California example shows school lockdowns work - but only when rules are followed
Authorities in California are lauding quick thinking, fast moving school officials for locking down their building before a nut job with an automatic weapon could get in to shoot the place up. Cops are saying this undoubtedly saved many young lives.
I can say with confidence that lock-down drills at schools work when they are able to be implemented. Not so much when school rules are not followed. Let me explain.
I am a substitute teacher in the Thumb of Michigan. Last spring, I was teaching on two occasions when lock-downs were instituted.
The kids, in both instances, knew exactly what to do. When the alarm sounded, they shut off lights, covered windows and retreated to a protected corner of the classroom to sit quietly - all within seconds. Impressive at all levels, though I was dismayed that youngsters would have to do such things.
However, the lock-down did not work at one of the schools because I could not lock the entrance/exit door to the classroom. Without my knowledge, someone - perhaps folks from the admin office or custodial staff - had placed a small metal magnet inside the door casing near the top of the door, preventing it from closing. Later, I learned from one of the other subs that this was done to prevent the door from closing and locking accidentally, which would require someone from the admin or custodial staffs to come unlock and open the door.
But I didn't know that when the alarm sounded and we went into defensive mode. So, there I stood holding the door as tightly closed as I could with both hands on the door knob while students completed their part of the exercise.
But as time went on and we did not receive an "all clear" declaration, I began to worry. My imagination went on overdrive: What if this is not a drill and there's an armed crazy guy out in the hallway trying doors until he finds one open? Will I be able to keep him out? Will I be able to overpower him if he gets into the classroom? Will he just shoot me through the door and come in and harm the children? Will the youngsters identify my inability to lock the door and panic? What if there is more than one madman out there?
All of these scenarios - and others equally frightening - passed through my mind. When the "all clear" signal finally came, we quickly went back into regular classroom mode. I praised the students for their quick action and cooperative spirit. I also encouraged them to talk about what we experienced. They were candid. "You just never know when it might be real," was the common thread from our discussion. Great! They had been well-schooled on the subject.
Later, after school dismissed I brought up the problem to the office staff. Each person just stared at one other when I told them what had happened. Who wants to admit that he or she screwed up? One thanked me and said she would look into it.
When I heard on the news this morning that the lunatic gunman could not get into the school, it made me wonder what would have happened if a magnet had been placed in the door jam to keep it from accidentally closing and inconveniencing school personnel.
Hope we never find out.
I can say with confidence that lock-down drills at schools work when they are able to be implemented. Not so much when school rules are not followed. Let me explain.
I am a substitute teacher in the Thumb of Michigan. Last spring, I was teaching on two occasions when lock-downs were instituted.
The kids, in both instances, knew exactly what to do. When the alarm sounded, they shut off lights, covered windows and retreated to a protected corner of the classroom to sit quietly - all within seconds. Impressive at all levels, though I was dismayed that youngsters would have to do such things.
However, the lock-down did not work at one of the schools because I could not lock the entrance/exit door to the classroom. Without my knowledge, someone - perhaps folks from the admin office or custodial staff - had placed a small metal magnet inside the door casing near the top of the door, preventing it from closing. Later, I learned from one of the other subs that this was done to prevent the door from closing and locking accidentally, which would require someone from the admin or custodial staffs to come unlock and open the door.
But I didn't know that when the alarm sounded and we went into defensive mode. So, there I stood holding the door as tightly closed as I could with both hands on the door knob while students completed their part of the exercise.
But as time went on and we did not receive an "all clear" declaration, I began to worry. My imagination went on overdrive: What if this is not a drill and there's an armed crazy guy out in the hallway trying doors until he finds one open? Will I be able to keep him out? Will I be able to overpower him if he gets into the classroom? Will he just shoot me through the door and come in and harm the children? Will the youngsters identify my inability to lock the door and panic? What if there is more than one madman out there?
All of these scenarios - and others equally frightening - passed through my mind. When the "all clear" signal finally came, we quickly went back into regular classroom mode. I praised the students for their quick action and cooperative spirit. I also encouraged them to talk about what we experienced. They were candid. "You just never know when it might be real," was the common thread from our discussion. Great! They had been well-schooled on the subject.
Later, after school dismissed I brought up the problem to the office staff. Each person just stared at one other when I told them what had happened. Who wants to admit that he or she screwed up? One thanked me and said she would look into it.
When I heard on the news this morning that the lunatic gunman could not get into the school, it made me wonder what would have happened if a magnet had been placed in the door jam to keep it from accidentally closing and inconveniencing school personnel.
Hope we never find out.
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