SCHOOL OF EDUCATION: Health and Safety in Schools

NEWTOWN, Conn., July 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A report developed by Safe and Sound Schools and Raptor Technologies, based on a nationwide survey of school district administrators, public safety staff, teachers, parents, and students, has identified significant gaps in attitudes about school safety. The 2021 State of School Safety Report shows students and parents are less confident than administrators in critical areas, including a 30-point gap when asked if their school takes a proactive approach to safety awareness. Concerns include how proactive schools are regarding student and campus security, how the school community would respond in a campus emergency, and preparedness to reunify children with guardians following a crisis.

This paper reports the findings of research funded by the Occupational Health and Safety Office (Andalusian Department of Employment) and the University of Granada in cooperation with the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (Spanish Ministry of Labour and Immigration) and the Andalusian School of Public Health (Andalusian Department of Health).

Health hazards are part and parcel of human life necessitating the provision of safety in every organizational environment (WHO regional Office for Africa, 2004). Likewise, the area of safety and accident prevention is of great concern to school improvement. The study sought to investigate the relationship between Risk Assessment and Compliancy to Health and Safety in Secondary schools in Wakiso District.

Schools across the United States canceled in-person classes beginning in March 2020 to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In many states and districts, school buildings are closed for the duration of the school year. Across the country, policymakers and school leaders are making plans to reopen schools for the next academic year, and some are preparing to do so sooner. In order to reopen schools safely and mitigate disease spread, state and district leaders will need to address several important health considerations.

Education of individuals begin from very early ages onward and goes on for a life time, enriched by the accumulation of experiences gathered in various learning environments. Learning experiences that are gained in early stages and acquired by doing and living become permanent through internalizing. One of the primary duties of governments should be accepted as establishing the maximum level of health and safety in any type of environment where individuals may be, including the family as the smallest unit of society.

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to provide a more comprehensive look at the role of district and building administrators in dealing with the safety and security of students and staff. I investigated how the district and building administrators created a climate of safety both before and after this tragic school shooting. I also looked at what these building and district school administrators are doing to prevent school shootings from occurring on their campuses. My interest in this topic stemmed from having been involved in a 2001 school-related shooting in a school system and community