Safe Spaces: Creating a Safe Learning Environment for Students

ince the passage of Republic Act 11036, also known as the Philippine Mental Health Act, the community has taken action to strengthen mental health policies at both the national and local levels. Following that point, schools and universities have begun to improve mental health services through their guidance and counseling offices, sometimes known as student wellness centers. However, we still have a long way to go, particularly because questions about mental health issues persist, especially when students encounter them.

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“Nag-iinarte ka na naman…” “Kulang lang ‘yan sa pansin…” “Kulang lang siya sa tulog, ayan tuloy palaging pagod!”

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Some believe schools to be the "second home" of the majority of our country's students, so we get to share our fears and concerns with our "second" moms and dads. These could be conversations with your class advisor, teachers, or guidance counselors. Of course, we won't forget the friends we have made in our schools and universities, to whom we bare ourselves.

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Learners worry about a variety of things, including schoolwork, family, love lives, and even difficult issues like abuse or self-harm. As educators, it's our job to make sure they have a safe place to learn and talk about their worries. Here are a few things you can do to make your classroom and school a fun and safe place to learn:

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1. Create a warm classroom environment.

When planning to create a secure learning environment for your students, both in the classroom and across campus, it is critical to create a pleasant climate. Creating an inviting classroom where you post words of encouragement and establish classroom norms and rules is a great place to start. It will also be beneficial if teachers and school personnel present themselves as someone students can turn to when they have problems, such as offering a lending hand or checking in with students. Furthermore, this requires establishing clear expectations and standards for both students and administrators at schools. More significantly, students and teachers need to know the consequences of misbehaving and failing to obey the rules.

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2. Be openminded.

Learners have a variety of worries that they bring to school. Encouraging a classroom environment where students perceive their classroom adviser, teachers, or school counselors as receptive to discussing their problems can help increase their comfort level, particularly when their concerns require immediate attention. This will also help if your students are adolescents or early adults who have more questions and prefer to talk to friends and elders outside their home.

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3. Be honest and vulnerable.

Learners appreciate it when their educators admit when they don't know something instead of giving them incorrect information. You can ask other students who know the topic for help. More importantly, this shows kids that it's okay to not know everything and that there's always more to learn.

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4. Remain calm.

Learners can present challenges on certain days and persist for months. It is essential to remain calm and continue to practice the emotion management techniques you have been practicing, teacher! If students are disruptive, ask for help from your supervisors or talk to them privately, rather than screaming in class.

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5. Address concerns early on.

As previously stated, if certain students become disruptive or difficult in class, it is critical to address concerns early on in order to avoid affecting the whole classroom dynamic. More importantly, if students are having problems, teachers should mediate and provide ways for them to resolve their concerns peacefully.

6. Offer options.

To make learning more engaging, provide students with options for how to do their homework or projects. Furthermore, providing options and sometimes applying their suggestions might help kids recognize that there are several methods to learn and handle problems. Showing children that they have a variety of possibilities opens their minds and helps them develop problem-solving capabilities.

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In addition to helping students learn, a safe learning environment makes for happier and healthier teachers and support staff. Learners are encouraged to explore, be curious, and help one another in their learning through consistent rules and regulations that are regularly checked and improved. 

Empath is here to help your organization create and implement a mental health and psychosocial program. You can contact info@empath.ph. Together, we can empower and support one another to create a safe space for learning.

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Reference:

• Alber, R. (2011, September 9). 20 Tips for Creating a Safe Learning Environment. Retrieved from Edutopia: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/20-tips-create-safe-learning-environment-rebecca-alber
• Babate, J. (2023, April 14). Increase public school funding for mental health services. Retrieved from Inquirer.Net: https://opinion.inquirer.net/162363/increase-public-school-funding-for-mental-health-services
• Building a Safe Learning Environment in the Classroom. (2024, March 29). Retrieved from Brightwheel: https://mybrightwheel.com/blog/safe-learning-environment
• Dusenbury, L. (2024, August 8). Creating a Safe Classroom Environment. Retrieved from Education World: https://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/creating-safe-classroom-environment-climate.shtml
• Safe School for Teens. (2024, August 8). Retrieved from Child Protection Network: https://www.childprotectionnetwork.org/safe-school-for-teens/

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