Safe Learning Environment

By Edward C. Pinchiff

Parents deserve to feel secure entrusting a school with the well-being of their child.

A safe learning environment sets the tone for teaching and learning. Students in a safe learning environment are more likely to attend school, be engaged in the classroom and be prepared to learn.

On the other hand, an unsafe learning environment leads to fear and anxiety in students which directly affects their ability to learn. Among other consequences, students fear standing out, fail to raise their hand in class, have difficulty concentrating, and may restrict their movements avoiding certain areas of the school grounds.

Emotional and physical energy that could be more usefully applied toward academics is instead consumed by worries over isolation and vulnerability. The result is lower grades and test scores and fewer opportunities for the future.