Unfortunately, the issue of school safety is a big concern. Nowadays, more than ever, all the parents, students, and the community work together to make an environment that is disciplined and safe for learning. Providing kids with drug-free and safe schools is something that we have to strive for. Being able to accomplish such a thing, needs the whole community to work together to provide an environment that is healthy for kids to grow up in.
School plays the biggest role
One of the most common ways schools can ensure that the kids are safe and disciplined is by establishing a team of professionals as well as parents and juvenile justice officials and developing a plan that will result in having a drug-free as well as gun-free school. There is a lot that goes into developing such a plan because you need to ensure that all the settings are engaged in the school work while doing so. When you have your kids fully engaged in their classes, they have less time to be violent and choose undesirable behaviours such as doing drugs. Schools have to establish policies that will clearly define what is allowed and what is not tolerable. Some of these should be zero-tolerance policies for racism, guns, drugs and any kind of violence as well as gangs.
There has to be a sense of community within the school
Another important part of drug-free school policies is encouraging staff to be cohesive, that the students will respect not only them but one another as they are presented with great role models. Join forces with law enforcement and community groups to keep the schools open after normal operating hours to prevent any gangs, criminal and drug use from happening if the kids don’t have their parents’ home when they come back from school. Try to engage them in well-supervised and safe activities.
Make sure that you are creating safe corridors and make sure that you are offering programs that will teach kids all the nonviolent ways of managing conflicts as well as consequences of drug abuse. Always make sure that you are confronting any issues that come up because that is the only way you will be able to solve them.
Parents have to be involved
A lot of people don’t realise how important parents’ role is even when it comes to drug-free school policies. Without the active support that a parent provides, schools can’t make a safe environment. Parents have to take some parts of the effort in making schools drug-free. That can be done by setting standards of behaving correctly, having clear expectations, and setting limits for their children. Parents must teach their kids the standards of what is right and what is wrong as well as demonstrate those behaviours. If a child sees their parents being fine with substances or even using them, nothing will stop them from imitating that behaviour even when they are in school.
Parents must talk with their children and teach them that using drugs is wrong and reinforce the school rules when it comes to substance abuse. Also let them know that drug testing kitsare something that everyone can get and if there is a suspicion that a student is abusing substances while in school, they can test them.
Students have to do their part
Students also play a crucial role in making sure that their schools are safe for both them and their companions. They can do things to help make their schools places where learning can take place without any disruptions and the fear of being victimised or bullied into trying something they don’t want to.
Kids can volunteer to serve with making decisions or advisory committees like the group developing the overall Safe Drug-Free School Plan. They can become advocates for programs such as conflict resolution, peer assistance leadership as well as teen courts and anger management.
They should learn the consequences of getting involved in groups that are involved with guns, alcohol and drugs and use it as a method for resisting drugs and other substances. Help them understand that those rules are made for everyone’s safety and not to decimate people. Teach them that it isn’t cool to do that and you shouldn’t give in to the pure pressure. Kids should work with teachers and other students to develop a service program for those who are struggling not to partake in such actions.
There is nothing more important than making the schools a safe drug-free space, it will not only benefit the kids but will benefit the whole community. That is because kids spend a great amount of time in the community so everybody must follow the drug-free policy.