I am a science teacher, too.  I'm not sure that large settlements will encourage school boards to provide safety training.  It is my experience that school boards are in the business of "spending" money.... football stadiums, technology, things that get noticed and look good.  Our students already are encouraged to take online classes with online labs (no potential dangers there, right?).  I have not had a budget in the last 3 years to purchase supplies, much less be trained.  And yes, I teach in a right to work state with no collective bargaining power.  Beacon High is in a state with unions.  

Let's focus on quality teaching and learning.  As chemists we understand the importance of hands on labs and demonstrations, and that they be done safely, to learn chemistry.  There are no short cuts.  Large payouts from a BOE won't be a short cut to ensuring safety training.  Chemists speaking up to schools, administrations, and districts demanding students graduate with hands on lab experience and a working knowledge of chemistry will go farther for the cause of science literacy. 

On Tue, Jul 2, 2019 at 1:38 PM Mary Shane <space7051**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com> wrote:

Being a high school science teacher, I can say there is no safety training done in my district. I think there should be mandatory training each year.  I also agree there should be a safety course required for all science teachers as part of there education in college. There should also be a course for those who will teach elementary school.  I take safety seriously and accept the ribbing from my peers. I will be doing Flinn Scientific 's safety course this summer. 

On Tue, Jul 2, 2019, 10:03 AM Yaritza Brinker <YBrinker**At_Symbol_Here**fele.com> wrote:

It may be different in your area, but where I live the school board's job is comparable to a CEO's job- raise funds, approve building improvements, and approve high level policy changes. Much like a CEO, the board doesn't know who needs training nor what kind of training. The board assumes the superintendent and principals are providing adequate training for the teachers.

 

To make things worse, there is a false notion amongst the public (principals included) that a degree in science implies knowledge of experiment safety. Hence, the importance of teaching safety at the college level. In my opinion, laboratory safety should be a required course for both science students and science teachers.

 

Thank you,

 

Yaritza Brinker

260.827.5402

 

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