Staples 1

Lizzie Staples

Prof. Cook

English 1201.508

24 October 2021

What would make schools a safer place for students?

Sending a child to school can be a scary thought for many parents. Will they be safe at

school, do they have supportive teachers and administration, is the transportation getting their

children there safely, and many other things. As a student who is looking to go into the

education department I am looking forward to helping take some of the stress off of these

worried parents. In the last few years the number of parents worried about their kids at school

has grown. My hope is to inform parents of what is being done to relieve their worries.

There are many websites, news articles, films, etc. that can be used to help parents find

information on school safety. I have revised a few different sources to evaluate what has been

applied to schools over the past few years. Different polls and statistics show that the concern

for children at school by parents is the highest it’s been in over two decades. This is because of

the spike in school shootings, threats, and rise in bullying over the past decade. The following

websites are informative and helpful guides to information about these topics. SchoolSaftey.gov,

Stopbullying.gov, and www.ted.com. I found that the website SchoolSaftey.gov covers many

different topics including bullying, how to assess school threats, training and drills, mental health

safety, school climate, emergency planning, and how to recover a school that has been through

a disaster. The guided information from this website is not only a place for parents to find

information but it allows teachers and administration extra assistance in keeping the

environment safe. This website is laid out in a clear and easy to navigate format. It also allows

administrators to find events and upcoming opportunities to help their school districts become a
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Lizzie Staples

Prof. Cook

English 1201.508

24 October 2021

safer place. I found this website the most helpful and informative. I recommend this website to

school administrators and parents.

Another informative website I revised and gathered information about is

Stopbullying.gov. This website is a very informative site that has many tabs covering parts of

bullying including how to address bystanders, how to build a safe environment in the classroom,

and many other steps to prevent bullying from arising. As a future educator I think this website

should be a required part of guidelines as learning how to help prevent bullying in the

classroom. The creators of this site made it easy to follow as a reader. It provides parents with

information about how schools are changing and how administrators can help look for bullying. I

noticed that the site could use a few more sources of information on how parents can help their

students stay safe online at home and notice a change in their child’s behavior towards certain

people or places. Overall this site is helpful and a good source of basic information to help

parents and administrators put an end to bullying.

Films and video clips are excellent ways to demonstrate and show how schools are

using new safety techniques. I have found many videos and documentaries about what tactics

are being used to keep students safe. One of the new safety factors that most schools have

implemented is keeping police forces in the schools. A school resource officer isn’t there for just

a scare factor but is also a trusted person that kids can vent to and talk to in the halls. The

video, “Protecting students,” on the site vimeo was Created by Manor High School students and

discusses how the fast growing enrollment creates a need for more adults and safety
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Lizzie Staples

Prof. Cook

English 1201.508

24 October 2021

procedures. They express some of their procedures including, a locked door policy at all times,

what to do if someone who is not enrolled enters the campus, upgraded cameras, and many

other safety factors. This makes sure that students, administrators, and staff feel safe at all

times. The deputies on campus are the main safety source for the campus. They deal with

many different situations and assist with many students both in and out of school. This allows

parents and students to feel safe and trusted while being at school. The officers are there to

build relationships with students so that it builds trust and security. I would recommend this

documentary along with many others to parents who are uneasy about what is really going on in

schools today.

Not only are there things to worry about within the walls of the school but there is also

danger outside. The website, nsc.org posted “Staying Safe on Playgrounds” provides

information on playground hazards, sun exposure, age-appropriate activities, and some easy

ways to keep kids safe when playing outside at school. The website is informative and provides

parents and administration with facts regarding how many injuries happen each year. More than

200,000 kids from ages 14 and under are sent to the hospital because of an injury caused on a

playground. Many of these injuries are concussions and broken bones. These can be caused by

hazards including uneven surfaces, overcrowded areas, and unprotected areas. This can be a

scary thought for parents, especially parents with young children. By having administrators read

this site it allows them to check their playground for any of these hazards which gives parents a

sense of comfort. This website has tabs of other safety situations for people to look over. I think

that it provides a balanced amount of information for parents and teachers. While revising this
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Lizzie Staples

Prof. Cook

English 1201.508

24 October 2021

website I learned that I would recommend it to others who are looking for information on how to

make sure their child is safe on the playground.

Another informative tool that I revised are the videos on TEDx Talks. Ted Talks are a

great tool used to give real life examples and information to others. The Ted Talk called,” How

Can We Improve School-Based Mental Health Support?” by Jordan Wells provides viewers with

information from a student who suffered from mental health herself. She expresses that she

found comfort in her school by trusting a teacher and knew that teacher always had her back

whenever she needed it. In her seventh grade she was told to do a mental health research

project, she knew that it was an important project for her to share her story to others. It soon

became more than just a school project. In this Ted Talk she discusses that she hopes the

audience can take what they learn and assist their own kids and students. She worked hard to

find low funding assistance to engage into schools like a check in list with councilors, zones of

regulation methods, and many other things. These are tools that both parents and teachers can

apply in the classroom and at home. These tools are helpful to make sure all students feel safe

and comfortable talking to someone even if they weren’t the one who asked for help. Mental

health is a hard and scary thing that many people don’t feel comfortable bringing up. It is

important that parents know their child is being treated right at schools even if they suffer from

an inside emotion. This ed Talk is very educational and provides viewers with a real life example

of a student who understands what others are going through.

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Lizzie Staples

Prof. Cook

English 1201.508

24 October 2021

So, what would make schools a safer place for students? All of the articles and videos I

listed are some of the common things that people are afraid of in and around schools. The

school systems are working hard to minimize these fears and allow children and parents to feel

comfort in their school district. I recommend these articles and videos to many people who

question how their child is being treated at school and how different situations are being

supervised. As a future educator I have learned that I have many things to learn and be aware

of while being a role model to students.

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Lizzie Staples

Prof. Cook

English 1201.508

24 October 2021

Work Cited

Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA). “Build a Safe Environment.” StopBullying.Gov, 5

Dec. 2019, https://www.scribbr.com/taxonomy/term/79/

www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/build-safe-environment. Argus Agents, Inc. “Ohio Catholic

School Dramatically Improves School Safety With The Addition Of Wireless Panic Button.”

Cision, 28 June 2018,

www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ohio-catholic-school-dramatically-improves-schoolsafety-w

ith-the-addition-of-wireless-panic-button-300090220.html.

“How Can We Improve School-Based Mental Health Support? | Jordan Wells |

TEDxYouth@BeaconStreet.” YouTube, uploaded by TEDx Talks, 23 Jan. 2019,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJehaP8DS9k.

“Playground Safety - National Safety Council.” National Safety Council, National Safety Council,

www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/child-safety/playground-safety. Accessed 16 Oct.

2021.

Richmond, Emily. “Access Denied.” Parents Fear for Kids’ Saftey in Schools Reaches

Two-Decade High, 17 July 2018,

www.usnews.com/news/education-news/articles/2018-07-17/parents-fear-for-kids-safetyin-scho

ols-reaches-two-decade-high. SchoolSaftey.Gov. www.schoolsafety.gov.

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Lizzie Staples

Prof. Cook

English 1201.508

24 October 2021

Student Reporting Labs. “Protecting Students.” Vimeo, uploaded by Kimberly Hernandez, 14

Oct. 2021, vimeo.com/123211778. Zhang, L., Wu, J., Deng, C., Zhang, M., Li, C., & Wang, Q.

“Shibboleth Authentication Request.” Sinclair.Edu, Accessed 16, October 2021.