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| More training, resources needed to make all schools safer August 22 , 2006 ALBANY, N.Y. August 22, 2006 - New York State United Teachers today called for additional anti-violence training, more resources - and the continued support of parents and community members - to ensure all public schools are safe havens for children. NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi said all New Yorkers should share a common goal. "Schools must be safe, orderly places for children to learn and for teachers to teach. There should be zero tolerance for any actions that distract students and teachers. High standards for student conduct are directly linked to high standards for student achievement and to our efforts to close the performance gap." NYSUT First Vice President Maria Neira said schools labeled "persistently dangerous" by the state need additional support, and merely requiring school districts to develop anti-violence plans is not enough. "A plan without resources is merely 'shelf art,'" Neira said. "In nearly all cases, these are schools and student populations that face the greatest challenges. These schools need far more support from the state and school districts than they are getting." Neira called on the state to provide additional funding to train teachers and other school employees in violence prevention measures; and additional aid to pay for security; and programs to strengthen support among parents and community members. "It is going to take a combination of measures, including the work of all the key stakeholders, to ensure these schools are safe havens for children who want to learn," Neira said. Neira noted that collecting accurate data - from a clear set of guidelines that measure the scope of school violence - is also essential. "If we don't know which schools may be having problems with disruptive or violent students, we can't know where to direct additional support," Neira said. "Accurate reporting of school violence is an essential first step to solving the problem." NYSUT represents 575,000 teachers, school-related professionals, academic and professional faculty in higher education, professionals in education and health care and retirees. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO. -30- |
CONTACT: NYSUT Media Relations and Communications. (518) 213-6000, Ext. 6313. E-Mail: mediarel@nysutmail.org. |
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