The School as a Safe Zone

Schools must serve as sanctuaries for children to thrive socially and emotionally. 

The priority of school administrators must be to create a safe space for all children irrespective of race and socio-economic background. The onus is on school counsellors to initiate and foster the development of a good rapport with students. This helps to build positive relationships, which makes students comfortable and confident to express their emotions and seek help when needed. This should be the aim of all educators: to focus on building trust in the relationships they have with students. 

School life directs and transforms a child into a functional being. As educators, we teach them how to respond and become critical thinkers able to resolve social issues. However, there are times when the internal problems they face require compassion, love, support, and reassurance. 

Schools must serve as safe zones for children, providing not only education but also a sanctuary where they can thrive socially and emotionally. Children should find protection within a school's walls from the uncertainties and dangers they face. They should be surrounded by trained professionals who prioritize their safety and well-being. From vigilant teachers to dedicated counsellors, schools should offer a supportive environment where children can express themselves freely, seek guidance, and build meaningful relationships with peers. 

Consequently, it is the space that provides compassion and understanding that has the power to mend even the deepest, unhealed wounds that children bear. As such, educators must understand and accept that school is a safe zone for children and not take advantage of their vulnerability in such a space. Children attend school daily with physical and invisible scars that life has inflicted on their young hearts. These children sometimes hold an unimaginable depth of sorrow beyond their years. Frequently, they depend on the only safe zone they know to shield them from relentless pain. However, the expected compassion and

understanding that hold transformative power, which can soothe the deepest, most enduring wounds, are merely shown. Thus, the pain of being traumatized and the fear of trusting anyone are masked with a spirited personality and a contagious smile. 

By fostering empathy and understanding, educators can provide a nurturing space where children are felt, seen, heard, and supported. Notably, each child carries a story of loss, abandonment, or neglect, thus creating a depth of pain woven into their collective existence. Therefore, educators must create safe havens within schools, where children can find solace and support; in challenging times, love and empathy have the potential to ignite hope for a better tomorrow. Furthermore, it is the educator’s responsibility to prioritise the emotional well-being of every child entrusted into their care, fostering a culture of kindness and acceptance within the schools. In doing so, an environment is developed where healing can take root and children can flourish not only academically but also socially and emotionally.