This was an interesting story for me, because I experienced something like this at Monticello, Iowa at Sacred Heart. We had to wear face masks and sign a wavier form to participate in a "drill for intruder alert". The chief of Police came walking down the hall way firing these plastic bullets. It really got my attention and heart pounding fast. There was about five teachers in my group and we climbed out a window into the back yard of the school. I understand the importance of these drills, but I agree sometimes we go a little too far and someone could have a heart attack performing these tasks.
We need to be prepared for anything! That used to mean being ready for “Little Jimmie” bringing in his dad’s flask, or telling that “Mommy drank a whole bottle of wine last night.” It was even “do-able” when it meant that we just had to be flexible because who knew what “fun opportunity” might pop up today, and we’d have to go with the flow and change our schedule around a bit. But… Now it means that I have to be ready because someone intent on hurting us (or themselves) may be at our door. I can’t wrap my head around it! I hope that I never EVER have to worry about it. The drill and protocols we have in place already are good things to do. We have to be ready; knowing what to do when that moment comes. I’m not sure that terrorizing the staff in “mock shooter drills” is the way to go. My big worry is that so many of us feel “it will never happen here”, or that we become so complacent, that we let our guard down in order to not be inconvenienced. And that desire to do what is convenient will be the chink in our armor that lets the enemy in.
As I read this story, I remembered having this type of drill at Xavier. The day we went through it I remember working with my group of teachers on how we could best escape and avoid the shooter. We heard the shots outside of our room that we were all huddled in and then it got quiet so we decided we could make it to safety. I remember running to my safe spot and my team encouraging me and then the teacher behind me fell and hit her head and actually started bleeding. Then things became really real and we were running for our emergency buckets and an ambulance was called. I think my whole team and I were in shock and were shaking because one of our colleagues was hurt. We hoped that we all acted in a way that was helpful and talked for a long time about how incredibly difficult that was to see happen. We wondered what if that happened to our students, would we all be able to react the way we needed to. Thankfully my colleague recovered from that injury and is still teaching today. Like Lisa, I hope I never have to do that for real and I am glad that they have stopped doing those types of drills because it was very scary to go through. I think the way we practice lockdown drills at this time is appropriate. It at least gives us the place to start without traumatizing our kids.
20 years ago, when debating my future, I never thought that I would be talking to kindergarteners about active shooter drills. I find it very sad that people people feel that this is the answer. As I read the article, the following stuck with me "physical safety is just as important as the students' emotional safety, developmental well-being, and sense of belonging and self-worth." "That attending to students' emotional and developmental needs is what creates truly safe places for teaching and learning." And "Deepening such protocols and supports, as special education experts, may well be better uses of resources than more extreme, expensive measures like installing bulletproof glass or instituting active shooter drills." We had parents at St. Pats in Anamosa that were offering to purchase guns, pay for licenses to carry and pay for shooting lessons for all of us. I think that providing resources for our students is money much better spent the buying guns and shooting lessons. Maybe then we wouldn't have people feeling the need to shoot these innocent children?!?!
I agree with Shannon! Yes, protecting our students/staff is important and having a plan in place is critical, but the issue is much deeper. We as a society need to do more preventative work with people and their social/emotional and mental well being, instead of spending dollars on structures and drills assuming that active shooting WILL happen.
The last part of the article tells all. "For teachers and students alike, school safety is a multi-dimensional issue. And as school security experts Christine Eith and Kenneth Trump suggest in their online exclusive, that's something schools need to take into account even—or perhaps especially—when designing preparedness exercises." I believe that all of the teachers at Aquin, would do what's best for all in a threatening situation. We must plan and learn as much as we can to prepare for a situation, but like others stated, money and energy needs to be spent on the resources needed to address the social and emotional needs of our students. My mom said she remembered in the 1940's hiding under their desks to practice for an attack from Russia. That never happened, but she remembered worrying about it. It is not good to stress and worry our children. We can ensure them that we would do whatever we need to do to be there for them.
I can't imagine going through drills like Tim and Cindy did. That seems to be taking things too far.
I remember when we had the real lock down and we weren't sure why. Our students immediately knew it was real because they knew there was no way they would do a lock down drill while they were still outside for recess and needed to be brought in. I remember kids crying in the corner and I remember trying to console them and wondering if there was an intruder in the school.
Since this experience, when I review lock down expectations and procedures with students I simply tell them that their job is to go to the corner quickly and be silent the whole time. I then tell them that I will do what I need to do to keep them safe and I leave it at that because it is such a scary thing for our kids to think about.
As teachers in today's world, there is so much we need to be prepared for. During my first education class in college, I was told that it would be our responsibility as teachers to have a safe environment within our classroom. Unfortunately schools are one of the most targeted areas where shootings happen. I have not had any experience or practice drills, but I think that is something that every teacher should have. As I was getting my classroom set up at the beginning of the year, I was thinking about how I would handle such a situation. Where would I put my students? What would I use to block the door? How can I keep my students calm? I pray that I never have a personal experience with this, but if I do, I want to be prepared. Even in small town Iowa, we need to be prepared for anything that could happen.
I agree with Janice that we need to be doing more preventive work. If we could just get the help people need before they reach the point of hurting others. Teachers need to make positive connections with their students/families to know they care. I believe that we need to do the drills that we practice now but not the drills that they practiced in the article. I feel they would only be traumatizing than helpful.
I agree with many of you who voiced the idea of preventive work. I believe that this is a mental health issue more than it is a gun/violence issue. We can't deny that society has changed over the last 50 years and concerns of teachers have changed with it. What struck me in the article was this "Ensuring that students are safe is one of the five tenets of ASCD's Whole Child framework. (The others are healthy, engaged, supported, and challenged.)" Which of these 5 tenets are we sacrificing in order to practice active shooter drills, lockdowns, and evacuations. Should we focus more on student health - mental, physical, emotional? What about making sure students are supported - academically, mentally, & emotionally? There is a shortage of nurses and mental health services in schools across the country. 50 years ago these things may not have been necessary, but as our society continues to change, schools need to adapt and provide what is needed for students.
I think that we are all on the same page. We know we have to be prepared because we realize that just being in a small town/small school does not ensure safety. I remember Paul Gasser saying during our first inservice that rural midwestern schools like ours have a very high chance of school shootings because of the presence of guns in many of the homes. I believe that the drills we do are worthwhile and effective. My students know that their job is to simply go to their safe spot and be quiet--it is my job, and the rest of the adults working in our school's job, to do the rest. We do not do a lot of discussing of "what if" case scenarios because that only serves to increase anxiety in them.... I do work out the "what if" case scenarios in my own head. My heart goes out to any school community that has had to go through any acts of violence. Watching what some of those communities have gone through really does act as an incentive for me to always be prepared, and hope and pray that we never experience what they have.
I also agree with everyone that doing these drills is good to practice and know what to do in the situations. Like Liz I don't really let my students talk about "what ifs." No matter how often I work through the "what ifs" in my mind I never truly know how I will react in those situations and I truly hope I never have to find out how I would.
This article shows that while having a safety plan in place is important, it more important to put resources toward mental health and well-being. What can we do as a school to not only make connections with the kids, but have the kids make more connections with each other? I love that Unit 2 is mixing up all of their grade levels at lunch on Fridays. I think this is a great way to meet new people and build connections. I think it would benefit all of the grades to do this! Kids today need that human connection that is being replaced by technology. What can we do in our own classrooms to help the kids connect with others they normally wouldn't?
I just read this article today after hearing about the school shooting yesterday in California and seeing in the news a child's text to his/her parents essentially saying goodbye because there was a shooter in the building. It was about the most heartbreaking text I've ever read. And while I also agree that it is important to be prepared for this type of situation because it could truly happen anywhere, I really think it adds stress and fear to our students. I agree that it is even more important to address the social and mental health causes underlying the issue of violence. The news media reported that the shooter in California was often bullied and alone. When someone feels less than worthy and less than human because of the way he/she is treated, it's not hard to see how that can sometimes lead to violent reactions. Money and time would be well-spent of programs to develop tolerance, compassion, and human connection. I also feel that it's important to be able to address issues of bullying and unkindness directly. More often than not, we have middle school students and/or parents reporting issues to us as teachers, but then asking us not to address it for fear of making things worse.
I read this article the day after the school shooting in California.Santa Clarita had recently been voted one of the safest place to raise a family. Unfortunately, the acts of violence that take place in schools can happen anywhere and we have to be prepared to deal with the ultimate tragedy. I have never been a part of a lock down, but I know they impact the students because so many of them have told me stories about past drills and how they felt about them. Many expressed anxiety about future drills, but they also understand why we have to know what to do and where to go if we would ever find ourselves faced with an active shooter.
We do need to have a plan into place and we need to practice this plan to make sure that it works. It is a very sad world that we live in, that we need to have one of these drills. Just yesterday was another school shooting, and 2 students are dead. Why can't we help people who need the help? why hasn't congress figured that out?
I agree with much of what has been stated already. We need to have protocols in place for these events. The students need to know what there job is and staff needs to share what our job is; all of which we do with our students. It is a hard thing to think about and even imagine the "what if's" at Aquin or with my own children. This was not an area I thought I would have to cover when I started teaching. We need to provide the environment that is emotionally and mentally healthy for our students and continue on the right path.
Unfortunately, in our world today, preparing students for a lock down is necessary. I appreciate the people who are working to help prepare us for this as much as they can. I really like to read the book... I'm Not Scared, I'm Prepared... with the students. We need to have a plan to keep our students safe, but I feel we also need to look at the bigger picture. We need to work on helping the people who feel that this is their only option. It needs to start early and it is never too late. People need to feel important, loved and accepted. We as teachers can help with this. I feel that the trend is starting in this direction. We need the Joe Beckmans of the world in our school buildings every day!
I agree with many of you that it is important to prepare and practice drills so that the faculty and students know what they should do and where they should go in the event of a school shooting. However, the drills that were discussed in the beginning of the article seem to be extreme and very disturbing. I believe that the increase in school shootings is a mental health issue. We need to work to identify those who need help and allocate our resources in that direction. We need to make sure our students are emotionally, mentally, and physically safe.
I know of a few teachers around Iowa that experienced similar training as to what this article first shared. When talking with those teachers they were very traumatized. Being prepared is so very important, but is it necessary to go through details that are unpredictable and may not play out the same way? I feel the most important thing to look at the mental health of society. Having access to appropriate help or resources for people is so important.
I agree with the many responses about looking closer at mental health in our world and in our schools. Although it is necessary to have a plan in place, it is sad that's what it has come to. I was just talking with my mom other day about our lockdown at Aquin and my thought process of what I would do in case of an active shooter. She made the comment "Heck, when I was in school we didn't practice for a lockdown until I was a high schooler because it was never necessary." That just goes to show how much society has changed and how much we have needed to change our ways and practices.
A safe school should mean that the kids feel safe to be there. They shouldn't have to worry daily about if they are going to be hurt, physically or emotionally. The article focuses on the physical part with active shooters or if there is someone in the building who is trying to cause harm to others. I think having a plan in place with options on what to do and how to react in case of that emergency is a great idea, just like we practice if there is a fire or a tornado. However, I think if we go through a drill acting as if it is real could be very harmful for kids and teachers. It takes away the safeness of the school even when there is no "actual" harm taking place. I have never practiced a fire drill by telling the kids there is a real fire. That would freak them out! I don't think an active shooter situation should be treated any differently.
I agree with many of the responses. I do feel it is important to think about and plan for the worst; however, I think about the extra trauma that was created that was not necessary at the time. We want children to feel safe and so many are more scared than we actually realize after watching the news. This did get me thinking about how I personally need to be more aware. I feel as a small community, everyone is so trusting. As an example, last Friday, when I got back from Early Childhood PD, someone walked up to the door with me for the Social Studies PD. I did not know who she was, no one was in the office at the time to let her in, and I let her walk in with me when I unlocked the door. Turns out Diane did know who it was and was part way down the hall and no kids were in the building; however, I was trusting enough to hold the door open for her to walk in. It just makes me think a little more about my actions.
It is very important that we teach students how to react in crisis scenarios so we can be prepared for the worst. As teachers, we also need to practice for what we will do in the worst case scenario. However, we do not need to scare kids, we just need to prepare kids. I think it is important that we walk students through the process so they understand what they would do if the situation were to arise. Students react faster and better when they are prepared. Security is the most important thing for our students. Practicing get shot at as a teacher does not help prepare you emotionally, nor does it create a safe environment. Students need to know that they are cared for and that we are capable and willing to protect them from harm.
This was an interesting story for me, because I experienced something like this at Monticello, Iowa at Sacred Heart. We had to wear face masks and sign a wavier form to participate in a "drill for intruder alert". The chief of Police came walking down the hall way firing these plastic bullets. It really got my attention and heart pounding fast. There was about five teachers in my group and we climbed out a window into the back yard of the school. I understand the importance of these drills, but I agree sometimes we go a little too far and someone could have a heart attack performing these tasks.
ReplyDeleteWe need to be prepared for anything! That used to mean being ready for “Little Jimmie” bringing in his dad’s flask, or telling that “Mommy drank a whole bottle of wine last night.” It was even “do-able” when it meant that we just had to be flexible because who knew what “fun opportunity” might pop up today, and we’d have to go with the flow and change our schedule around a bit. But… Now it means that I have to be ready because someone intent on hurting us (or themselves) may be at our door. I can’t wrap my head around it! I hope that I never EVER have to worry about it. The drill and protocols we have in place already are good things to do. We have to be ready; knowing what to do when that moment comes. I’m not sure that terrorizing the staff in “mock shooter drills” is the way to go. My big worry is that so many of us feel “it will never happen here”, or that we become so complacent, that we let our guard down in order to not be inconvenienced. And that desire to do what is convenient will be the chink in our armor that lets the enemy in.
ReplyDeleteAs I read this story, I remembered having this type of drill at Xavier. The day we went through it I remember working with my group of teachers on how we could best escape and avoid the shooter. We heard the shots outside of our room that we were all huddled in and then it got quiet so we decided we could make it to safety. I remember running to my safe spot and my team encouraging me and then the teacher behind me fell and hit her head and actually started bleeding. Then things became really real and we were running for our emergency buckets and an ambulance was called. I think my whole team and I were in shock and were shaking because one of our colleagues was hurt. We hoped that we all acted in a way that was helpful and talked for a long time about how incredibly difficult that was to see happen. We wondered what if that happened to our students, would we all be able to react the way we needed to. Thankfully my colleague recovered from that injury and is still teaching today. Like Lisa, I hope I never have to do that for real and I am glad that they have stopped doing those types of drills because it was very scary to go through. I think the way we practice lockdown drills at this time is appropriate. It at least gives us the place to start without traumatizing our kids.
ReplyDelete20 years ago, when debating my future, I never thought that I would be talking to kindergarteners about active shooter drills. I find it very sad that people people feel that this is the answer. As I read the article, the following stuck with me "physical safety is just as important as the students' emotional safety, developmental well-being, and sense of belonging and self-worth." "That attending to students' emotional and developmental needs is what creates truly safe places for teaching and learning." And "Deepening such protocols and supports, as special education experts, may well be better uses of resources than more extreme, expensive measures like installing bulletproof glass or instituting active shooter drills." We had parents at St. Pats in Anamosa that were offering to purchase guns, pay for licenses to carry and pay for shooting lessons for all of us. I think that providing resources for our students is money much better spent the buying guns and shooting lessons. Maybe then we wouldn't have people feeling the need to shoot these innocent children?!?!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Shannon! Yes, protecting our students/staff is important and having a plan in place is critical, but the issue is much deeper. We as a society need to do more preventative work with people and their social/emotional and mental well being, instead of spending dollars on structures and drills assuming that active shooting WILL happen.
ReplyDeleteThe last part of the article tells all. "For teachers and students alike, school safety is a multi-dimensional issue. And as school security experts Christine Eith and Kenneth Trump suggest in their online exclusive, that's something schools need to take into account even—or perhaps especially—when designing preparedness exercises." I believe that all of the teachers at Aquin, would do what's best for all in a threatening situation. We must plan and learn as much as we can to prepare for a situation, but like others stated, money and energy needs to be spent on the resources needed to address the social and emotional needs of our students. My mom said she remembered in the 1940's hiding under their desks to practice for an attack from Russia. That never happened, but she remembered worrying about it. It is not good to stress and worry our children. We can ensure them that we would do whatever we need to do to be there for them.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine going through drills like Tim and Cindy did. That seems to be taking things too far.
ReplyDeleteI remember when we had the real lock down and we weren't sure why. Our students immediately knew it was real because they knew there was no way they would do a lock down drill while they were still outside for recess and needed to be brought in. I remember kids crying in the corner and I remember trying to console them and wondering if there was an intruder in the school.
Since this experience, when I review lock down expectations and procedures with students I simply tell them that their job is to go to the corner quickly and be silent the whole time. I then tell them that I will do what I need to do to keep them safe and I leave it at that because it is such a scary thing for our kids to think about.
As teachers in today's world, there is so much we need to be prepared for. During my first education class in college, I was told that it would be our responsibility as teachers to have a safe environment within our classroom. Unfortunately schools are one of the most targeted areas where shootings happen. I have not had any experience or practice drills, but I think that is something that every teacher should have. As I was getting my classroom set up at the beginning of the year, I was thinking about how I would handle such a situation. Where would I put my students? What would I use to block the door? How can I keep my students calm? I pray that I never have a personal experience with this, but if I do, I want to be prepared. Even in small town Iowa, we need to be prepared for anything that could happen.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Janice that we need to be doing more preventive work. If we could just get the help people need before they reach the point of hurting others. Teachers need to make positive connections with their students/families to know they care.
ReplyDeleteI believe that we need to do the drills that we practice now but not the drills that they practiced in the article. I feel they would only be traumatizing than helpful.
I agree with many of you who voiced the idea of preventive work. I believe that this is a mental health issue more than it is a gun/violence issue. We can't deny that society has changed over the last 50 years and concerns of teachers have changed with it. What struck me in the article was this "Ensuring that students are safe is one of the five tenets of ASCD's Whole Child framework. (The others are healthy, engaged, supported, and challenged.)" Which of these 5 tenets are we sacrificing in order to practice active shooter drills, lockdowns, and evacuations. Should we focus more on student health - mental, physical, emotional? What about making sure students are supported - academically, mentally, & emotionally? There is a shortage of nurses and mental health services in schools across the country. 50 years ago these things may not have been necessary, but as our society continues to change, schools need to adapt and provide what is needed for students.
ReplyDeleteI think that we are all on the same page. We know we have to be prepared because we realize that just being in a small town/small school does not ensure safety. I remember Paul Gasser saying during our first inservice that rural midwestern schools like ours have a very high chance of school shootings because of the presence of guns in many of the homes. I believe that the drills we do are worthwhile and effective. My students know that their job is to simply go to their safe spot and be quiet--it is my job, and the rest of the adults working in our school's job, to do the rest. We do not do a lot of discussing of "what if" case scenarios because that only serves to increase anxiety in them.... I do work out the "what if" case scenarios in my own head. My heart goes out to any school community that has had to go through any acts of violence. Watching what some of those communities have gone through really does act as an incentive for me to always be prepared, and hope and pray that we never experience what they have.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with everyone that doing these drills is good to practice and know what to do in the situations. Like Liz I don't really let my students talk about "what ifs." No matter how often I work through the "what ifs" in my mind I never truly know how I will react in those situations and I truly hope I never have to find out how I would.
ReplyDeleteThis article shows that while having a safety plan in place is important, it more important to put resources toward mental health and well-being. What can we do as a school to not only make connections with the kids, but have the kids make more connections with each other? I love that Unit 2 is mixing up all of their grade levels at lunch on Fridays. I think this is a great way to meet new people and build connections. I think it would benefit all of the grades to do this! Kids today need that human connection that is being replaced by technology. What can we do in our own classrooms to help the kids connect with others they normally wouldn't?
ReplyDeleteI just read this article today after hearing about the school shooting yesterday in California and seeing in the news a child's text to his/her parents essentially saying goodbye because there was a shooter in the building. It was about the most heartbreaking text I've ever read. And while I also agree that it is important to be prepared for this type of situation because it could truly happen anywhere, I really think it adds stress and fear to our students. I agree that it is even more important to address the social and mental health causes underlying the issue of violence. The news media reported that the shooter in California was often bullied and alone. When someone feels less than worthy and less than human because of the way he/she is treated, it's not hard to see how that can sometimes lead to violent reactions. Money and time would be well-spent of programs to develop tolerance, compassion, and human connection. I also feel that it's important to be able to address issues of bullying and unkindness directly. More often than not, we have middle school students and/or parents reporting issues to us as teachers, but then asking us not to address it for fear of making things worse.
ReplyDeleteI read this article the day after the school shooting in California.Santa Clarita had recently been voted one of the safest place to raise a family. Unfortunately, the acts of violence that take place in schools can happen anywhere and we have to be prepared to deal with the ultimate tragedy. I have never been a part of a lock down, but I know they impact the students because so many of them have told me stories about past drills and how they felt about them. Many expressed anxiety about future drills, but they also understand why we have to know what to do and where to go if we would ever find ourselves faced with an active shooter.
ReplyDeleteWe do need to have a plan into place and we need to practice this plan to make sure that it works. It is a very sad world that we live in, that we need to have one of these drills. Just yesterday was another school shooting, and 2 students are dead. Why can't we help people who need the help? why hasn't congress figured that out?
ReplyDeleteI agree with much of what has been stated already. We need to have protocols in place for these events. The students need to know what there job is and staff needs to share what our job is; all of which we do with our students. It is a hard thing to think about and even imagine the "what if's" at Aquin or with my own children. This was not an area I thought I would have to cover when I started teaching. We need to provide the environment that is emotionally and mentally healthy for our students and continue on the right path.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, in our world today, preparing students for a lock down is necessary. I appreciate the people who are working to help prepare us for this as much as they can. I really like to read the book... I'm Not Scared, I'm Prepared... with the students. We need to have a plan to keep our students safe, but I feel we also need to look at the bigger picture. We need to work on helping the people who feel that this is their only option. It needs to start early and it is never too late. People need to feel important, loved and accepted. We as teachers can help with this. I feel that the trend is starting in this direction. We need the Joe Beckmans of the world in our school buildings every day!
ReplyDeleteI agree with many of you that it is important to prepare and practice drills so that the faculty and students know what they should do and where they should go in the event of a school shooting. However, the drills that were discussed in the beginning of the article seem to be extreme and very disturbing. I believe that the increase in school shootings is a mental health issue. We need to work to identify those who need help and allocate our resources in that direction. We need to make sure our students are emotionally, mentally, and physically safe.
ReplyDeleteI know of a few teachers around Iowa that experienced similar training as to what this article first shared. When talking with those teachers they were very traumatized. Being prepared is so very important, but is it necessary to go through details that are unpredictable and may not play out the same way? I feel the most important thing to look at the mental health of society. Having access to appropriate help or resources for people is so important.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the many responses about looking closer at mental health in our world and in our schools. Although it is necessary to have a plan in place, it is sad that's what it has come to. I was just talking with my mom other day about our lockdown at Aquin and my thought process of what I would do in case of an active shooter. She made the comment "Heck, when I was in school we didn't practice for a lockdown until I was a high schooler because it was never necessary." That just goes to show how much society has changed and how much we have needed to change our ways and practices.
ReplyDeleteA safe school should mean that the kids feel safe to be there. They shouldn't have to worry daily about if they are going to be hurt, physically or emotionally. The article focuses on the physical part with active shooters or if there is someone in the building who is trying to cause harm to others.
ReplyDeleteI think having a plan in place with options on what to do and how to react in case of that emergency is a great idea, just like we practice if there is a fire or a tornado. However, I think if we go through a drill acting as if it is real could be very harmful for kids and teachers. It takes away the safeness of the school even when there is no "actual" harm taking place. I have never practiced a fire drill by telling the kids there is a real fire. That would freak them out! I don't think an active shooter situation should be treated any differently.
I agree with many of the responses. I do feel it is important to think about and plan for the worst; however, I think about the extra trauma that was created that was not necessary at the time. We want children to feel safe and so many are more scared than we actually realize after watching the news. This did get me thinking about how I personally need to be more aware. I feel as a small community, everyone is so trusting. As an example, last Friday, when I got back from Early Childhood PD, someone walked up to the door with me for the Social Studies PD. I did not know who she was, no one was in the office at the time to let her in, and I let her walk in with me when I unlocked the door. Turns out Diane did know who it was and was part way down the hall and no kids were in the building; however, I was trusting enough to hold the door open for her to walk in. It just makes me think a little more about my actions.
ReplyDeleteIt is very important that we teach students how to react in crisis scenarios so we can be prepared for the worst. As teachers, we also need to practice for what we will do in the worst case scenario. However, we do not need to scare kids, we just need to prepare kids. I think it is important that we walk students through the process so they understand what they would do if the situation were to arise. Students react faster and better when they are prepared. Security is the most important thing for our students. Practicing get shot at as a teacher does not help prepare you emotionally, nor does it create a safe environment. Students need to know that they are cared for and that we are capable and willing to protect them from harm.
ReplyDelete