Elementary Education Standard Seventeen

Standard 17: Elementary teachers understand safety and liability issues in elementary and advocate for appropriate safety materials and enforcement practices in the classroom. 

At the beginning of each school year, we discuss school safety procedures and how to respond to emergencies within the school.  We also participate in drills throughout the year which help students to know what to do if an emergency situation arises. Teachers must also participate in school safety training each year that covers slips, trips, falls; seizures; angry parents; bullying; blood borne pathogens; epi pens and allergies.  Before beginning a field experience or lab activity, I always discuss what is expected of students and what precautions should be taken to remain safe.  At the beginning of each school year, parents are asked to go over the student handbook and code of conduct with their students and then sign a paper stating that they have done so; this ensures that students know expected behaviors and helps create a safe school environment.