Is Your School Safe?

Dr. Bryan Sanders

The ACTS office conducted the following interview with Dr. Bryan Sanders on the issue of school safety.

ACTS: School safety is on the minds and hearts of every parent and educator today. With that in mind, what should be the first reaction of educators today?

Dr. Sanders: As a foundation, the scripture tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) that "÷God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Furthermore, Proverbs tells us "÷a prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences (Proverbs 22:3 LB).

Our first reaction is to be honest with ourselves by accessing the relative safety of our schools. The sad reality is that we are living in a violent society where anything can happen. Being a "Christian" school does not automatically exempt a school from violence. We have to be proactive in dealing with these issues. For instance, a school could utilize professional assessment companies or develop a checklist themselves. I was recently at a Christian school where the doors were unlocked, leaving the students vulnerable to many dangers. This is just one of the issues that a safety assessment would address.

ACTS: Briefly explain your concern, as an educator, and a lawyer, about the top safety issues facing our schools today?

Dr. Sanders: I believe the top safety issue we face is complacency. This idea that violence couldnÌt happen here because we are a Christian school needs to change. A safety agenda would ward off future problems. In a recent school seminar, the point was made that even with all the precautionary steps, school couldnÌt guarantee 100% protection. However, an awareness and a safety agenda could minimize the more serious security related issues, such as, weapon control and school entrance monitoring systems. In addition, minor problems like fighting or thefts must be dealt with in a expedient manner to safeguard against more serious episodes in the future.

ACTS: What benefits would a school reap from having a safety plan in place?

Dr. Sanders: In the event a violent episode ever happens in your school, the benefits of having a written safety plan in place will greatly help. The first question a parent will ask is, "What did you do to protect my child, and what steps were taken?" I canÌt think of anything more frightening than standing before a family and telling them that the school did not have a safety plan in place. On the other hand, if your school did have a safety plan in place then this would not only show the parents you cared, but from a legal standpoint, it would benefit the school. To have a plan in place would show the school assessed their safety issues and mitigated that assessment in the form of training staff, updating school equipment, and writing a crisis management plan.

ACTS: In your opinion as an expert in the field of conflict management, would teaching conflict management make our schools a safer environment for learning? If so, why?

Dr. Sanders: The purpose of conflict resolution is to help people resolve the problems that they have. As we analyze Columbine and other places where school violence has occurred, we can learn some valuable lessons. We should create an environment that is nurtured by conflict resolution. Teaching our students that scripture has a mandate commanded by Jesus for conflict resolution is a noteable start. This mandate is found in Matthew 18:15-20 when Jesus teaches how we are to deal with others when they offend us. I am currently working on a program to develop *peer mediation for Christian schools from a Pentecostal perspective. This program will teach the students how to resolve conflicts peaceably. One of the most needed areas of concern is the studentsÌ respect for others. This respect for authority would springboard into the studentsÌ responsibility in handling conflict. This belief is taught in Philippians 2:4, where Paul says, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others." Conflict resolution assemblies and/or class speakers would be a great way of presenting this material to your student body.

ACTS: Some educators might think that school safety is not an issue for their school to address. What would your response be to those schools?

Dr. Sanders: Scripture tells us that we should be ever vigilant. In the world we are seeing increasing violence and individuals who have no respect for authority. It is just a matter of time before the first Christian school suffers from major violence. The problem is that we seem to concentrate on the explosive issues, such as, school shootings and bombings. We must realize that these violent acts are the result of a much deeper problem. Ignoring the most basic safety issues can be very damaging. The disaffected, angry, or physically aggressive student is just as vital a safety issue as weapons are for schools to address. Schools must be proactive in their approach to safety-not waiting until a tragedy happens.

ACTS: What final thoughts can you leave with our schools?

Dr. Sanders: My final thoughts to you are not to ignore the possibilities of what could happen. Do not put a price tag on the safety of your students. These precautions will need extra revenue. Utilize the resources of parents and students that God has placed in your school. Finally, realize that the worth of a child is much greater than the expenditure for his/her safety and security.

Dr. Bryan Sanders Association of Christian Teachers and School Legal/Legislative Affairs