More and more news broadcasts focus on critical problems proliferating in schools around the country-bullying, teachers having sex with students, sexual harassment, student accidents, and students getting killed on class on class trips.
As a school safety expert and education consultant to attorneys, I’ve faced an endless variety of challenges. The only common thread is that when standards of supervision in school are lax, children get hurt.
Situation: Are parents contacted when a teacher is planning a class trip and are chaperones assigned? When planning such a trip, does the teacher take into consideration the students’ age and experience, any potential hazards associated with the planned activity, and the adult-to-student ratio? Did the teacher review the trip with the chaperones and assign specific students to each? Has the principal reviewed the activity? Are emergency measures in place to allow for cell phone and radio contact, the presence of a nurse, and special provisions for students allergic to insect bites and certain foods?
Red flags: Students embark on trips without parental notice. The teacher is unfamiliar with the site and its potential hazards. The teacher is the trip’s sole supervisor. The nurse has not been contacted to consider the students’ safety or special needs.
