The Future Looks Bright

Today I had the honor of speaking with Caleb, Alie, Brook and Emily, 5th grade students at an elementary school in South Carolina.  Mrs. Raper, their teacher, contacted me a week or so ago about speaking to her students.  Their school had recently changed their severe storm preparedness protocols, and the students had some ideas for making students safer during a tornado.

Mrs. Raper and I were able to connect via Skype, and I spent over twenty minutes answering the questions they had about tornadoes, and about my experiences with tornadoes.  I was impressed with the depth of their questions.  They had clearly prepared for the session, and were very polite and considerate.  Their questions were also efficient, focusing on the task at hand instead of asking questions that were not connected to the discussion. 

I have been in education for twenty-five years now, and Caleb, Alie, Brook and Emily gave me plenty of hope for our future.  They were curious, they were inquisitive, they were respectful, and they were definitely motivated to better themselves through learning.  Their parents should be proud, as should Mrs. Raper.  It is easy to jump on the "public education is bad" bandwagon with the numerous awful stories we see in the media, but Mrs. Raper's leadership, and the behavior of her students, tells me the future is bright.

Caleb, Alie, Brook, Emily and Mrs. Raper, thank you for the honor of speaking with you today!

School Safety in the News 5-23-13

Ontario teachers mull change in school safety procedures

Moore tornado forces schools to examine protocols

Use of safe rooms in schools is uneven, at best

School safety pact developed

The two schools destroyed in Moore, OK had no safe rooms

School safety upgrades for Cleburn County

Thoughts on post-tornado recovery

Beville Middle School Assistant Charged with Assault

Dale City, VA
A classroom assistant in a special needs classroom was arrested and charged with two counts of simple battery.

The school received a tip that the assistant had assaulted a 12- and a 13-year old in the classroom, causing minor injuries.  The school followed their protocols and notified Child Protective Services.

School Safety in the News 3-8-13

Hartford Students, Parents Offer Different Perspectives On School Safety
Hartford Courant

Justice Summit focuses on school safety
WISH

Ala. House won't override school safety bill veto
San Francisco Chronicle

Regan Introduces School Safety Legislation
FOX43.com

Silly school-safety solutions
New York Post

Constituents offer school safety suggestions
The Daily Advertiser

Safety survey: Most NC middle, high schools use resource officers
WRAL.com

Santa Maria high school explains school safety procedures
KSBY San Luis Obispo News

Tonight's Informational Meeting On School Safety Protocols Is Postponed
Patch.com

School Safety in the News 2-20-13

Enhancing school safety
KIMT

Scott Walker's Voucher Fight; School Safety Questions: Ed Today
Huffington Post

Parents Learn Essex School Safety Protocols
Fox44abc22yourvoice

School Safety Bill Advances To Senate
NBC 29 News

Proposition Public Safety promises school safety, other services - WGEM.com ...
WGEM

SAN BERNARDINO: High-reliability concepts applied to school safety
Press-Enterprise

Plum, Riverview School Officials Focus on Safety
Patch.com

Meade schools complete safety drills
Rapid City Journal

School safety in Las Cruces – Video
KRWG News22

School Gun Safety Bill Introduced
Yumanewsnow