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~ Every Student Deserves Safe Schools & Fair Testing
Who has access?
What can be done?
Photo: © Marty Lipton, 2001
Parents involved
in Parent U-Turn
Respond to Student Right #6 (School Safety)
What does a safe school look like?
Members of Lynwood's Parent-U-Turn have developed a checklist to evaluate the safety of their children's schools. Each item on this checklist speaks to a particular condition that has threatened the safety of Lynwood's young people.
A) Physical Plant of School Promotes Safety and Health

~ Safe playground equipment
~ Free from threats from environmental contaminators.
~ Proper teacher-child ratio
~ State legislature is accountable for maintain a safe school environment
~ No painting chips on classroom floors and school repairs are kept updated

B) School Creates a Safe Perimeter

~ Secure perimeter
~ There is a separation between cars and people on school campus and perimeter of school campus.
~ Consistent check points for visitors

C) School has an Safety Oversight System
~ Everyone is aware of the emergency plans including parents
~ Fire alarms are in working conditions

D) School Provides A Supportive Environment for Young People
~ School are not overcrowded
~ Proper teacher-child ratio
~ Every child schooled be known by an adult
~ Each child has an advocate
~ Reward and praise system for secondary students
~ All students are constantly encouraged
~ Focus on positive reinforcement instead of disciplining the behavior of students all the time.
~ Students feel empowered to go to college
~ Obvious mutual respect between the teacher and students and teacher and parents.

 E) Security Personnel are Well-Trained and Promote Safety

~ Security guards are adults, polite, professional and ethical
~ Security people communicate with each other and students and parents

F) School Promotes Safety Through Partnership w/ Parents

~ Lots of communication between teacher and parents
~ Lots of parents on campus
~ Utilize community members and parents to be advocates to insure that every child has an advocate
~ Social services provided for parents on campus
~ Obvious mutual respect between the teacher and students and teacher and parents.
.Parent Writings
Members of the parent advocacy group "Parent U-Turn" and other parent advocates offer their thoughts regarding school safety. Central to their reflections is the necessity of a respectful school environment that welcomes the involvement of parents and community members.
On School Safety
by Teresa Viramontes
In her analysis of the school district's discipline policy, Viramontes
notes the importance of respecting and humanizing students.

Parent Advocate on Campus by Emma Street
Street outlines her main goal on as a parent advocate as
increasing parental involvement and presence on campus.

    Parent Advocate on School Campus
    by Mary Johnson
    Johnson discusses how sometimes social justice must be taken by force, and
    notes the necessity of establishing a school-community collaboration.

On School Safety by Angelita Andrade
Central to Andrade's vision of school safety is the roles
and responsibilites of school secruity guards.

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