School Safety
Highlights:
Students learn best and achieve their full potential in safe and orderly classrooms. This positive academic environment begins with safe families and safe communities.
Statistically, schools continue to be one of the most secure places for our children. As Americans, NEA members have no tolerance for violence at school. That's why we're working as part of the greater society;and in our individual neighborhoods to improve them.
Some of us argue for "hard" responses such as metal detectors, added security personnel and zero-tolerance for weapons possession. Others favor "soft" solutions that include more counseling, conflict-resolution programs, and better communications between school and home.
It will take a combination of both approaches, administered with reason and centered in respect, to keep our children- with the education employees who work in our schools-from harm.
How NEA Is Working for Safe Schools
NEA and its affiliates are working to address the root causes of violence among students. Toward that end, we are sharing effective strategies to:
- Reduce and eliminate bullying and harassment
- Expand access to counseling, anger management and peer mediation
- Provide ways for students to communicate with adults about rumors and threats
- Develop instruction that teaches values like respect and responsibility, and expand opportunities for kids to work with adult role models in after-school education and recreation programs.
Through its Safe Schools Program, NEA works with other national organizations to advocate for safe schools and communities and to create a positive learning environment for all students. NEA maintains a clearinghouse on school safety, provides technical assistance to affiliates, funds state and local projects, and delivers school safety workshops and training. Among the topics addressed: safe environments, emergency preparedness, community coalitions, and positive school-community relations.
NEA Lobbies for Policies and Laws Related to School Safety
NEA lobbies for school policies as well as state and federal laws that would minimize disruptions and help make kids safer. We encourage elected officials to provide resources for smaller classes, for example, and we support alternative programs for chronically disruptive or troubled students. We support legislation that would require states, districts, and schools to have plans to prevent and respond effectively to bullying and harassment, and we speak out in favor of common-sense gun laws that keep weapons out of the hands of children.
NEA also is a member of the National Safe Schools Partnership, an informal coalition of leading education and other groups calling on Congress to take action to prevent bullying and harrassment in schools. The Partnership is proposing to change federal law through proposed amendments to the No Child Left Behind Act.
What Can You Do To Foster Safe Schools?
You can help by coordinating education and recreation programs and by creating partnerships with law-enforcement and social-service agencies.
In addition, parents and teachers need to communicate with their children and with each other about issues related to children's health and safety.
