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We need to look after one another

As children are back in the classroom as of Tuesday, a prime consideration is safety, both in and out of class, on the playground and on our streets and highways.

As children are back in the classroom as of Tuesday, a prime consideration is safety, both in and out of class, on the playground and on our streets and highways.
With school buses now on the streets picking up and delivering children to and from school each weekday, motorists need to be alert and aware of these vehicles, in addition to paying attention to the school zones where the speed is limited to 30 kilometres an hour.
The reality is the school zones in the city of Weyburn are in effect 24 hours a day, 365 days a week. During the summer, the speeds were enforced by officers who patrolled in the zones, but now that schools are back in session, the city police are going to pay particular attention to make sure motorists are slowing down in school zones.
School buses pick up and discharge children in residential areas all over the city, and out in the country at prescribed stops, and motorists need to be aware of these as children of all ages may be running to, or from, the school bus. They warn motorists with red flashing lights and stop arms, but even then, there are tales of motorists who drive by at top speed past the buses, putting the children in danger as they exit the buses.
Another side of keeping our children safe in school is in regard to bullying. This involves everyone who is involved with schools, from teachers, to students, parents and friends, as everyone should seek to make sure the learning environment is a safe one.
Parents and students alike should keep an eye out for one another, and if someone sees a student being bullied, don’t just watch it happen, but say something, or do something. There are studies that show that bullying will often stop if a bystander speaks up or comes forward to put a stop to it.
When people can stand up for each other, then children can be assured of a degree of safety in the class or out on the playground.
Children who have physical disabilities or intellectual disabilities, such as a child with autism or cerebral palsy, or some other distinction that sets them apart from other students, often face bullying from people who think it’s funny to ridicule or torment them. These children need friends, and need the support of fellow classmates, people who are willing to speak up and make sure that they aren’t bullied.
The saying is, it takes a village to raise a child, and in this instance, it takes a community to look after one another and keep each other safe.