Is Your Child Safe at School?

Due to the recent school shootings, I am re-running a blog post from the past. Just some things to remember with our own children in school.

On my first day back on the job as a classroom teacher after ten years we had a faculty meeting and the topic of the day was crisis intervention procedures.

• Trespassers on campus
• Serious injury or unexpected death
• Suicide, suicide threat, and suicide attempt
• Suspicion of gun
• Hostage situation
• Bomb threat

And. . . LOCKDOWN - Something teachers at three different schools over the past 10 days had to deal with. At least I assume they had to deal with it. I don't know what the procedures were at these schools, but I know what is supposed to happen in the majority of schools around the United States.
Do you?
If your child attends a public school, he probably has experienced a LOCKDOWN drill. As a parent, it never even occurred to me to ask.
After today's faculty meeting, I know ALL, and I think it's important that every parent know as well.
Here's what happens. A staff member calls "Students and staff, we are in a lockdown" and then teachers take on the responsibility for what happens next.

• Lock all classrooms, media center, cafeteria, gym and pod doors.
• Turn off all lights, close blinds, and cover your door window if you have one.
• Ignore all bells, whistles, fire alarms (unless there's smoke).
• Once your door is locked, your door remains locked. DO NOT OPEN IT TO ANYONE. Even if the police, the principal or student comes and knocks on the door - DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR!
• Keep students completely silent. Any noise will give away your position to an intruder.
• Know where all your students are at all times.
• Once the lockdown is over, staff will come to your class and unlock your door. If no one comes to unlock your door, the lockdown is NOT over.

All I could think to myself at this point was, "Welcome back to school, Vicki!"
Once you hear, either through a school communication system or on the news, that your child's school is in LOCKDOWN, you will probably experience a strong sense of panic and protectiveness. At this point, it's important that you don't do anything that might endanger your child or anyone else at the school. How might this happen?

• Calling your child on their cell phone during a lockdown makes NOISE and can give away their position. DO NOT CALL YOUR CHILD.
• Don't show up at the school expecting to pick up your child. They will not let him out if the school is in lockdown. Stay out of the way of emergency workers. It will only distract them from doing what they need to do - keep your child safe.

My advice to parents is to ask your school's principal what the LOCKDOWN procedure is at your child's school. There may be some nuances from state to state. I also highly recommend that PTA's take it upon themselves to educate parents and give them an opportunity to ask and have answered any questions they might have. The time to deal with this sensitive issue isn't out in front of the school screaming at a law enforcement officer, but now, before there's any reason for a LOCKDOWN.
Yes, this is the world we live in. Although I suspect that schools in England, Ireland, Israel, Iraq, and Iran might have a slightly different set of procedures.
Then talk to your kids and make sure they know what they're supposed to do. My 16 year old told me that they did have a LOCKDOWN drill but the kids weren't quiet and didn't take it seriously. We need to remind our children that "obedience keeps you safe." They need to listen to their teachers and do exactly as they're told.
And he didn't know what he was supposed to do if he was out in the hallway when the LOCKDOWN is called.
Does yours?