UNIT 2: A HEALTHFUL AND
SAFETY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
NEED FOR SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
IN SCHOOL
NEED FOR SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS IN SCHOOL
Effective action to create and maintain a
healthful and safe school environment requires
cooperation from the following:
Teachers as advocates, including Staff
Members, Students’ Involvement, Parent
and Community Involvement
SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
Multitude of dynamic conditions that are
external to the person
TWO TYPES:
- SUPPORTIVE: creates healthful choices or
protects the well-being of the student
-NON-SUPPORTIVE: Detracts from commitment
for healthful behavior
ENHANCING PHYSICAL CONDITIONS THAT FACILITATE
OPTIMAL LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
1. School Size
2. Lighting
3. Color Choices
4. Temperature/ Ventilation
5. Noise Control
6. Sanitation/ Cleanliness
7. Other physical conditions
8. Accessibility
SCHOOL SIZE
School and Classroom Size are
important environmental conditions
Teachers and school professionals
have little control over this
Student distraction is more likely in
large classes compared to smaller
ones
Small schools offer greater
opportunities to participate in
extracurricular activities and
leadership roles
LIGHTING
Most critical physical characteristic of the classroom
Key to the well-being of students and teachers who are
confined in a classroom
Poor lighting can affect students attitudes and mood
General classroom illumination requires 50-100 foot
candles
Adequate lighting promotes effective academic work,
discourages unsanitary conditions, and encourages
high morale
COLOR CHOICES
Color can transform a
school's atmosphere from
depressing and
monotonous to:
Inviting
Pleasing
Stimulating
Temperature and
Ventilation
Temperatures that are too high
deplete energy from students
Temperatures that are too low
can make students restless and
inattentive
Optimal classroom temperature
should range between 65-70
degrees Fahrenheit
During humid and/or hot days,
make sure students are
hydrating on a regular basis
NOISE CONTROL
Noise can make it difficult
for students to learn for
several reasons
Noise raises stress levels
for students and teachers
Classroom noise can be
controlled by using noise
absorbing materials
Long-term exposure can
lead to hearing loss
Sanitation and Cleanliness
Sanitation is the protection of
health and prevention of disease
by removing filth and infectious
materials
Personal hand-washing
procedures should be stressed
among all students and school
personnel
All schools should have a
standard policy promoting this
important concept
OTHER PHYSICAL CONDITIONS
Here are some possible
conditions that could impact
a student's well-being
Optimal space for physical
activity
Watch for "hidden spaces"
Storage of chemicals
Sun exposure
Animals in the classrooms
ACCESSIBILITY
Students with physical
disabilities often require
modifications to gain
access to several facilities
Access often requires
installation of special
equipment or
modifications of existing
facilities
EMOTIONAL ENVIRONMENTS
Feelings, expectations,
experiences that affect
students' development
Warm and non-threatening
learning environments promote
health and learning
Teacher's personality and
behavior
EMOTIONAL SECURITY
ffirmative behaviors build emotional
A
security
Emotional security is a feeling of
freedom from anxiety in which
individuals feel they can express
themselves without fear of reprisal
By modeling empathetic behavior, this
will foster affirming relationships that
are the "backbone" of a healthy school
climate
EFFECTIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
he use of managerial skills by teachers to
T
decrease disruptive behavior
Promotes student achievement and self-control
Having clearly defined classroom rules will
diminish discipline problems
Discipline is training that corrects and improves
student behavior
PROVIDING A SAFE SCHOOL
ENVIRONMENT
The important concepts are as follows:
•'Teacher responsibilities
•Safe school transportation
•Safe playgrounds
Disaster and emergency preparedness
Liability Protection and Safety
Guidelines
The major aspect of safety liability is negligence
Negligence is the failure to conduct oneself in conformity
with standards established by law for the protection of
others against risk of injury
When an injury occurs, a teacher may be held liable as the
cause due to carelessness
Complete and report all accidents following any injury
ZERO TOLERANCE POLICIES
School or district policy that mandates
predetermined consequences or punishments
for specific offenses
Most schools have "zero tolerance" for
firearms and other weapons
Drugs, tobacco, and violence are others that
have been included
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Unwanted and unwelcome sexual behavior
Children and adolescents are also
victimized
Conduct and/or words that sexually
offend or demean are examples
Republic Act 7877: The Anti-Sexual
Harassment Act of 1995
SUPPORTING A DRUG-FREE
SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
Research shows that protective schools can be effective for
decreasing drug use
The following are considered important to create a physical and
psychological atmosphere for youth development
Clear policies on drug possession
Positive peer programs
Drug-free activities
Drug-free school zones
Tobacco-free school environments
PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING
HEALTH PROMOT PROGRAM
Identify needs
Use 4 program components
•
1. Screening
2. Education
3. Policy/environmental
changes
4. EAP
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING!!!
USTARI, GRACE ANN
VILLARMIA, KRISZELLE
