• Safety Tips:
• School Safety: College Campus Bike Patrol Unit
• Personal Safety: Protecting Infants and Toddlers in Day Care
• Questions & Answers:
• Statistics: School Violence
• One Opinion: Open to Discussion

School Safety:

On college campuses across the nation there is a growing trend towards using mountain bike security patrol units. Mountain bike patrols permit better coverage of campuses where there are few roads for patrol cars. Mountain bike law enforcement officers can go virtually anywhere. They are specially trained to ride up and down stairs, as well as through parking garages where they can overtake a suspect fleeing on foot. "Bike patrol units have the advantage of stealth; we are very quietly able to approach suspects undetected," says Police Cyclist Instructor and University Police Administrator Frank Demes. "We are also easily approachable for students looking for help. Additionally, as bike patrol officers we exercise regularly which makes us more fit and healthy employees. It is a very cost effective approach to campus security."

Anyone interested in starting a Mountain Bike Patrol Unit should check out the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IMPBA) website for information at http://www.ipmba.org/.

According to IPMBA:

-The average layout of expense to fully equip one bike is about $1,200, with an annual maintenance fee of about $200.

-The average patrol car costs between $23,000 and $28,000 to purchase and has an annual maintenance fee of about $3,000 to $4,000.

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Personal Safety:

Infants and toddlers in child care situations depend upon their parents to assess the safety of the day care. A day care center may screen their employees for a history of child abuse through a State Registry System, if available in your state. However, a child abuse registry does not necessarily screen out other types criminal behavior, such as a history of prostitution or drug abuse. Also, if a person is guilty of child abuse in one state, there is likely to be no reciprocity in other states, so merely by moving to a new state the person would be free to apply to work in a new child care setting.

Parents are strongly encouraged to make unexpected stops in to visit a day care at different times, regardless of any claims that the day care personnel may find this interruption disruptive to their routine. Quality caregivers appreciate a parent's concern and regard for safety and will tolerate your nervousness as you work to establish a trusting relationship. If you ever have a "gut feeling" that something is wrong, listen closely. When it comes to protecting your nonverbal infant or toddler, there is no other way than to investigate, and believe in your judgement. Always check a caregiver's references, and include some "satisfied customers," making certain they are parents of a child in their care and not simply old friends of the caregiver.

Questions from Readers, Answers from Experts:

Q: A student in my class asked me how he would know if it was a real police officer at the door if he was home alone and there was a knock on the door. How could a child home alone be sure it was safe to open to someone claiming to be an officer?

A: Clever student! Children are often anxious when home alone, and they do wonder what to do when confronted with an unusual situation. If an officer needed to contact a child in case of an emergency, the police officer should be understanding of a child's caution to open the door. A child could look out the window to see if it was a real police vehicle, and could even check the license plate if not sure. Certainly it would be appropriate for a child to request a business card and call the police station and ask if there was an officer sent to his house. Reassure the child that a real police officer would be patient and appreciate their concern for safety. If the child had no phone available, they could request that the officer go get a trusted neighbor and return with them so the child could feel safe opening the door. They might also need the emotional support of the neighbor if there is a serious problem to be faced.

Q: Are children living in homes located close to schoolyards in greater danger from lurking predators than children a few blocks away?

A: If you have any verifiable information to answer this question, we’d like to hear your response. Please click here to contact us. Watch here to learn what we find out. If You Have A Question or Answer, Let Us Know. E-Mail

Statistics:

One in ten U.S. public schools reported experiencing at least one serious violent crime during the 1996-97 school year (Heaviside, et al, 1998).

Fifty-seven percent of U.S. public schools reported experiencing at least one crime (violent or non-violent) in the 1996-97 school year (Ibid).

During the 1996-97 school year, schools reported experiencing 4,000 rapes or other types of sexual battery, 11,000 physical attacks or fights in which weapons were used, and 7,000 robberies (Ibid).

Stats from National Crime Victims

Open to Discussion – One Opinion:

Teachers need to be stronger advocates for children they suspect are facing abusive situations. Knowing that the social welfare system is many times lacking in its ability to intervene quickly should not stop teachers from reporting suspicion of abuse or maltreatment, because only by advocating for the all children can the their silent voices be heard.

Teachers need to regularly write to their legislators and be advocates of child protective services. It is easy to be discouraged that there is little help available for the child who is not in a severely abusive situation, but teachers are also in a powerful position to speak to classrooms full of children listening closely to hear if anyone cares. Hearing your thoughts on right and wrong treatment of children may give a child the courage to speak up. You may offer a silent child hope that if he or she did speak up that someone would even care.
Teachers need to keep focused on the emotional needs of their students even as they struggle to meet the demands of curriculum. If students don't feel hope, it doesn't matter if you teach them to add, or to dissect a frog. Be an advocate. You may end up a hero.

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