The results from four Baltimore County public schools participating in the Council of Urban Boards of Education?s 2005 survey varied and at times gave conflicting accounts of the climate inside local schools. Overall, however, a large number of children indicated they do not feel safe in school or trust their teachers.
At Randallstown Elementary, 76 percent indicated they felt safe at school. But 64 percent agreed with the statement “Students at my school fight a lot.” Forty-four percent agreed that “Students at my school trust teachers.”
More than half (53 percent) had seen students bullied at least once a month and 27 percent said they are bullied at least once a month.
Nearly 32 percent believe “there are races of children who are smarter than others,” and 42 percent said an adult in their family visits the school often.
At Pine Grove Elementary in north Baltimore County, students expressed a greater sense of safety. Twenty-nine percent had seen some children bullied and 12 percent said, “I am bullied during the school day at least once a month.”
At Pine Grove, 22 percent ? roughly a third of the number from Randallstown ? indicated that “students at my school fight a lot.” About two-thirds of the Pine Grove children said they trust their teachers.
Forty-eight percent said a family member or guardian visits their school often; 32 percent agreed with the statement “There are races of children who are smarter than others.”
Coinciding with national survey results, Arbutus Middle School students surveyed indicated a drop in their perception of school safety, and a significant decrease in teacher trust and family school visits.
Two-thirds felt safe at school, but 52 percent said there were a lot of fights and 17 believed some students brought knives or guns to school.
Thirty-six percent agreed students trust teachers. Fifteen percent admitted being bullied and 56 percent said they witnessed bullying.
Only 30 percent indicated a family member or guardian visited regularly.
Nearly 30 percent of Arbutus students agreed that “there are races of children who are smarter than others.”
At Dundalk High School, another fall in the perception of school safety, teacher trust, and family school visits coincided with national figures.
Less than half, 47 percent, feel safe. More than 41 percent said “some children carry guns or knives to school,” and 70.2 percent said students fight a lot. Less than 20 percent indicated students trust their teachers.
At Dundalk, 34 percent agreed that “there are races of children who are smarter than others,” and only 17 percent said an adult family member or guardian visited school often.
