Creating Safe Schools

When this happens, children cannot learn and teachers cannot teach.

Creating a safe place where children can learn and grow depends on a partnership among students, parents, teachers and other community institutions. to prevent school violence:

• Find out how crime threatens schools in your community;
• Take actions to protect children; and
• Promote nonviolent ways to manage conflict.

How do these ideas translate into action? Here are some practical suggestions for young people, parents, school staff and others in the community.

STUDENTS

• Settle arguments with words, not fists or weapons.
• Report crimes or suspicious activities to the police, school authorities, or parents.
• Learn safe routes for traveling to and from school, and know good places to seek help.
• Don't use alcohol or other drugs, and stay away form places and people associated with them.
• Get involved in your school's anti-violence activities - have poster contest against violence, hold anti-drug rallies, volunteer to counsel peers. If theres's no program, help start one.

PARENTS

• Sharpen your parenting skills. Work with your children to emphasize and build their strengths.
• Teach your children how to reduce their risk of being victims of crime.
• Know where your kids are, what they are doing and who they are with at all times.
• Help your children learn nonviolent ways to handle frustration, anger and conflict.
• Become involved in your child's school activities - PTA, field trips and helping out in class or lunch room.
• Work with other parents in your neighborhood to start a McGruff House or other block parent program.

SCHOOL STAFF

• Evaluate your school's safety objectively. Set targets for improvement.
• Develop consistent disciplinary policies, good security procedures, and a response plan for emergencies.
• Train school personnel in conflict resolution, problem solving, crisis intervention, cultural sensitivity, classroom management and counseling skills.
• Work with students, parents, law enforcement, state governments and community-based groups to develop wider-scope crime prevention efforts such as Drug-Free and Gun-Free School Zones.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

• Law enforcement can report on the type of crimes in the surrounding community and suggest ways to make schools safer.
• Community-based groups, church organizations and other service groups can provide counseling, extended learning programs, before and after school activities, school watches and other community crime prevention programs.
• State and local governments can develop model school safety plans and provide funding for schools to implement the programs.
• Local businesses can provide apprenticeship programs, participate in the adopt-a-school programs or serve as mentors to area students.
• Colleges and universities can offer conflict management courses to teachers or assist school officials in developing violence prevention curricula.

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For Information: National School Safety Center 4165 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Suite 290 Westlake Village, CA 91362 805.373.9977	National Association of Elementary School Principals    1615 Duke Street    Alexandria, VA 22314-3438    703.684.3345
Crime Prevention Tips From National Crime Prevention Council 1700 K Street, NW, Second Floor Washington, DC 20006-3817