Keeping kids safe - Whose job is it?
18/11/08 16:07
Primary school children are apparently being left at the school gates up to 50 minutes before schools open and are playing chicken with cars on a busy Christchurch road, according to this recent article.
But what is interesting about this piece is how it assumes - as we all do today - that schools must play the custodial role from 9am until 3pm. Parents are custodians for the rest of the time.
This may always be true for primary school kids. But imagine secondary schools in the future. What if all of that changed? If ‘the school’ as we know it ceases to exist in its present form in 2028 and the community and business become far more involved in the delivery of education, then students could be learning in many different centres throughout the community.
Who will be responsible for students safety then? How important is ‘custody’ for secondary school age children anyway?
Sharing that responsibility amongst the community has got to be a better option in the future. Teachers can’t carry that burden alone (they’re teachers, not security guards) and families often have two parents working these days.
What do you think?
But what is interesting about this piece is how it assumes - as we all do today - that schools must play the custodial role from 9am until 3pm. Parents are custodians for the rest of the time.
This may always be true for primary school kids. But imagine secondary schools in the future. What if all of that changed? If ‘the school’ as we know it ceases to exist in its present form in 2028 and the community and business become far more involved in the delivery of education, then students could be learning in many different centres throughout the community.
Who will be responsible for students safety then? How important is ‘custody’ for secondary school age children anyway?
Sharing that responsibility amongst the community has got to be a better option in the future. Teachers can’t carry that burden alone (they’re teachers, not security guards) and families often have two parents working these days.
What do you think?
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