Opinion

Three school safety steps every parent should know before classes begin

Parents should demand emergency training for educators and have honest conversations with their children about potential threats

By Conn Davis Fox News

Published August 12, 2026 9:00am EDT

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Education expert blasts 'radical' teacher training programs undermining parental authority

Nikki Neily of Defending Education warns against controversial teacher training programs in over 20 states that push radical theories, undermining parental authority. She argues these programs use students as 'child soldiers' for social change.

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I reviewed my children’s back-to-school shopping lists last week. After wrapping my head around the dizzying array of required items, I was struck by what was missing: safety.

Across America, parents will spend the next few weeks buying everything from notebooks, pens, and pencils to dorm fridges, shower caddies, and laundry baskets.

No parent wants their child to be "that kid" — the one who accidentally shows up on the first day with the wrong calculator or without gym shoes. Yet whether dropping them off at the bus stop or at the quad, almost none of them will send them away with an honest, practical conversation about safety — the one thing they need most.

IS CYBERBULLYING HIDING IN YOUR CHILD'S GROUP CHAT?

Why? Sometimes, because we assume our kids already know what to do or that someone else will teach them. Mostly because it’s uncomfortable. It’s easier to talk about........

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