Safe school

 

Everybody has a different idea or a definition of safety, but the main idea is we don´t face any danger or any risk. Danger or risk is a very wide term, the word sparks an idea of terror and physical violence but for someone it may be bulling or psychical abuse.

Nowadays schools are pretty safe, they probably have a receptionist who won´t let some guy from the street inside the building. So, I personally think that the meaning of safe school is a safe environment for all students and teachers even other employees such as janitors or cooks. Schools are supposed to offer the best conditions for the students to study. And they do quite a good job. But it’s also the student’s responsibility to respect other students and teachers. This is mostly where the main problem is. Everybody is different and everybody comes from a different household. Some people aren’t so lucky as others, causing diversity in the classrooms etc. This is where bulling comes into place, somebody has the urge to make fun of someone, just because he/she is different. It may not seem as a big deal but it can really affect the student in many ways, resulting in getting bad grades, not coming to school. But that’s the school’s main responsibility to make sure that the student wants to come o school and feels safe.

In short, safe school should be a good environment for everyone and making the conditions pleasant for each one who is a part of the ecosystem.

Safe School

 

Safety

Are we really safe? This is the question that I have been asking myself sometimes when we were  going to school before the quarantine. 

It started when I firstly heard about the accident in the USA when a guy walked straight to the school and shot 2 teachers and 7 children. The killer was guilty from 17 murders. That case was also interesting because of the fact that it was the former student, only 19 years old. It really touched me when it happened in 2018. 

I just started re-evaluate some things and my daily life just changed. I started to be more responsible and considerate to others because you never know what is the person next to you feeling right now. So every time I am trying to make the best atmosphere as I could. And this is my way that I am using to make others feel comfortable, safe and braver. 

It is not neccesary to have fear but we need to be responsible in things that we are doing and it doesn´t matter, if those things are small things or huge ones. Because all that we are doing matters. So don´t worry, be happy and spread positive atmosphere and you will see that this will help you feel more comfortable and safer physically and also mentally everywhere and everytime.

The Aspects of Safety in Schools

What is the quintessential quality a school should possess? Of the many possibilities, safety, is an answer greatly encompassing in both its importance and contents. But, what really are the criteria that make a school safe?

First on the list is physical safety. Though, widely fulfilled in the developed world, many schools do not reach the level that might be considered safe. For a school to be safe in this regard it has to have a safely engineered building, to ensure safety during learning, a safe environment and road to it, to ensure safety before and after learning and it has to have safe principles, that ensure that the learning itself is not dangerous to the students.

Secondly, psychological safety. This is a requirement hard to achieve in any school, rich or poor, private or public. Just as before, layers also exist, starting with psychological safe work, meaning that the compulsory work is not overwhelming, stressful or otherwise inappropriate, next, safe student-student relationships, ensuring that students do not harass, attack or distress other students, and ending with safe student-teacher relationships, ensuring that teachers work objectively, teach within the safety principles and interact with the students appropriately to their status.

Though, not primarily linked to safety, the third criterion is that the material that is taught to the students gives them the right lessons and is not created with malicious intent, thus leading the students to a safe life. The main principles are, the use of verified and unbiased information, thus the students are not misled, deprived of potentially useful information or of the right to create opinion using objective sources, next is the encouragement of critical thinking, teaching the students to develop and use it both in and out of school, thus leading them to solve problems more quickly, organise effectively and analyse objectively, and lastly is the inclusion of useful information, thus ensuring that the students understand how to operate independently, fulfil their societal duties responsibly and live safely.

In the end, this might not be all as in the contemporary age exist many criteria that will change over time and should be tended to carefully, and so the conclusion is that a school fulfils both the lasting and dynamic needs to become a safe one.

What ideas come to my mind when we talk about a safe school?

 

What ideas come to my mind when we talk about a safe school?

        Well, firstly we have to talk about the environment there. Of course, it is important to inform children about bullying, which is very common nowadays. Kids do not even realize how cruel they can be. They will bully you for your clothes, for your appearance, for your grades and so on. And that is why they should be aware of the consequences these careless actions have.

        So the first thing that should be at a safe schooll=no bullying. We are all equal and we should treat others with respect. It is important for children to feel comfortable around each other.  It is nice to wake up in the morning and be happy because you know that you will be with your friends all day.

 

  As for teachers, they should be patient and know the rules connected with their career. What I meant by that, is that they should never sexually harras children or make them feel uncomfortable. It sounds drastic, but it is important to talk about these things because unfortunately, they happen sometimes.

 

   Let´s be more positive now. What makes us want to continue? Motivation. We have to motivate each other to keep going. Every student feels sometimes frustrated or sad because of their grades. You cannot let these feelings to make you not want to try anymore. Remember, everyone makes mistakes and your classmates or teachers are always there for you. If you have a problem with some subject , there is always someone you can depend on. You are never alone in this , and that is the most important thing a safe school should have- helpful and kind people.

Safe school

 

Safe school

When I think of a place, which can be described as “safe”, I automatically assume that the place is somewhere I can feel comfortable and not worry about anything. It is a place where one is able to be themselves without being judged or scared. A “safe place” can vary for each and every individual – whether it is home, the school they attend, a friend´s house or a forest they like to visit, we all have that one locality we fancy the most. Even though this can be different for everyone, there are still ways we can make certain institutions more enjoyable and less troublesome. This sparks a question in my mind – how can we make schools safer?

Firstly, a safe school is accessible. I think a school should be a place for everyone. We should always be mindful and care about the people that surround us. Therefore, when creating a safe school space, we should keep people with various disadvantages in mind. Quality education should not be a matter of money, owing to the fact that every child deserves education. I understand that you can usually expect better standards from private schools, in which one is expected to pay for the school. I do not think that good education should be a privilege. The issue of not having enough money often expands even further, because students sometimes may not be able to afford every single book or other utility they might need. It would be very effective and helpful if the school itself could provide students with these necessities, however, we would need more finances to be poured into the educational system. Additionally, when I say accessible, I really mean accessible for everyone. Some people may suffer from a certain physical handicap and/or injury, in which they e.g., need to use an elevator instead of the stairs. It probably has to be very difficult to realise that one might not be able to attend the school of their dreams, even though they have the abilities or resources to do so, but they cannot, because they use a wheelchair and it would be very difficult for them to navigate and use it in the school. Sadly, not every school is able to afford to make its premises accessible because of the question of money.

The second point is that a safe school is inclusive. As I mentioned before, I believe that education should be for everyone. Thus, an educational institution should create a space where its student can feel protected and respected no matter their race, gender identity, religious believes or sexual orientation. There is absolutely no need for racism, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia and transphobia to be tolerated and I think students should be made aware of it. The teachers should be well informed about these topics and they should be able to recognise when any of the students face discrimination and, of course, be able to stop the harmful behaviour and help the victim. The people responsible for making someone feel unsafe should be punished accordingly. Since discrimination and prejudice towards different thing is usually rooted in not being educated on the issue enough. I would be very happy to see classes/seminars/discussions on these topics. These should be lead respectfully. I firmly hold on to the idea that it is very important to feel included and secure about your identity in order to function properly, therefore also perform well in school, interactions, work and so on. The simple act of respecting another human being should be the absolute minimum.

Additionally, a school that is safe cares about the mental health of its students. Even though we live in the 21^st century, we as a society still have a great issue with acknowledging the importance of mental health. It sadly still is quite a taboo and we usually do not pay much attention to it. I wish teachers would understand that not every student is always feeling mentally well. Fighting your own inner demons is tough enough on its own and seeing your assignments and deadlines piling up usually does not help one to feel better. More than that, not everyone is able to answer questions in class, maybe because they are introverted or simply anxious. I wish there was an opportunity to explain that students are not machines that will work non-stop. They also need time to care about themselves. According to a lot of studies, a large number of young people experience difficulties with their mental health and I still do not understand why it is not taken into consideration. I hope that one day, we will care about the problems we face more openly, we will educate ourselves on this topic and we will be kinder to each other.

Being able to give your students space to express and form their opinions freely is also an important factor. Everyone has the right to have an opinion and therefore should be able to discuss it with others. This is when the opinion does not invalidate others or harm them. Furthermore, I would like to talk about self-expression. Especially in their teenage years, young people are desperately trying to find themselves and fit into the society. The juvenescence often does not desire to be sorted under certain stereotypes. They like to experiment with their style of clothing, makeup and hair. It can boost their confidence and make them feel comfortable.

Overall, a safe school supports its students – along with its teachers, they form almost a living organism living in symbiosis. The school provides the students with education and they keep it alive. The educational system has a very significant place in our society as it prepares the next generation for their life. Of course, it is not perfect in any way, shape or form and there is always room for improvement. If we want to talk about the well-being of students and creating a so called “safe school”, here are some of my personal overviews on the topic. When creating a safe environment, I would take accessibility into consideration first. School should be for everyone, not a privilege only the rich can afford. Secondly, the setting should be inclusive. The students should be respected no matter what and when someone tries to take this from them, they shall be punished.  Mental health awareness is another great attribute of a safe school. With it comes the freedom to express one´s personal believes and opinions without being judged – of course, if these are not harmful. Lastly, I would like to upbring the importance of letting young people present themselves however they want to, because it can make them feel better about themselves and fit into a certain group.

Safe schools

 Safe school is environment where you can express your opinion freely. Space where your classmates and teachers accept your point of view. And for this to work I suggest that teachers implement to subjects also art of tolerance. This is especially important if you go to school where there are students from different backgrounds and different cultures.

Another factor for safe school is that students and teachers shouldn’t be afraid to go there. This requires that state protects our schools if it is in dangerous neighbourhoods. Nobody should be afraid to educate themselves. And if it requires that state will put some preventions in order for students to go to school I support this idea.

In every school there should be a support for students if they need it. And by this support I mean the should be psychologist whom could help students if they need help with mental issues. Many students don’t have really close friends to whom they could entrust their personal problems.

Another factor is that there should be, in every school, sexual education. By this we can prevent unwanted problems. I see that many students have lack of information in this field. I feel really saddened by this approach of government.

 

These days it is difficult for many students to focus on their school work and actually do well in school. That could be caused because they do not feel safe in school. Even nowadays, during remote learning. Which shows that “school safety” is not only about physical safety.

 

In some countries violence in schools is caused by weapons that obviously do not belong in learning environment. But even non-weapon violence can cause that students lose their mindset of school being the safe space. Bullying, harassment, peer pressure, etc. These things can cause not only physical pain and injuries but have a huge aspect on one’s mental health. It is common that not only other students are mean to each other but sometimes even adults from school can behave like this and I think that this is something that should be avoided at all costs. 

 

Do students feel unsafe when they are studying online? Definitely! Maybe not physically but mentally 100%. Maybe not everyone but most of them do. Remote learning can be very difficult for people with learning disabilities and mental health problems. Learning by yourself can be insanely stressful and hard which can cause that students start failing their classes. But in my opinion also students who maybe did not have some serious problems with studying or mental health can now be doing bad mentally. It is a big pressure for them and are scared of failure. Students often feel pressured by teachers because they give out huge amount of work and they cannot handle it any way - physically or mentally. Kids often hold these emotions, fear and stress inside them and overwork themselves. 

 

Safe school should be an environment where everyone feels safe and not stressed and scared all the time. Some pressure on students is of course needed but it is not good when there is a huge pressure on them all the time. They should be able to relax and do nothing, and not be always stressing over grades and tests. So many students feel like they are not studying for themselves anymore but just to please everyone else around them and that is way so many of them lose all their motivation and start having mental health issues. 

What idea comes to your mind when you think of a “safe school”?

 

There are many places where you feel at home and school should not be excluded. You come to school to learn and discover new things and not to be worried about your physical safety or mental stability.
 
The first thing I think of when I hear safe school is place without bullies. They are the reason many people my age are afraid to go to school so they will not be physically or mentally harmed. When you skip school you may miss valuable information which could be useful later in your life.
 
Bullies are not something I am familiar with but I will never forget the anxiety my friends and I sometimes experience. Some teachers think their subject is the most important and give lots of homework and notes which can be very overwhelming.
 
School also employs professionals such as psychologists that are trained to help you. Any problems that may be hard to talk about with your parents, teachers or your peers can be freely discussed and you can be sure they will be kept confidential.
 
Something not usual in our country is sex education. I think for the kids to be safe they should be educated and not left to wander what to do when it comes to certain situations so they will not contract STDs, get sexually abused, pregnant – things that can harm them for the rest of their lifetime.
 
For the school to be safe it would be better to ask kids if they feel safe and not just to fulfill some rules given by the government. After all they spend most of their youth in school so why should not they be given the right to decide how they feel and how they will feel.

 The reasons we feel STEM philosophy is an effective approach in education

In the 21st century, we feel more and more intensively that STEM approach cannot be overrated. More and more educators are convinced that interdisciplinarity and STEM or STEAM education will play a key role in preparing our young generations for the future.

What is STEM philosophy about? Basically, it is the concept that science, technology, engineering, mathematics (and also art in STEAM philosophy) can and should be intertwined and taught altogether in overall contexts and with tight connections to real life problems and to real life situations.

Why is it such a meaningful and effective approach in education? It has been shown to enable learning by making connections between ideas and concepts across borders between multiple disciplines. In this way, students learn to apply the knowledge gained in one discipline to another discipline, thus strengthening their learning process.

The Canadian non-profit organization ASCD, which represents more than 114,000 educators from more than 127 countries, cites the following reasons as the main reasons of importance of interdisciplinarity:

• An exponential increase in our level of knowledge, which means that when planning an educational curriculum, it is increasingly necessary to decide which areas of study will be eliminated and which will be preferred. At the same time, we are still witnessing that new knowledge is being formed at the intersection of disciplines, and not as it once was within one theoretical discipline.

• Fragmentation of school schedules, which cause students to alternate between 8 different subjects during each school day, always with a different teacher and often with different classmates, which means that each teacher has an average of 40-45 minutes to spend with students only to its specific topic.

• The questionable degree of relevance of the study for real life needs, which can be demonstrated by a simple comparison of problem solving within the school day with real problem solving in real life. Only within the school we solve 45 minutes of mathematical problems, another 45 minutes are devoted to improving language skills and then we spend another 45 minutes studying biology, etc. Outside the school environment, we solve complex problems comprehensively, even without the need to assign them to a specific field.

• Society's response to the fragmentation that can be observed in almost all higher education institutions. The faculties of medicine also provide philosophy courses for students, as future physicians should be educated not only in physiology and anatomy. Likewise, faculties of economics offer ethics courses, pedagogical faculties offer business correspondence courses, and so on, as it is a generally accepted fact that a shift to an interdisciplinary approach will help students better integrate their studies with the needs of their future practice. (Heidi Hayes Jacobs 1989: 15)

In recent years, we have increasingly witnessed that we will not be able to address the challenges of our advanced modern society, such as the environment, energy resources, infrastructure or security, in the framework of traditional scientific research. These challenges are interdisciplinary in nature and will require an interdisciplinary innovative approach. Numerous interdisciplinary cooperation initiatives have been emerging in scientific circles for several decades and have become a new standard in the world of research.

      The general basis of this new interdisciplinary paradigm is the fact that the natural and technical sciences cannot provide answers to all key questions. They are not enough to address challenges such as the climate crisis or the financial crisis, because they also need insights, approaches and methods from psychology, culturology, economics and other social sciences.

Being aware of these facts, our project tries to join these interdisciplinary attempts and make a contribution. Our goals are to enhance the students´abilities:

·         to appreciate the evidence of experts

·         to tolerate ambiguity and complexity

·         to be sensitive to ethical concepts and professional, political or religious prejudices

·         to think and analyse resources creatively and critically

·         to listen carefully and with humility

·         to analyse problems from different perspectives, including those associated with specific disciplines

·         to look for common and contrasting elements

·         to put problems and their solutions into a broader context

·         to make critical arguments

·         to sympathize with multiple perspectives.

 

 

DEATH DRUG : PESTİCİDES

People have been farming since ancient times. Rather than sedentary people through through hunting and gathering to agriculture began in ancient times. People started using chemicals in agriculture over time. So people wanted to use pesticides in agriculture. Because they thought that some insects, mice fungi and plants were damaging to food. So the use of pesticides started. The number and content of pesticides increased rapidly in the 1940s.Humans used harmful chemicals and certain elements to kill insects, mice, fungi, and some plants.  in the past they used the element phosphorus to kill mice. They also killed some insects with a mixture of mercury and alcohol. These used elements and mixtures have evolved over time. Humans got rid of insects, fungi, some plants and bacteria thanks to pesticides, but these drugs killed the weak plants, animals, bacteria, while the strong ones survived.This caused the rapid evolution of animals, plants, fungi and bacteria and caused the natural balance to deteriorate. Farmers use pesticides not for no reason, to ensure efficiency, manage commercial risks and to compete with the market in terms of quality-price. Even if farmers use good agricultural practices such as crop rotation, It has to fight against pests, diseases and weeds in climatic conditions. Pesticides are generally more effective than biological or mechanical pest and weed management. it is cheap and effective. Intermediaries, retailers and consumers, on the other hand, waits for perfection. With these requirements, products for human and environmental health the expectation of safety does not overlap. These pesticides used in agriculture reach our tables by passing to vegetables and fruits grown in agriculture. Thus, it harms humans and other living things. These damages caused by pesticides can lead to death.

 

‘’ FOR A BEATİFUL WORLD LET’S LOVE THE NATURE LET’ NOT HARM THE NATURE! ‘’

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