School Drills
October 5th, 2007 by John MixonOur opinions on most topics are based on a combination of personal experience and education. When I heard the topic of the school “drill” on Dan’s show today I had mixed feelings.
It seems that the kids in Sussex Central High School were put in a lock-down situation without any advanced warning that it was a drill. Police were present almost immediately, adding to the stress. Some folks were locked in storage rooms. Pretty dang scary situation in an age when school shootings are becoming more prevelent. Kids were calling their parents on cell phones, whispering as though a loud noise may draw the attention of an armed lunatic. Staff, also not informed of the drill, were phoning loved ones with a detectable level of fear in their voices.
On one side, I say drills are a crock. Always have been, always will be. People most certainly act differently during a fire drill than they would if they saw flames or smoke. I always wondered why teachers knew it was a fire drill in advance.  I thought to myself; “What a dog and pony show this is, I wonder how calmly we’d line up and leave the school if flames were lapping the roof?”
Well, now I see the other side of that coin. If you don’t tell folks it’s a drill you get panic and fear mixed in with a very real picture of how the school and it’s workers and students would react in a REAL situation.
So, which is better? I don’t know. I’m still working it through.
October 5th, 2007 at 10:08 am
I agree John, its pretty hard to second guess yourself in a REAL situation. Someone on staff should have alerted staff, and then they could have better prepared our children without panic and fear.
What would have happened if a parent panicked and brought REAL situations to the drill?
October 5th, 2007 at 10:11 am
I was there about 8:20 a.m. when the janitors were outside with walkie-talkies. They told me there was nothing to worry about, only after I asked them repeatedly what was going on before I let my son go to school. They wouldn’t let him in the main entrance. He asked if there were gunmen in the school or something and they said no, it’s okay.
With staff and students in storages rooms calling home and leaving messages, etc. there might as well been an incident, don’t you think?
October 5th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
I agree, perhaps the district had the proper intent but the improper strategy.
It was a good thing it wasnt a real situation, doesnt seem like it was handled as well as it could have been.
Heres a thought, perhaps these are the things that should be discussed at school board meetings instead of what color bricks are used for an addition.