Students Safe At School: A Proactive Approach

EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS

Larry Lezotte: Effective Schools

“A safe and orderly environment” is one of the 7 characteristics of effective schools.

Schools must be a safe and secure place in order to enhance learning.

Section 1 – OPC Video

Put yourself in the place of:

1) A student, and identify some of their fears re: their safety at school

2) A parent, and the fears you may have regarding the safety of your child at school

Legislation Overview

Legal authority for administrators comes under the following titles in the Act:

1. Duties of Principal

2. Access to School Premises

3. Code of conduct

4. Suspensions, mandatory and discretionary

5. Expulsions, mandatory and discretionary

DUTIES OF PRINCIPAL

Section 265 (1) (a) and (1) (m)

Regulation 298 S11 (1)

Guideline—Ontario Schools Code of Conduct

Standards of Behaviour

ACCESS TO SCHOOL PREMISES

Section 305 (1-5)

Regulation 474/00

Trespass to Property Act

CODES OF CONDUCT

Part XIII Behaviour, discipline and safety S. 301-303

Guideline—Ontario Schools Code of Conduct

Board/Police Protocols

SUSPENSIONS

Mandatory, S. 306

Discretionary, S. 307

Review of Suspension, S. 308

Programs for Suspended Students, S.312

EXPULSION

Mandatory, S. 309

Discretionary, S. 310

Appeal of Expulsion, S. 311

Programs for Expelled Students, S. 312

CHARACTERISTICS OF A SAFE SCHOOL

Brainstorming Activity

Relate to your school or the school your children attend. What characteristics would you like to see in a safe school?

Section 2 of Video

EARLY INTERVENTION STRATEGIES

Watch Section 3 of the Video and itemize the initiatives used with the strategies listed on the sheet in the binder.

SITUATIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR

THREATS TO SCHOOL SAFETY

1. Assess/Act

2. Communicate

3. Investigate

4. Document

5. Stabilize

SEARCH AND SEIZURE GUIDELINES

REFER TO FACT SHEET AND DISCUSS THE PROCEDURES THAT SHOULD BE USED FOR SEARCH AND SEIZURE

TWO PROACTIVE STRATEGIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO SAFE

SCHOOLS ARE:

1. Bullying Prevention Campaigns in Schools

2. Character Development Programs

BULLYING PREVENTION IN SCHOOLS

DEFINITIONS OF BULLYING

Barbara Coloroso defines bullying as a conscious, wilful, and deliberate hostile activity intended to harm, induce fear, through the threat of further aggression and create terror.

….from The Bully, The Bullied and the Bystander

More definitions:

An individual is being bullied or victimized when he/she is exposed repeatedly and over time to negative action on the part of one or more students. (Olweus, 1991)

The wilful, conscious desire to hurt another and put him/her under stress. (Tattum and Tattum, 1992)

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE PRINCIPAL IN

BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAMS?

The Principal is the most important person in the school for bullying prevention.

Bullying Prevention Programs must take a whole school approach, however.

INTERVENTION STRATEGIES

1. Do not minimize, rationalize, or explain behaviour.

2. Reassure the child that what is happening is not his or her fault.

3. Teach children how to respond appropriately.

4. Encourage children to report bullying that they experience or witness

ACTIONS TO TAKE TO CREATE A SAFE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

1. Watch for instances of bullying and take the initiative to respond as needed, even when children do not report.

2. Listen attentively to reports of bullying, taking action as needed and providing timely follow-up.

3. Review all previous incidents of injury or loss in the school.

ACTIONS TO TAKE TO CREATE A SAFE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

4. Review how an incident was handled by school administrators and what could have been done to reduce the risk of injury.

5. Continually re-evaluate policies and procedures to ensure that they cover foreseeable risks of harm

NEW MINISTRY INITIATIVE

SHAPING SAFER SCHOOLS: A BULLYING PREVENTION ACTION PLAN

HIGHLIGHTS OF BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAM

Kids Help Phone Expansion

Registry for Prevention Program

Mandatory Bullying Prevention Programs in Every School

Funding for Staff Training

$1 Million High Challenge Grant

ACTION PLANS FOR SCHOOLS

Conduct a School Climate AssessmentEvaluate Possible Programs with Program Evaluation ToolChoose a School Bullying Prevention ProgramProvide Training and School ResourcesIncorporate the Bullying Prevention Policy into the School Code of Conduct

ACTION PLANS FOR SCHOOLS (CONT’D)

Ensure Responses to Reporting Represent the four A’s: Affirm, Ask, Assess Safety and Action

Engage the Wider Community

Bullying Prevention Program Evaluation

POTENTIAL LIABILITY FOR ADMINISTRATORS RESULTING FROM BULLYING BEHAVIOUR

What is the legal standard expected of educators?

What are the duties and responsibilities of principals, teachers and other school staff in dealing with bullying?

How can administrators minimize legal liability?

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS

Character development is the development of attributes that are necessary for responsible citizenship.

These attributes must be promoted explicitly, modelled, taught, expected, celebrated and consciously practiced.

GOALS OF CHARACTER EDUCATION

1. Foster a climate of respect for self and others.

2. Develop attributes of responsible citizenship.

3. Improved interpersonal relationships.4. Greater self-discipline.5. A positive school culture.6. Fewer behavioural problems.7. Higher academic achievement.

YORK REGION DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

“CHARACTER MATTERS”

www.yrdsb.on.ca

BELIEF STATEMENT FOR SAFE SCHOOLS

ALL INDIVIDUALS DESERVE TO COME TO A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT THAT

IS RESPECTFUL AND SAFE