Interactive workshop on Developing Behavioural Safety in Schools

On 4 April, 2014, an interactive workshop on Developing Behaviourall Safety in Schools was organized at DPS, Gurgaon. It was a joint venture of the Association of Indian School Counsellors and Allied Professionals (AISCAP) and Expressions India.

School violence is a cause of concern for everyone these days as it can lead to a disruptive and threatening environment, physical injury and emotional stress, all of which, in turn can lead to obstacles to student development and achievement. Most institutes are concerned and empathetic but usually may not be aware of appropriate ways to handle such issues. For this, CBSE is drafting an

Anti-Bullying Policy under the guidance of Dr. Jitendra Nagpal who is a well-known name in the field of child psychology. The session at DPS envisaged at brainstorming the recommendations for formulating guidelines on behavioural safety in schools. Some of the steps that were suggested are as follows:

a. Self-analysis/introspection time :(Silence Time A time when every student meditates) should be given to students ranging from 5 to 10 mins every morning. b. Support groups ( like peer educators) should play an active role in handling bullying cases and should be quick in informing the authorities about suspicious activities and ideas amongst students. c. A sense of ownership should be inculcated among students for their actions and the environment. d. Certain infrastructural changes could be made to ensure safety of students. e. A KYC ( Know your child) and KYF( Know your family) record must be maintained so that schools can keep a track of the family background of each child. For this, different ways of collaborating with parents can be thought of. For example, a musical evening with parents can be organized. This will also help in impact evaluation of the steps taken for Behavioural Safety. If these measures are implemented, schools can be successful to a great extent in creating a nurturing environment for children where they not only learn their core values but begin to define their social behaviour. Ms. Sandhya Batheja.