TEACH Journal of Christian Education
Volume 5 | Issue 2 Article 5
January 2011
Eternal H&S Issues
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Recommended Citation
(2011) "Eternal H&S Issues,"TEACH Journal of Christian Education: Vol. 5 : Iss. 2 , Article 5.
Available at:https://research.avondale.edu.au/teach/vol5/iss2/5
v5 n2 | TEACH | 21
Teaching & Professional Practice
Walk into any school and you will see visible evidence that the personal safety of its
students and teachers is taken seriously. Signs such as Mind the step, Slippery when wet and Hazchem create an awareness of possible hazards, and prompt staff and students to take their safety seriously. Kitchens, workshops and science laboratories take the notion of safety to the next level. In kitchens, knives are carefully stored, chopping boards colour coded and work surfaces kept meticulously clean. Signs, appropriately displayed, remind students of these safety precautions.
Workshop machines are treated with respect.
Signs such as Make sure guard is in place before using machine and Are you wearing goggles? remind students of safety issues. In science laboratories, all chemicals are clearly labelled and stored appropriately, and safety signs alert users to be careful when using certain apparatus.
Wherever you turn in a school, you see signs that exist for the sole purpose of keeping the students and staff safe. Are we as intentional in creating visible reminders that the Eternal Health and Safety of our students is our first priority?
In many Christian schools, the first impression is that administrators take the Eternal Health and Safety of their students seriously. Framed mission statements, values statements, slogans and posters tastefully decorate walls and foyers. What is your school like? Are the logos, crests, mottos, icons and items on display consistent with the Christian purpose and values of the school? Many schools are intentional in creating decor and even displaying children’s work that indicates the Christ-centredness of the school program.
Individual classrooms often show evidence that the teachers have the Eternal Health and Safety of their students at heart. What is your classroom like? What displays, slogans or posters remind your learners that they are the children of God?
I recently visited a school that had a beautifully crafted mosaic in the pavement at the main entry to the school. For me, it was more than a work of art; it was a reminder that this school had direction.
The compass, the Bible, the cross, the world and the flame left me with no doubt that this school was intentional in putting out the ‘signs’.
The visible displays in your school may appear to be of little consequence, but they are another way of reminding students and parents of the core business of your school. Make them attractive, make them intentional, make them part of the culture of your school. This can be one more way of surrounding students with the message of God’s love for them. TEACH
EH&S issues are a joint initiative between the Adventist Schools Australia Curriculum Unit and Avondale College of Higher Education.
The
E
TERNALH
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afety of our students is our greatest priorityE ternal H & S I ssues
Hearing protection must be worn
[Macquarie College’s emblem]
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