Date of Award

10-25-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education

College

College of Education and Social Sciences

First Advisor

Alexander Herring

Second Advisor

Erin Burt

Third Advisor

Lee Hunter

Abstract

Many students in rural schools have negative school safety perceptions. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research study was to investigate the school safety perceptions of students in rural elementary, middle, and high schools in a public school district in South Carolina. The school safety perceptions of students in grades three through twelve were investigated and examined.

The setting for this study took place in a rural school district in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. Three schools in this district were utilized. Forty-three students participated in a short school safety interest survey. The survey provided basic information such as age, race, gender, grade, household, how long they have been in Daisy County, how safe they feel at school, whether they would be willing to participate in an interview about school safety at their school and ask for an email address for communication. Only students who presented a signed parent consent form were provided with an email with the survey. Parents could consent for their child to participate in the survey and interview or the survey only. They were also provided with the opportunity to be present during the interview. The survey was anonymous. A sample of nine students were invited from the school safety interest survey to be interviewed. The interviews consisted of nine structured questions in a specific order for consistency. Interview questions from the perspective of qualitative research provide an open-ended, thorough investigation of experiences from the point of view of the interviewee (Roberts, 2020). The participants presented their perceptions of school safety by answering the questions using their prior knowledge and points of view.

The nine participants concluded that the adults in the school help create a safe school climate, the outside environment could make them feel unsafe, and there is a need for more security in their schools. This study was designed to investigate the school safety perceptions of students in rural elementary, middle, and high schools. This research has the potential to impact schools in rural communities by investigating the perceptions of students. Students are the individuals who are most impacted by school safety. This research will also present information concerning what has occurred and what could possibly occur from the points of view of the students. This information will provide support and aid to schools in rural communities. This study has the potential to add to school safety research literature and identify best practices for school safety in rural communities.

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