Teachers are tasked with having an "in loco parentis" status for the duration of the school day. This means that they are responsible for the safety and general welfare of their students. Should a child be placed at risk or injured while in the care of the school or individual teacher; the institution's management, the education department and even the teacher could be sued for negligence.
Apart from the threat of legal action, teachers obviously are concerned about the safety of their charges. It is wise when deciding collectively on classroom management rules, that teachers include safety rules in the discussion. Once the rules have been drawn up, they need to be posted on notice boards and the students need to be reminded of the importance of the rules every now and again or as needed.
There are a number of safety issues which need to be considered in a typical classroom. One must firstly warn the children of the dangers of sharp pencils and mathematics instruments with sharp points. It must be clear that no child may point a potentially dangerous item at another child. When walking with sharp instruments, including scissors, learners must walk with the sharp end pointing downwards towards the floor.
Teachers must remind students that just as they should never run with an object like a lollipop in their mouths, so too should they not walk around with a pencil or pen in their mouths. Explain carefully to the children what would happen to the pencil, for example, should they trip or be tripped and fall face downwards onto the floor.
Teachers need to anticipate the silly pranks that students engage in such as pea shooting and pulling chairs out from underneath their peers as the child begins to sit down. The dangers of eye injuries and possible spinal cord injuries of these two "jokes" must be pointed out carefully and a penalty attached to their occurrence in the classroom, should anyone dare to disobey the ban on these dangerous activities.
Students also need to be taught how to protect themselves from the myriad germs and disease and childhood illnesses to which they are exposed on a daily basis. The habit of covering ones mouth if one coughs and sneezing into the crook of ones elbow or a tissue must be taught to all students. In line with minimizing the spread of seasonal influenza and colds, students must be reminded to keep washing their hands after touching communal items in the classroom.
Another obvious safety rule in the classroom must be that every student washes his or her hands after going to the bathroom and before eating. Teachers must discourage students from sharing juice with others who drink from the same bottle and the like. If a child wishes to share a sandwich for example, he should break off a piece and hand this piece to his friend.
Teachers need to be alert to the universal precautions adopted with regard to HIV/AIDS too. Children need to understand the potential danger of touching another person's blood or body fluids such as vomit. Teachers can set the example, by donning regulation latex gloves when they deal with playground injuries. No teacher should ever assume that a child must be HIV negative by virtue of the fact that most students are HIV negative. As a precaution, the universal law states that every person, regardless of their status should be treated as if they were HIV positive.
Teachers need to be alert too to skin rashes which are potentially contagious such as scabies and ringworm. If there is any doubt, the student's parents should be contacted to take their child to the doctor for treatment. Children with contagious illnesses and rashes should be kept at home until a doctor clears their return to school.
Teachers should insist that all children get into the habit of covering open sores, to protect themselves and others. All teachers should have at least a basic First Aid kit in the classroom and children should see it being used. Students will quickly learn from the teacher's instructions and example to apply pressure to a bleeding wound. They will know too to run the wound under cold water, apply a disinfectant or similar germicidal cream and cover the wound with a plaster or bandage.
The most stringent rules for safety will probably need to be exercised in the playground area. Rules pertaining to swings, jungle gyms and see-saws need to be carefully explained, applied and followed. If any child violates a playground safety rule, she should be given a suitable punishment such as a time out inside the classroom while the others play outdoors. Children need to be taught to be alert to the dangers in the playground, so that safety first rules become a habit.
It is essential that teachers also teach their students about school evacuation and emergency procedures. If you have a younger class, you could organize an outing to the local fire brigade depot and get the firemen to explain procedures to follow if there is a fire. If the school Principal is lax about fire drills you could institute a few practices of your own once or twice a quarter. Safety issues such as remain calm, walk quickly in single file to the assembly point designated for roll call must be drilled so students are not caught off guard in the event of a fire or similar emergency requiring evacuation.
Teachers need to extend safety awareness beyond the classroom and playground. It is imperative that teachers cover the risks presented by talking to strangers, revealing personal information on M Xit and Face Book. Children who have undergone some awareness training at school will be more alert to the dangers to which they are exposed in modern society.
Another important safety procedure beyond the classroom that teachers should cover as part of the curriculum is that of road safety. It is important that students hear the same messages from their parents and teachers and that they realize the importance of pedestrian and cyclist safety, for their own sake.
Teachers need to understand the incredible influence they have over their students, especially younger classes. Classroom safety tips and general physical safety rules are imperative to keep students safe inside and outside the classroom.
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