climates A crucial component of preventing targeted violence at schools relies on developing positive school climates built on a culture of safety, respect, trust, and social and emotional support.
cite page 23 Step 7: Create and Promote Safe School Climates
Teachers and staff in safe school environments support diversity, encourage communication between faculty and students, intervene in conflicts, and work to prevent teasing and bullying.
cite page 23 Step 7: Create and Promote Safe School Climates
Students in safe school climates feel empowered to share concerns with adults, without feeling ashamed or facing the stigma of being labeled a “snitch.”
cite page 23 Step 7: Create and Promote Safe School Climates
Administrators can take action to develop and sustain safe school climates. • Break down “codes of silence” and help students feel empowered to come forward and share concerns and problems with a trusted adult.
cite page 23 Step 7: Create and Promote Safe School Climates
At one school, administrators used a faculty meeting to identify students who lacked a solid connection with an adult at school. They provided faculty with a roster of enrolled students and asked them to place a mark next to students with whom they had a warm relationship. For students without a mark next to their name, popular, well-liked teachers and staff were asked to reach out and develop positive connections with them.
cite page 23 Step 7: Create and Promote Safe School Climates
Help students feel connected to the school, their classmates, and teachers. This is an important first step to creating school climates that are supportive, respectful, and safe.
cite page 23 Step 7: Create and Promote Safe School Climates
Encourage teachers and staff to build positive, trusting relationships with students by actively listening to students and taking an interest in what they say.
cite page 23 Step 7: Create and Promote Safe School Climates
Help students feel more connected to their classmates and the school.
cite page 23 Step 7: Create and Promote Safe School Climates
One teacher asked her elementary students to write down names of classmates they wanted to sit next to. If a student’s name did not appear on anyone’s list, the teacher placed that student’s desk next to a friendly or outgoing classmate in an effort to help the student develop friendships.
cite page 23 Step 7: Create and Promote Safe School Climates
This effort could be easily adapted with middle or high school-aged students by asking students to identify one or two classmates they would like to be partnered with for a project and assigning any student not named on a list to be partnered with a friendly or outgoing classmate.
cite page 23 Step 7: Create and Promote Safe School Climates
Adults can also help students identify clubs or teams at school they can join or encourage them to start their own special interest group.
cite page 23 Step 7: Create and Promote Safe School Climates
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