Safety Education

With accidents the leading cause of death and disability among school children, the need for increased emphasis on safety education in the modern school is self-evident. In this volume, the authors suggest policies, practices, and procedures that will help to bring about appropriate adaptation of the curriculum. The primary goal of safety education—safe behavior—does not necessarily result from the mere acquisition of knowledge. Beyond this there must be motivation that influences attitudes and skills that condition safety practices. Safe behavior can never be completely prescribed; skills must be flexible to meet new situations and hazards not previously encountered. While dramatic advances were being made against childhood diseases, gains in safety records have had to be inched out without benefit of "wonder drugs" or new immunization procedures. Reexamination of current methods of teaching safety, with emphasis on integration of safety education with concurrent school activities, may enable us to make more