigation

Consequences of unsafe schools

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Research has shown that unsafe schools have been linked to poorer health in students and cause an increase in dropout rates. Academically, unsafe schools yield lower test scores and lower gains in academic performance over time.

Poorer performance from educators is also seen as a result of unsafe schools. What is worse, students who attend unsafe schools tend to take matters into their own hands when it comes to resolving conflict.

Academic enhancement supports reasons to fund safe schools initiatives 

Certainly investing in safety and security measures for the sake of creating a safe environment is the right thing to do.  But financially, to do all the things necessary to improve the situation may not be feasible.  But when you add in the academic benefits of improved safety to the equation, the paradigm changes and the leverage to secure funding may be increased.  This may be difficult to realize, however, as the synergies between safety and academic performance are not always palpable.

A safe school climate

Studies of safe schools revealed several common characteristics shared by these institutions.  And by looking at them side by side, you can see safety and security measures enable the existence of these attributes.  

1. The main focus of educators and management is academics.    
2. Genuine respect between peoples is evident.
3. Positive attitudes which manifest themselves through a moral respect for the school.  School is a place that is cared for by students and teachers.  It is a place they like to attend.
4. Effort and achievement is recognized and rewarded.  
5. Fairness. Discipline rules are clearly stated and equally enforced. Nothing creates more resentment when one group (say athletes) gets away with more or are treated more leniently than another group.  This breeds hatred, anger and ultimately violence.  Even a perception of unequal justice factors into behavior.
6. A clean and orderly school.  Custodial staff is given support and due respect.  Teachers make diligent efforts to mitigate chaos in hallways. Both custodians and teachers are engaged with students in the halls.
7. High teacher morale and exceptional professional performance.  

Evaluate and then evaluate again

Efforts to keep schools that are currently safe as well as efforts to rehabilitate schools that are unsafe have something in common.  How to get there or how to sustain it requires continuous process improvement.  Part of the cycle of improvement is to assess the current situation.  Assessment is a place to start or is can be a place to re-evaluate.  Either way, it is critical to success.

Get the money, make the effort

If you secure funding and commit to the journey of making a school safer, you and your safety and security consultant may benefit from incorporating the following suggestions in the plan of action:  

1. Start with taking an inventory of the school’s climate based upon the characteristics of a safe school as mentioned above.  
2. Listen to the students.  To be aware of the level of bullying, drugs, and unhealthy peer pressure going on, go to the source. 
3. Break the code of silence.  Students who act as informants are afraid of reprisal, not only against themselves, but also against the person they are telling on.  This reveals the importance of #5 above. The perception of unequal justice or excessive punishment that could ruin a student’s life, even though that student may be a threat to the safety of others, causes informants to say nothing.    
4. Invest time and treasure in bullying prevention and intervention programs with unambiguous policies and procedures that support these efforts. 
5. Promote a culture of safety and respect.  This has to start at the top.  
6. Take steps to ensure all students have a trusting relationship with at least one adult.  Even if it is not a family member. 
7. Make continuous process improvement part of any safety and security program.  This ensures you sustain the progress you made and helps to improve upon your successes.   

I would like to acknowledge Dr. Del Elliot who was a significant influence for this post.  Dr. Elliot explained these principals in a speech he gave at a safe school symposium held at Columbine High School in 2013.