Scholarships Up For Grabs
In an effort to promote awareness of school safety even more, the Kansas Department of Education is holding a contest in which scholarships will be at stake. The Emporia Gazette has this report:
The Kansas Department of Education is sponsoring a scholarship contest for students graduating from high school this school year. The contest is intended to promote the Kansas School Safety Hotline, which the department and the Kansas Highway Patrol operate.
The hotline, (877) 626-8203, is a toll-free 24-hour number at which students, parents and community members can report impending school violence.
The contest has three categories: produce a 30-second public service announcement for television; produce a 30-second public service announcement for radio; or design an 11X17-inch poster. Three scholarships will be awarded in each category — $1,250 for first place, $750 for second and $500 for third.
Entries may address the topics of school violence, bullying and cyber-bullying, battery and abuse or weapons and bombs.
Full contest rules, entry forms and posters are available online at www.kansashighwaypatrol.org.
Entries must be postmarked no later than Dec. 15.
I don’t know about you but I think that this is a very good idea. In fact, I think that it is brilliant. First, the idea of having a toll-free 24-hour number which can be used by anyone to report possible incidents is something that should be considered by all school departments across the United States. I suppose we can think of it as a 911 specifically set up and dedicated to schools. This would be a very good way of finding out about threats even before the situation escalates. Think of it as an early warning system.
Second, the way that they are promoting the hotline is something to admire. Instead of merely posting bulletins and taking the traditional marketing route, the people over at the Kansas Department of Education has chosen to involve everyone. I have always believed in involving all sectors in school safety campaigns and this is a prime example of this principle.
Third, the prizes at stake are well worth the campaign. They make the campaign a two-edged sword, in fact. By running the contest, they are making the whole community aware of the hotline AND giving deserving students the chance to benefit in more than safety the safety aspect. With the money they will get in scholarships, they can get a better shot at good education.
Don't miss another post -- subscribe by email or RSS today!
Posted on September 18th, 2008 by Deborah J Thomas
Filed under: Administrators, College, High School, K-6, News, Parents, People Involved, School Grade Level, School Safety Issues, Students
Hi, I’d like to speak with you about this blog. Please contact meat your earliest convenience! Thanks! -Dave
Since its inception, how successful has the hotline been? Is there any data to support the effectiveness of this program? Are prank calls an issue? If so, have they become a concern and how are they dealing with them?
My first response had the wrong email address.