School Safety

By Bob Duff

Bob supports the district Core Values with emphasis on nurturing a safe environment and encouraging enrollment in the extended services.

Bob feels that safety is an issue that can also be one of education, wherein trust encourages a student-teacher or student-administrator relationship. Where students are assured of their anonymity additional eyes and ears are made available to perform safety inspection of others by their peers. Trust is essential. School is a home-away-from home for students and they will, if encouraged, protect it. They must be assured that the trust will not be compromised and that is a task for teachers and administrators.

Words victimize many. The terms used in reference to another's religion, race, sex or sexual preference should not be tolerated, particularly in an educational venue. Discussion of bias is not and should not be curricular. All too often students and staff are caught up in the "fun" of slander of character through the use of words. Even the smallest form cannot be ignored as it is offensive and needs to be treated as such.

Threats at school or in transit need to be taken seriously. Swift action must be taken when adults receive information about a threat or possible threat otherwise education cannot take place.