In This Edition

• Safety Tips:
• School Safety: Encouraging Excellence
• Personal Safety: Buddy System
• Questions from Readers' and Our Answers: Giggling and Teachable Moments
• Statistics:  Guns in Schools
• Open for Discussion ­ One Opinion: Toy Guns in School?  

School Safety Tip:  

While the media is increasingly reporting incidents of school violence, many adults are responding by trying to make our schools safe places. Some companies reward districts that go beyond the average in developing safety policies, such as the Safety Program of the Year Award granted from the Utica National Insurance Group. Niskayuna School District in New York received $1,000 for its distinguished school safety plan that incorporates physical safety and emotional safety in the district.  
The school board adopted a progressive Anti-Harassment and Discrimination Policy that clarifies what course of action faculty and students should take when they hear inappropriate comments. No one should have to tolerate harassment because of their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability, and this school has made it formally improper and punishable to harass.  

Additionally, this district has taken a close look at its school safety policies, including procedures that protect students in the event of a bomb scare. Rather than hurry students outdoors where a sniper could be waiting, they move students to an area indoors already known to be safe. As with issues we¹ve discussed in past newsletters, once again we see that taking the time and care to look at the details of our student environments will create excellence.  

Personal Safety Tip:  

As springtime settles in and the children head outdoors to play, it is definitely time to remind them of basic safety rules. You can click here to check out FPA's lists.  

Remind children that whenever it is possible, it is safer to walk down the street or play in the playground with a buddy around. A buddy is able to run for help and deters strangers from approaching. A lonely looking child is more inviting to a stranger.  

Remind your child that if a stranger approaches, he should yell for you and run to the nearest parent (person with a child) around for help. Or get inside and tell you that someone he doesn¹t know was asking him questions. Check to be sure your child understands a stranger doesn¹t have to look strange.  

Be sure your child knows about good touch, bad touch, and that you are available to protect them, and that just knowing these safety tips makes them safer right away. The idea is to help them deal with their environment safely, not to frighten them.  

Questions from Readers and Our Answers:  

Q. My six year old has been giggling and drawing pictures of naked people and labeling their private body parts.  I was wondering if this is normal and how I should respond. I have been letting him giggle, and matter of factly telling him that he does know the names of parts. But I worry that it may indicate a problem.  

A. It is not unusual for a six year old to want information of this nature. Responding matter-of-factly sounds sensible. It is a good teachable moment that you can also include, matter-of-factly, safety information such as, yes, that is the name, and do you know that if anyone else besides the doctor wants to touch you there, you should tell me as soon as possible? You do not have to let anyone touch your private areas. Your child is likely to keep on giggling, but will also incorporate the safety information you share. It is also a good time to casually ask if anyone has ever tried to touch him or inappropriately revealed themselves to him. At all times, remain calm, even if he tells you yes.

Statistics:  

The following information was found at this site: http://eric.uoregon.edu/trends_issues/safety/#03
 
§ According to the Department of Education, over 6,000 students nationwide were expelled during the 1996-97 school year for bringing guns to their public schools. (Caren Caty and others 1998)  

§ It is estimated that "250,000 or more weapons" are brought to school each year by students. (Kevin Dwyer 1999)  

One Opinion ­ Let's Discuss This One!  

Recently a parent and principal disagreed on how to handle a situation in a small school. The students were dressed up in costumes for a holiday celebration, and one middle school boy came as a soldier. Warned not to let the bus driver see the toy gun in case she called the police to meet the student as he got off the bus, the mother allowed the boy to go to school in that costume.  

Once at school, the boy playfully pulled the gun out, and then he playfully put it up to another boy¹s head. This sight was very disturbing to a parent who witnessed it, but not so much to the principal who basically said, "Boys will be boys."  

The parent expressed disappointment in the principal¹s judgment that it was okay to allow even toy guns in a school setting. "In light of all the school violence in schools lately, I don't think any child should be put in a position to ever pause and wonder if a gun is just a toy. If it had been Columbine High School, or San Diego, would you want your kid to just stand there, mistakenly assuming it just was a toy gun?"  

Obviously, the toy gun was real enough looking to cause the parent to warn the student about the bus driver¹s perception of the toy being real. What do you think? Should schools have zero tolerance for toy guns as they try to educate children real guns are not toys? What part should schools play in gun safety education? Let us hear from you!

What’s Your Opinion? E-Mail

Links
Reminder to law enforcement and educators, what’s “old hat” to us may be startling safety advice for new parents. Keep repeating “the basics.” For safety advice for parents, CLICK HERE to link to Our Safety Tips. 

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