Ensuring Teacher Safety in Schools | Wihkum’s Safety Measures
Teachers are the backbone of our education system. They work hard to inspire, educate, and nurture the young minds every day. But despite their contribution to the wellbeing of future generations. They don’t always receive the recognition and respect they deserve.
One more critical issue that’s often get ignored is – teacher safety in schools.
The challenges teachers face go beyond just locked doors and security cameras. From disruptive behaviour to violence and harassments, educators need more than basic security measures. They need a discreet, responsive system that prioritises their safety and allows them to focus on teaching without fear.
This is where Wihkum steps in.
In this blog post, we’ll highlight the risks teachers face and provide actionable steps to enhance teacher safety. Additionally, we’ll explore how Wihkum‘s innovative safety solution plays a vital role in protecting teachers during high-stress and threatening situations.
Let’s get started.
The Current State of Teacher Safety | Threats & Statistics
There are over 300,000 full-time school teachers in Australia. Unfortunately, a large number of teachers report feeling unsafe in their work place. They face threatening incidents like bullying, harassment, and even violence, which are becoming more frequent now. These threats can come from students, parents, and sometimes even colleagues.
Here are some of the facts and figures about challenges teachers face, both in Australia and globally.
Identifying Threats to Teachers Safety in School | Key Statistics
Threat Details | Statistic | Survey / Source |
Australian teachers faced bullying and harassment (within the last 9-12 months) | 80% | Billet, Fogelgarn & Burns, 2019 (aitsl.edu.au) |
Teachers experienced bullying by students and parents. | 55.6% | Billet, Fogelgarn & Burns, 2019 (aitsl.edu.au) |
School leaders faced offensive behaviours, mostly from students and parents. | 84% | Australian Occupational Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Survey by Riley 2019 (aitsl.edu.au) |
Rise in physical violence against school leaders (from 2011 to 2019) | 27.3% to 42.2% | Riley, 2020 (aitsl.edu.au) |
Rise in the number of teachers feeling unsafe at work | 19% to 25% | The Saturday Paper, 2022 |
Western Australian teachers faced violence in 2 years leading up to the survey. | 68% | Australian Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey, 2022 (tandfonline.com) |
US teachers experienced injury threats. | 7% | American Psychological Association |
Students carried a weapon (gun, knife, or club) on school grounds. | 13.2% | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019 (work.chron.com) |
Explore more of threat incidents here: Assaults at Schools Leave Teachers Ready to Quit
These are just a few examples. Now, you get it why it’s important to create safe schools and work environments for our educators. Acknowledging these challenges and implementing stronger safety measures can help us make schools safe for everyone – teachers, students, and school staff.
So, let’s move towards the school safety and security measures we should employ to make our teachers safe.
8 Security Measures to Keep Teachers Safe in Schools
Ensuring teacher safety in schools involves creating a supportive, secure environment where teachers can prosper emotionally and mentally. Schools must adopt a comprehensive approach that includes training, physical security measures, and technological solutions.
Here are eight key strategies to keep our teachers and educational workers safe:
1. Inclusive Safety Training and Regular Drills
Every school needs a comprehensive safety training program. It should be tailored to the specific challenges that teachers face. These programs should cover everything about:
- spotting warning signs of potential violence
- handling disruptive students
- responding to emergency situations like lockdowns or evacuations
Moreover, regular drills and safety tests should be an important part of this training. The most common ones are:
- fire drills / evacuations
- active shooter / lockdown procedures
- extreme weather responses
However, it’s equally important to conduct drills that test your school’s access control systems and emergency response mechanisms. These practices make sure that intruders are kept out. While students and teachers can safely evacuate when necessary. Further, regular drills highlight areas where security processes need improvement. Ensuring everyone on campus is aware of the safety protocols.
2. Implementing Physical Security Features
Physical security measures are the foundation of keeping schools safe for everyone, including teachers. Key physical security measures include:
- Surveillance Cameras: Place security cameras at all major entry points and hallways. Monitored in real-time by administrative staff. These cameras allow schools to spot potential threats early and keep video records for at least 30 days.
- Trained Security Personnel: Employing a trained security staff can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised access to school. These professionals have expertise to quickly identify and respond to potential threats. Ensuring teacher safety in critical situations.
- Restricted Master Key System: Schools should consider using a restricted master key system. This allows various levels of access to different parts of the building. This system ensures that only authorised workers can enter sensitive areas. Like staff rooms or administrative offices.
3. Supporting Teachers Working Remotely
During the pandemic, the rise of remote learning brought new safety challenges for teachers. Teaching from home led to increased isolation, stress, and a higher risk of burnout.
That’s why schools need to address these challenges. They should offer strong emotional and mental support for teachers working remotely.
To ensure safety while teaching online, schools must update their security protocols. This includes:
- providing guidance on protecting students during remote lessons
- conducting virtual welfare checks
- ensuring the staff have access to mental health resources
Even though now schools have returned to in-person learning. The potential for a sudden switch to remote education makes it important to have these processes in place.
Explore more about: Effective School Safety Measures | Protecting Students
4. Support from School Administration
A strong and supportive school administration is important to maintain a safe environment for teachers.
School leaders must be proactive in listening to teachers’ concerns. They should address safety issues before they get worst. Open communication between school staff, administrators, and teachers nurtures a sense of community and trust. Which is important for building safe schools.
5. Access to Mental Health Resources
Teacher safety is not just about physical threats. It’s also about addressing mental health concerns. The pressures of teaching can lead to high levels of stress, anxiety, and burnout. This can make the workplace emotionally unsafe.
Schools need to prioritise the mental well-being of their educators. They should offer access to counseling services and mental health resources.
Moreover, schools should encourage the use of mental health days. They should create a culture where asking for help is normalised.
6. Enforcing Anti-Bullying and Anti-Harassment Policies
Schools must implement strict anti-bullying and anti-harassment policies to protect both students and teachers. Teachers should feel empowered to report incidents of bullying, harassment, or threats without fear of retaliation.
A zero-tolerance policy towards bullying and harassment is important, especially for teachers who are often on the front lines dealing with difficult situations. Additionally, regularly reviewing and updating these policies ensures that they remain effective and relevant to the current challenges within the school environment.
7. Collaboration with Parents and the Community
Creating a safe school environment is a shared responsibility, where parents and the community play a huge role in supporting teacher safety.
Schools should work closely with parents to teach children values such as respect and empathy. It’s important to prevent bullying and harassment in the classroom.
Additionally, community collaboration helps strengthen the importance of teacher safety. Local communities can support schools by participating in safety initiatives, attending school events, and supporting for improved security measures.
8. Utilising Technology to Improve Teacher Safety
Technology plays a vital role in enhancing teacher safety. Schools should consider integrating modern tech solutions to address safety concerns quickly and efficiently.
Some valuable tech tools include:
- Panic Buttons: Installing panic buttons in classrooms gives teachers a discreet way to alert school authorities during emergencies. With just one press, help can be summoned without causing panic or escalating the situation.
- Advanced Surveillance Systems: Upgraded camera systems that cover both high-traffic and low-traffic areas can deter potential threats and help school administrators monitor activities around the school.
- Communication Apps: School-wide communication platforms allow for immediate alerts and updates, ensuring that school staff are informed about emergencies in real time. This ensures quick coordination between administrators, security personnel, and teachers.
Wihkum’s Innovative Solutions | Keeping Our Teachers Safe & Secure
An innovative mobile app that changes the way schools handle emergency situations.
Our app is designed to ensure that schools are safe for everyone, including students and school staff. Prioritising teacher safety is crucial. As it directly influences the quality of education and the well-being of both teachers and students.
Here’s how Wihkum ensures teacher safety in schools:
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- Immediate & Discreet Assistance During Crises
In emergencies, loud alarms can escalate the threat. Wihkum provides a silent alert option through smartphones. Now, teachers can discreetly call for help.
Example | Emergency Scenario & Wihkum in Action
Ms. John, a high school math teacher is alone in her classroom. An upset student enters and makes threats. With no one nearby and the situation escalates.
Ms. John calmly activates the Wihkum app’s silent alert on her phone. This discreet action sends a signal for ‘help’ without alerting the student.
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- Real-Time Location Tracking
When emergencies arise, every second counts. Wihkum uses GPS technology to track the exact location of the staff member triggering the alert.
Example | Emergency Scenario & Wihkum in Action
As soon as Ms. John activates the alert. Wihkum’s real-time tracking informs the school security and administration of her precise location. This ensures that first responders can reach her quickly and accurately.
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- Enhanced Communication Across Multiple Channels
Wihkum goes beyond just sending an alert. It triggers multiple communication channels to ensure the right people are informed promptly.
Example | Emergency Scenario & Wihkum in Action
As Ms. Johnson seeks help, the app sends notification through the following three ways:
- A voice call to the administration, Creating an immediate communication about the situation.
- An email notification is sent to the school’s monitored mailbox. Documenting the whole incident.
- A push notification alerts the nearest trained security staff member. Enabling a quicker response.
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- Trained Security Personnel & Coordinated Response
Wihkum’s alert system integrates with trained personnel, ensuring that they’re notified immediately to provide on-the-ground support.
Example | Security Personnel in Action:
After the school’s trained security team is notified. They reached her in time to defuse the situation, ensuring both her and the student’s safety.
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With Wihkum, teachers can feel confident and safe. Because… HELP is always just a click away.
Download Wihkum App – Your Partner to Ensure Teacher’s Safety in SchoolsJoin us now to make schools safe for everyone.
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