Since the shooting in Florida, the security policy at the High school is changing (which is a good thing); one of the changes that I am iffy about is the teachers now have to keep their doors locked and closed at all times while students are in the classrooms. The principle came to me yesterday and told be that the same applies to me as well if I have a student in the clinic, I need to lock and shut my door.
I approached her one on one and told her that I don't feel comfortable with this and "I don't want to open that can of worms". If something were ever to be said I would lose not only my job but potentially my license. I was told that there is a window in my door so it is perfectly fine and besides some teachers work one on one with the students behind closed doors as well. I work for a small private high school with only 257 students and 44 Faculty and Staff.
I have a few concerns (justified or not still concerning) 1. My clinic is super small (not attached to the main office) the nearest classroom is 50 feet down the hall. Teachers, Students pass by my clinic multiple times a day. Did I mention this a HIGH School!
2. Safety for myself. If I have to keep my door closed, who is to say that the student I am with isn't going to try and hurt me (I know this is a stretch, but it can happen). 3. There is times where I have to turn my light off when one of my migraine sufferers come in. (closing my door in that situation is just asking for trouble)
The only time I close my door is for the following reasons when I am meeting with a student, parent, and teacher, I'm leaving the clinic, or I am in the bathroom.
I understand the safety of our students is the number one priority and I would never put them in harms way. I would have no problem in an emergency situation of an intruder, gun fire; whatever shut my door with a student in the clinic, but I don't feel that I should keep it closed at all times with just me and student during normal everyday business.
Since the shooting in Florida, the security policy at the High school is changing (which is a good thing); one of the changes that I am iffy about is the teachers now have to keep their doors locked and closed at all times while students are in the classrooms. The principle came to me yesterday and told be that the same applies to me as well if I have a student in the clinic, I need to lock and shut my door.
I approached her one on one and told her that I don't feel comfortable with this and "I don't want to open that can of worms". If something were ever to be said I would lose not only my job but potentially my license. I was told that there is a window in my door so it is perfectly fine and besides some teachers work one on one with the students behind closed doors as well. I work for a small private high school with only 257 students and 44 Faculty and Staff.
I have a few concerns (justified or not still concerning) 1. My clinic is super small (not attached to the main office) the nearest classroom is 50 feet down the hall. Teachers, Students pass by my clinic multiple times a day. Did I mention this a HIGH School!
2. Safety for myself. If I have to keep my door closed, who is to say that the student I am with isn't going to try and hurt me (I know this is a stretch, but it can happen). 3. There is times where I have to turn my light off when one of my migraine sufferers come in. (closing my door in that situation is just asking for trouble)
The only time I close my door is for the following reasons when I am meeting with a student, parent, and teacher, I'm leaving the clinic, or I am in the bathroom.
I understand the safety of our students is the number one priority and I would never put them in harms way. I would have no problem in an emergency situation of an intruder, gun fire; whatever shut my door with a student in the clinic, but I don't feel that I should keep it closed at all times with just me and student during normal everyday business.