Students in U.S. classrooms, more than anywhere else in the world, have a legitimate reason to worry about classroom shootings. In 2015 alone, there were 64 classroom shootings in America. Here in California, in 2014 six people were killed on the UC Santa Barbara campus and 14 were injured.
Active shooter scenarios are no longer a once in a decade problem. Mass shootings have steadily been on the rise in the age of assault weapons capable of unleashing massive casualties in a matter of seconds. If your classroom is under assault from an active shooter, what will you do?
Recent statistics illustrate the severity of the problem. One of those statistics that stand out is the fact that 85% of school shootings are committed by one person using at least two weapons and the shooter is 85% of the time someone who was bullied.
Trying to implement means of thwarting these types of school shootings is made even more difficult with the fact that over 70% of the attackers in these situations end up committing suicide. Getting into the minds of the perpetrators and the reasons behind such atrocities is nearly impossible.
In light of all of this, school administrators are forced to come up with ways to protect their students in the event that they are one day in an active shooter situation during the school day.
Most school shootings amount to two minutes of terror for the school. That’s the average time it takes for an active shooter to enter the building, do damage, and then kill themselves. According to a 2015 report by the FBI, in close to 60% of cases, the event was over before the police ever arrived on the scene.
That means that you have to have an action plan in place long before a shooter steps on the premises. Like your regular fire and tornado drills, your students should know where to go in case of an active shooter scenario.
In the heat of the moment, it is easy to lose your head and make poor decisions. When your students know where to go and what to do when the alarm bells go off, they have a much better chance of surviving the incident.
Look around your classroom. Imagine you were in an active shooter situation. What furniture and tools could you use to stop an intruder and how would you use them? Fortunately, we’ve answered that question for you. Here are school furniture and tools that you can use to protect your students during a school shooting.
Technology in assault weaponry has created a situation where a bullied student has gone from presenting a danger to one bully to causing mass casualties on an entire school. You can make your classroom safer and act in the face of violence by teaching your students how to shield themselves using their classroom furniture.
Loyola Marymount University put together an active shooter drill guide for sheltering in place this year. For help devising a school safety plan for active shooter scenarios, download the pdf. If you are in need of better school furniture, we offer the most competitive rates in California. Contact us today to request a quote.
Long gone are the days of chalkboards and powdered erasers. Today’s classrooms use a variety of advanced technology to engage their students and boost their academic performance while making teaching more fun and interactive. Our latest addition to our product line is our interactive LCD monitors and interactive whiteboards by A&M Church & School Furniture.
In California there are thousands of students sitting in our desks, working at our tables, and sitting in our chairs. At A&M Church & School Furniture all of our classroom products are designed to maximize teaching and learning by making classroom furniture that is comfortable and practical.
It can sometimes be intimidating for teachers who are teaching students who are so tech savvy that they sometimes become the teacher in the classroom. Our interactive whiteboards are easy to use and work beautifully with any mobile device.
You are in more control of your classroom technology and your students are more engaged which in turn increases their ability to learn. Here are 5 other benefits to using our interactive whiteboards and LCD monitors in your classrooms.
Even when classrooms used chalkboards students loved to write on the board with chalk. Today’s classroom “chalkboards” are sleek and attractive like our Donview all-in-one-touch screen. Its narrow frame and stylish grey frame show off its advanced design.
Think of how anxious your students will be to try out your board. All of your images and presentations are presented in full HD 1080 point display. The all-in-one features include infrared technology and interactive computer capabilities.
Your students will benefit from the ability to give professional looking presentations on your interactive whiteboard. Our designs make presentations clearer, bolder, and more visually stunning. Our technology even includes gesture recognition and six point touch.
A&M Church & School Furniture interactive whiteboards come compatible with both Android and Windows operating systems. You can use your own Smartphone or Tablet to access information on the web and display it directly on your LCD monitors. Meanwhile you can use the stylus to write and your fist to erase quickly and easily.
If your classroom is Wi-Fi capable or you use a hotspot on your Smartphone you can completely wire your PC to your Tablet to your interactive whiteboard. Save documents and teaching materials on a USB port located on the front of your whiteboard.
Point click, select, or move any object using only your index finger. The screen comes with 18 different hot keys located on either side of your LCD Monitor or whiteboard. No need to download any added software to connect your devices; your whiteboard comes fully loaded and equipped with all operating systems including Mac.
Just think of how much money you will save each year on dry erase markers or chalk if you still use a blackboard. By using our interactive whiteboards and LCD monitors you will dramatically cut down on classroom expenses while exponentially improving the learning environment within your classroom.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to choose one or the other. You can use your interactive whiteboard in tandem with a corkboard for displaying excellent student achievements and a whiteboard for listing assignments. We offer the best of these products as well in many different sizes and styles.
One feature you will only get with an A&M Church & School Furniture interactive whiteboard is our pre-loaded teaching software. You can upload and display lessons by subject including math, science, reading, and art. Our lessons are constantly updated so that you have access to the latest and most advanced teaching tools on the market.
Our classroom desks come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. Each product is designed for efficient learning. It has long been understood in the teaching profession that when your students are comfortable and alert they learn better. The goal at A&M Church & School Furniture is to help you to provide that for your students.
Adding our new interactive whiteboards and LCD monitors to your classroom will help you to get the most out of your lessons. Your students will be more engaged and your material will be geared toward increasing interaction between you and your students.
Are you interested in adding one of our new interactive whiteboards to your classroom? Browse all of our teaching products from desks to chairs to our new interactive whiteboards and media boards. Simply fill out our contact form to get a quote now for your classroom needs.
Not every organization that submits a proposal to display their products and services at the CCSA’s annual conference get approved. That is why we are so excited to be among the businesses participating in the 23rd Annual California Charter Schools Conference to be held in Long Beach, CA from March 14 – 17, 2016.
The CCSA or California Charter Schools Association is a group of charter school advocates that work together to advance the charter school movement. Their vision is to provide the option for families to choose a charter school as opposed to a typical public school if they feel the charter will provide a better education.
Through their advocacy, the CCSA accumulates and disseminates data and information on the effectiveness of California’s charter schools to parents, legislators, the press, and all other groups and public school associations.
Ultimately CCSA’s mission is to enroll a million students into California’s charter school system by the year 2022. Not only that, their goal is also to ensure that charter schools are outperforming California’s public school system.
They argue that some students are stuck in failing or underperforming public schools. By providing parents and students an option to enroll in a higher quality charter school, they are making sure that all children have the right to an exceptional public education.
Through their annual conference, CCSA hopes to inspire charter school administrators and create a collegial environment of unity and excellence among the participating organizations. It also serves as a way to influence public policy to expand the reach of the charter school movement in California.
There is an ongoing debate about whether or not charter schools are really necessary which makes this year’s keynote speaker such a brilliant choice. This year, CNN’s Soledad O’Brien will be on hand to moderate the closing session panel discussion.
As an award winning television journalist who is used to taking on some of the most contentious issues of our times, Soledad’s panel discussion will be a must-see event. She has no fear of delving into many of the issues that surround the debate on charter schools:
She will bring her hard-hitting journalism to help foster a lively and informative discussion about the role of charter schools in California. Her list of credits is seemingly endless, including winning several Emmys for her reporting on the Haiti crisis, her piece, “Kids and Race” and her coverage of the 2012 presidential election.
She is also the recipient of two Peabody awards; one for her reporting on Hurricane Katrina and one for her coverage of the BP oil spill. Her documentaries on being “Black in America” and, “Latino in America” are among two of CNN’s highest-rated documentaries ever. You won’t want to miss it as Soledad O’Brien closes out the conference with the final panel session.
At Furniture Family we are thrilled to be among the many businesses and organizations there to show off how our products and goods can aid the March to a Million movement. As leaders in the school furniture business, we have everything that charter schools need from innovative student desks to early learning furniture and fixtures including:
Our classroom desks come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. Like many charter schools where teachers share classrooms and students share desks, we offer desks that can be adjusted for height as well as fixed height desks and chairs. All of our products are designed to offer maximum comfort for efficient learning.
Displaying a booth in Exhibit Hall at the Annual California Charter Schools Conference is the best way to get your products into the charter school system. Furniture Family will be there with our own display booth to show off our top of the industry classroom furniture solutions.
If your organization or school plans on attending the 23rd Annual #CCSACon, make sure to stop by our booth. Are you in need of high-quality classroom furniture but won’t be attending CCSA’s conference this year. Simply fill out our request form to get a quote now for your classroom needs.
Finding, buying and placing school furniture is not likely something you’re doing on a regular basis. We understand that it can seem overwhelming. Picking out the right furniture, finding it at a price that is within the school’s budget, and ensuring that you’re getting the most out of your design and layout is no small task.
As one of the leading school furniture companies in the country, we talk with school principals, district purchasing agents and teachers who need help finding the right furniture for their needs on a daily basis. They often have many of the same questions about finding, buying and placing school furniture, so we’ve put together a quick list of some of the things you’ll want to consider as you’re getting started.
First and foremost, it’s important that you know who you’re buying from, the manufacturers they carry, and the quality of the products they represent. You’ll want to partner with a company that not only has a wide catalog of products, but that also has a deep understanding and knowledge of those products. Your supplier will likely be your biggest ally throughout the process, so it is critical that you work with a company you can trust.
It should also be mentioned that school furniture is quite unique; it is unlike the office or home furniture you’re accustomed to purchasing. For this and many reasons, it is always best to work with a company that specializes in school furniture and that has the resources and connections to find and suggest the pieces that will best suit your needs.
Next, we want you to think about mobility and function. In most classrooms, the most effective teaching takes place when different teaching styles can be incorporated. Collaborative teaching generally requires that school furniture regularly be moved around and shifted.
In fact, some of the newer schools mandate that none of the furniture can be fixed — it all must be able to move. Think about teaching styles when you are planning a furniture purchase to be sure you are purchasing pieces that will fit the needs and styles of your teachers.
It may seem obvious, but children are not simply miniature humans. Therefore, school furniture, particularly for elementary age children, should not just be shrunken adult furniture. Think about the children in your school.
Make sure that you are purchasing furniture that is appropriate to their sizes. Seat heights should be proportionate to the heights of the kids in the classrooms, and the desks should fit their smaller frames.
As is true with most things, when it comes to your school furniture, you will want to be sure that you are purchasing quality pieces. Even if you get what you feel is a great deal up front because of the lower price, it won’t prove to be such a great deal when you are buying the same furniture again in just a few short years.
You should always consider the materials used, as well as the reputation of the piece for its longevity and ability to handle daily wear and tear.
Particularly in schools where children spend a large portion of their days, you want to fill the rooms with furniture that won’t harm them.
For instance, we work with manufacturers who are Greenguard certified, meaning that they are dedicated to environmental responsibility and sustainability in their business and manufacturing processes. Many people think that this commitment to sustainability, health and wellbeing means added costs, but that is not necessarily true.
This is another key factor in your overall satisfaction with your purchase. Think about the company that is standing behind the products that you are purchasing. You want to be sure that the company will be there to back up your purchases.
At The A&M Furniture Family, we pride ourselves on offering our clients exceptional service, so you can rest assured that your relationship with us does not end with the sale.
You’ve found the right school furniture that fits within your budget – but now someone has to deliver, put together and place your furniture. This can be quite a job!
Thankfully, if you are located in the Southern California area, we offer complimentary delivery and installation of any products that you purchase from us. No matter who you shop with, be sure delivery and installation are include in your quote.
These are just a few of the considerations we hope you think of when starting your research for school furniture. If you have any questions about any of our products, or if you are ready to get started in purchasing equipment for your school, please feel free to give us a call.
We offer our customers a superior selection with an extensive knowledge of our products, the best pricing, and unparalleled customer service and support. And remember, if you are looking for something that you don’t see on our site – let us know.
We will be more than happy to find it for you. Call or connect with us online today, and let’s get started.
