Middletown Students Feel Safe In School
A recent survey conducted in Middletown, Ohio has revealed how the students feel about school safety. I find these kinds of studies particularly interesting because the information comes directly from the people who are the main focus of school safety efforts. If you think about it, school authorities and parents can talk all they want about school safety; they can even create measures to ensure children’s safety; but isn’t what the children think and feel just as important?
So what were the findings of the study? Meagan Engle wrote a report for the Journal News where she detailed some of the most significant findings:
Results indicated that most Middletown students felt that their school climate was fairly positive on most indicators.
Concerning the adults in their school, most students felt that adults in their school treated them fairly, encouraged them to do well, respected them, were friendly to them, and expected them to do well. Half (51 %) felt that adults at their school cared about them (compared to 46% in 2007-2008) while one-third (38%) felt that adults at their school made them feel important (29% in 2007 -2008).
Nearly half (46%) felt that adults at their school try to understand them (compared to 41 % in 2007-2008). Equivalent to last year, a total of 54% reported that there is an adult at their school who they could go to if they had a problem.
Similarly, 54% reported that they felt like they fit in at their school.
These figures are quite important. While they may not be as high as I would like them to be, the mere fact that a good number of students feel confident in their teachers and other school authorities is a good sign, isn’t it? Another positive thing is the fact that many students feel that they fit in at school. This can be an indicator that problems like bullying may not be that serious. In fact, more figures show that only a small percentage of the students have a problem with bullying:
Thirteen percent reported that other students bully t hem (compared to 12% in 2007-2008), whereas 7% reported t hat they bully other students (compared to 7% in 2007- 2008).
Another interesting point is that this survey is carried out every year. I think that this is a very good way of getting feedback about the safety measures that they implement during the school year. I wonder if every other school district does the same thing?
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Posted on June 29th, 2009 by Deborah J Thomas
Filed under: Administrators, News, People Involved, School Safety Issues, Students
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