Reflections and Thoughts about the Safe to Learn Project
by Kay Karr
How Are the Children?
The story of the Masai warriors of Africa and their practice of evaluating the “state of their union” or the state of their collective tribes focuses on one question which is asked of each tribal leader. That one question is, “How are the children?” The responses to this simple question determine the direction for future decisions and actions. If all leaders cannot respond with the response, “All our children are well”, a national emergency is declared and all available resources are focused on addressing the problems preventing them from being able to reply, “All our children are well”.
As a public school superintendent for many years, I have long recognized that children are our nation’s most valuable resource and our greatest responsibility. And yet, in the United States, we are far from being able to say, “All our children are well.” After being personally involved in multiple emergencies and hazards, both natural and manmade, I have grown to realize that in this great nation many of our children are often not safe.
As educators, we have long accepted the mission of educating our nation’s children. However, many of us and those who make up the very diverse population that constitutes the United States of America, have failed to recognize that the first priority we have is to keep our children safe and provide a safe environment that is supportive and nurturing so that they can learn.
Thus, when I was contacted by Dolores Beaugez, the Founder of the Safe to Learn Project, and asked to be a part of the project’s advisory council, I quickly said yes. No matter how good our academic programs are, we must first ensure the safety of our children. Without a safe environment, children cannot learn and grow to their potential. Keeping our children safe is our utmost responsibility, not just because we’re educators, but also because we, as citizens of this great nation, have a moral obligation to do so. The project, Safe to Learn, is not just another crisis management or emergency preparation program. Safe to Learn merges these programs with teaching and learning. It demonstrates how we can build and maintain a safe environment in which children can grow and learn.
Educators today are often overwhelmed with the growing number of mandates that must be incorporated into the school day. Each year the burden of more and more mandates grows. Safe to Learn is built around the basic premise that in order for children to learn, they must be kept safe. Far too often, however, schools lack the time and resources to deliver on this basic premise.
I am honored to be a part of this enormous undertaking and am so grateful to Dee and her team for devoting years and years of hard work and study to bring this project to fruition, providing the knowledge and tools we need to truly make a difference in the lives of our children by creating safe schools where it truly is “safe to learn”.
As a public school superintendent for many years, I have long recognized that children are our nation’s most valuable resource and our greatest responsibility. And yet, in the United States, we are far from being able to say, “All our children are well.” After being personally involved in multiple emergencies and hazards, both natural and manmade, I have grown to realize that in this great nation many of our children are often not safe.
As educators, we have long accepted the mission of educating our nation’s children. However, many of us and those who make up the very diverse population that constitutes the United States of America, have failed to recognize that the first priority we have is to keep our children safe and provide a safe environment that is supportive and nurturing so that they can learn.
Thus, when I was contacted by Dolores Beaugez, the Founder of the Safe to Learn Project, and asked to be a part of the project’s advisory council, I quickly said yes. No matter how good our academic programs are, we must first ensure the safety of our children. Without a safe environment, children cannot learn and grow to their potential. Keeping our children safe is our utmost responsibility, not just because we’re educators, but also because we, as citizens of this great nation, have a moral obligation to do so. The project, Safe to Learn, is not just another crisis management or emergency preparation program. Safe to Learn merges these programs with teaching and learning. It demonstrates how we can build and maintain a safe environment in which children can grow and learn.
Educators today are often overwhelmed with the growing number of mandates that must be incorporated into the school day. Each year the burden of more and more mandates grows. Safe to Learn is built around the basic premise that in order for children to learn, they must be kept safe. Far too often, however, schools lack the time and resources to deliver on this basic premise.
I am honored to be a part of this enormous undertaking and am so grateful to Dee and her team for devoting years and years of hard work and study to bring this project to fruition, providing the knowledge and tools we need to truly make a difference in the lives of our children by creating safe schools where it truly is “safe to learn”.
About Kay Karr
Advisory Council | About Kay Karr | Why Plan? Documentary | Reflections about Principles for Principals
Advisory Council | About Kay Karr | Why Plan? Documentary | Reflections about Principles for Principals