It’s alarming that our children are being trained to “escape the building” during school lockdown drills. Gun violence has become a pervasive threat in American schools, and each new report of a tragic shooting seems to desensitize us further. While we know our kids practice these drills, the reality of them never fails to shock.
Just yesterday, the principal of my son’s school sent out an email detailing their fifth and final lockdown drill of the year. “This drill emphasized the ‘run’ aspect of our Lockdown with Options protocol,” he wrote. “When the drill was initiated, students were instructed to evacuate the building immediately, hands raised as they exited.”
My son, a first grader, and his classmates spent part of their day “escaping the building” — the very place where they go to learn daily — because of the potential threat of an armed intruder. It’s unsettling to think that in some schools, children are given lollipops to keep quiet while hiding in classrooms during these drills. Lollipops.
According to the principal, once outside, teachers gathered their students at designated rally points located around the school’s property or nearby. “At that point, teachers discussed the safest routes to their evacuation site,” he added.
While I understand that the school is trying to keep students safe, it’s heartbreaking to think that parents now receive routine updates like these alongside notices about bake sales and reading events, and somehow we’re expected to accept this as normal.
In 2018 alone, over four million students participated in lockdown drills, with psychological effects that are often underestimated. Children have been known to cry, soil themselves, and even write goodbye notes detailing what to do with their toys if tragedy strikes. Teachers are left to wonder if they will be required to carry weapons or endure their own trauma during these drills, much like those who were shot at during practice scenarios with plastic pellets.
Since Columbine, there have been 68 school shootings. Disturbingly, the frequency of these incidents is increasing, with the gap between them now averaging just 77 days. As a result, around 92% of schools conduct some form of lockdown drill. But do these measures truly work? A review of school safety practices from 2000 to 2018 revealed that “none of the current methods for preventing firearm violence in schools have empirical evidence proving their effectiveness,” often creating a false sense of security. Researchers urge school officials to resist “political pressures to ‘do something’” that may be ineffective and wasteful of limited resources.
While I don’t have all the answers, it seems imperative that we address the root gun problem in our society (and no, that doesn’t mean confiscating firearms from responsible owners). Finding effective ways to protect our children and safeguard their mental health should be a priority. This situation is not normal, nor should it ever be.
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In summary, it’s essential to recognize the disconcerting reality of lockdown drills in schools and the impact they have on our children. As we navigate these challenges, we must prioritize real solutions for gun safety and the well-being of our students.
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