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March 27, 2002
Catalyzing ideas for safer schools
See also: NYSUT Health and Safety Resource Center
Schools become safer when educators get together to share ideas and precautions.
That's what happened at New York State United Teachers' health and safety conference in early March.
NYSUT Effective Teaching Program instructors Donna Christmas and Gail Kelleher provided tips to conference attendees on the state school safety law enacted two years ago, Project SAVE.
When problems escalate, Christmas, a retiree from the South Colonie Teachers Association, and Kelleher, a retiree from the Schenectady Federation of Teachers, advised:
- Students must be told in a strong voice to stop what they are doing;
- Onlookers need to be told to leave the area;
- The group must be told the consequences of not following directions;
- Never get between students who are fighting; and
- Call for help or send a runner.
Signs to look for in students who may become violent include drug and alcohol use, inappropriate access to firearms, serious threats of violence, intolerance for differences, a history of violent behavior, social withdrawal, and excessive feelings of isolation or rejection.
"I thought I knew all the early warning signs," said attendee Russell Clinton of Miller Place, who complimented the presenters for giving him new ideas.
NYSUT offers violence prevention and intervention training in many regions of the state through its Effective Teaching Program; for information, call (800) 528-6208 or see "Effective Teaching" under "Resources" on the union Web site, www.nysut.org.
- Liza Frenette
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