| • |
Concerns of Potential Team Members |
| |
| Concern |
I'm swamped! I can't take on one more thing! |
| Response: |
I know; same with me. But we hope that working together will ultimately save
us all time. Together, we can get more done than if each of us works our hardest
in isolation.
|
| Concern: |
We have no money, no training, and no facilities to start a new prevention
program. |
| Response: |
In a school setting, funding and other resources are always limited. Lets
look at what is already in place and how we can fit some of the proposed prevention
activities into what is already going on. Then we can decide how much additional
money, professional development, and space we will need. For example, we may be
able to incorporate any necessary program-specific training into our regularly
scheduled professional development days. Furthermore, by thinking through ways
to coordinate our efforts with community partners, we might actually save money
that we could use to implement additional prevention programs.
|
| Concern: |
We've never invited community partners to our school meetings before.
Why do we need to start now? |
| Response: |
Just because things have always been done one way doesn't mean that it was
the best way. As the needs and concerns of youth, families, and the community
change, schools must change to meet those needs and partnerships need to be formed.
Change is difficult, but by not changing we are not supporting our students or
our community.
|
| Concern: |
We're in the business of education, not in the business of health. |
| Response: |
That's true. But students who are using drugs or are afraid for their safety
cannot function well in the classroom. Education and health are closely intertwined.
Research shows that students who are safe and drug-free perform better academically.
|
| Concern: |
What's in it for me? |
| Response: |
As a teacher, your job will be easier and ultimately, more rewarding. When
students are safe and drug-free, they are better equipped to learn; they can focus
on their work, and you can focus on teaching. Also, if you are a member of the
planning team, you may learn about community resources that can support and enhance
the work you do in the classroom.
|
| Concern: |
We don't have a drug use/violence problem in our school! |
| Response: |
Actually, we do. Every school and community is dealing with drug and violence
issues to some degree. According to the information we collected during our needs
assessment . . .
|
| Concern: |
Isn't the health teacher responsible for these things? |
| Response: |
Yes, but he or she can't do it alone. We've learned from the research that
prevention has to happen on many levels and include many partners in order to
be effective. If we really want to improve the health and safety of our kids,
we all need to work together. |
Adapted from Fetro, J. (1998). Implementing coordinated school health programs
in local schools. In E. Marx, S.F. Wooley, and D. Northrop (Eds.), Health
Is Academic: A Guide to Coordinated School Health Programs (pp. 67-95). New
York: Teachers College Press.
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Last Modified: 06/30/2008
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