In a poignant letter in the last issue of School Board News , David Stallman reminds us that adults are role models for children. As school board members, we must see ourselves as leaders in creating a safe and nurturing climate in our schools. The following statement was developed by the NSBA Board of Directors and the leaders of NSBA's Federation Members and was approved by the board last September. Violence in American society has caused concerns for safety to become a high priority among our citizens. We are concerned about safety in our homes, our communities, and our schools.
Schools are still the safest place for children to be.
But even one incident of violence is too many. All members of the school community must respond by strengthening their own commitment through aggressive, well designed, and fully funded initiatives so that all children can continue to learn and grow safely. Violence among our youth is a public health crisis and should be treated as such. When threatened by disease our society comes together to find vaccines. NSBA calls to action national, state, and local leadership to address this challenge.