School safety, security, and violence prevention resource

What do you remember from your health courses at school? To be honest, I have some very hazy memories of my high school health classes. Then again, to be fair, I took those classes ages ago. And I mean ages.

We cannot deny, however, that these health classes that are offered in school are important in their own right. After all, it could be where some school children learn things for the first time, in a structured set up. And of course, there is always a reason for all the classes offered in school.

In Utah, authorities are looking into tweaking the curriculum of their health classes. One particular consideration that caught my interest is the use of cell phones. They are actually thinking of incorporating this topic into the health courses in schools. The rationale behind this is that the curriculum already covers a section on student safety (Yay! That is definitely good news.), why not include something on cell phones as well? After all, a large majority of the student body these days is using mobile phones.

The article I read about this states further that:

School districts, including Davis School District, have had students charged in court for sending inappropriate pictures of themselves and others with their cell phones.

“This probably is the only place it can be taught because we’re dealing with behaviors that threaten the safety of children,” Wojtech said.

Davis School District spokesman Christopher Williams said in a phone interview that no one is against teaching Internet safety and appropriate cell phone use, but “no matter what, there should be discussions between parents and their students at home on those subjects.”

Two points. First, I never really thought about the “picture aspect” of cell phones. When I first heard of the idea of incorporating cell phone safety in health courses, I was thinking more of not texting or calling while driving or walking; things like that. But now that I read the statement on how some teens have been using their mobile phones to take “inappropriate” pictures of themselves and others, I can see the importance of imparting the proper ideas and behaviors to school children regarding the use of cell phones. Second, I wholeheartedly agree with Williams that no matter what, parents are still responsible for education their children firsthand on these matters. The schools can help with this but it is not their sole responsibility. At the end of the day, parenting takes on the main role. Makes sense?

And yes, I do think that cell phones have to be part of health courses in schools.

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