Creating healthy learning environments.Providing both a stimulating and healthy learning environment requires a delicate duality for most school leaders. We are accustomed to spending our days on intellectually stimulating environments, but what constitutes a healthy learning environment? I asked 10 people that question. Here's what they said. The personnel director said a healthy school environment surely includes hiring the right people for the jobs, conducting criminal background and reference checks, checking the sex offender sex offender n. generic term for all persons convicted of crimes involving sex, including rape, molestation, sexual harassment and pornography production or distribution. website and conducting Google and MySpace searches to see if any embarrassing information turns up. It means ensuring new hires have the required tests and immunizations. And it means training staff in chemical hazard A chemical hazard arises from contamination with harmful or potentially harmful chemicals. Chemical hazards Chemicals have the ability to react when exposed to other chemicals or certain physical conditions. disposal, CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Definition Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a procedure to support and maintain breathing and circulation for a person who has stopped breathing (respiratory arrest) and/or whose heart has stopped (cardiac and first aid, classroom management and prevention of sexual harassment sexual harassment, in law, verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature, aimed at a particular person or group of people, especially in the workplace or in academic or other institutional settings, that is actionable, as in tort or under equal-opportunity statutes. . The safety director offered that a healthy school environment means secure facilities: security cameras; driver's license scanners to check criminal and sex offender lists of all visitors; emergency preparedness plans; school programs to teach peaceful conflict resolution; and crisis management, student discipline and fire safety procedures. The food services food services Hospital services A 24/7 department in a hospital that provides for the nutritional needs of inpatients–eg, those needing special diets, preparing meals and transporting them to the floor and, through the cafeteria, the hospital staff and director recommended programs on wellness and nutrition and procedures for handling students with food allergies Food Allergies Definition Food allergies are the body's abnormal responses to harmless foods; the reactions are caused by the immune system's reaction to some food proteins. . The technology director suggested a healthy school environment should include security measures for all data. The school nurses said the physical and mental health of staff and students were tops on their list. They wanted to see nutrition, wellness, exercise and mental health included in the curriculum. The facility managers, engineers and architects said a healthy school environment meant snow removal, clean facilities, prevention plans, environmentally safe cleaning supplies, pesticide-free integrated pest management Integrated Pest Management (IPM), planned program that coordinates economically and environmentally acceptable methods of pest control with the judicious and minimal use of toxic pesticides. , moisture and mold prevention and removal, radon testing, asbestos management, green energy consumption and healthy indoor air quality Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) deals with the content of interior air that could affect health and comfort of building occupants. The IAQ may be compromised by microbial contaminants (mold, bacteria), chemicals (such as carbon monoxide, radon), allergens, or any mass or energy stressor . I came away with more ideas than I had imagined! What an array of complex and important tasks school leaders complete in order to keep students safe and healthy. To make this task seem more manageable, I developed the 10 P's of Healthy Schools. Here they are: No. 1: People. Hire good people and train them well. Teach students about healthy environments. No. 2: Places. Ensure facilities are healthy, safe and conducive to learning. No. 3: Programs. Attend to personal health, facility health and world health. No. 4: Planning. Keep the importance of healthy indoor air quality and safe facilities on the front burner when making long-range strategic plans. No. 5: Prevention. Make practicing prevention a daily habit and teach prevention strategies to students, staff and parents. No. 6: Protection. Train everyone to be alert and mindful of the health and safety of the entire community. No. 7: Preparation. Join AASA's efforts to get schools ready for children by obtaining a copy of "Putting the Pieces Together: An Urban School Leader's Guide to Healthy Indoor Environments." No. 8: Parents. Help parents understand healthy schools goals so they can be champions also. No. 9: Politicians. Educate political leaders at all levels in the importance of healthy schools. No. 10: Public. Help the public understand what it takes to create healthy schools, healthy minds and healthy environments for learning. We know that student health is inextricably in·ex·tri·ca·ble adj. 1. a. So intricate or entangled as to make escape impossible: an inextricable maze; an inextricable web of deceit. b. linked to student achievement. Creating healthy learning environments means giving everyone a better chance to learn and grow. It should be a priority for all of us. Sarah Jerome is AASA AASA American Association of School Administrators AASA Asian American Student Association AASA Association of Academies of Sciences in Asia AASA Aging and Adult Services Administration AASA Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army president in 2007-08. E-mail: jerome@ahsd25.k12.il.us |
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