We mentioned the recent shooting this evening and our child stated that the class teacher taught them what to do if an active shooter were to be present in the school. At first we were pleased that the issue was discussed. That was short lived by what the teacher was telling the students to do. The children were told that they were to hide in a corner where books were. The teacher would then stand near the door with a heavy object and wait in case the active shooter were to enter and the teacher would hit him/her. The teacher told the students they should throw the books at the shooter then attack. One of the students was told they could assist the teacher in attacking the active shooter.
Call me selfish, heartless, whatever. Our child doesn’t need to be taught to be a hero. Attacking the active shooter with books, and not to find shelter, is worrisome. I understand there needs to be a plan. However, I’m not in agreement with this being the solution or safest decision for children.
24 comments:
If you cannot escape or hide where you won't be found then attack is the best option.
Classrooms offer no cover, attack is the only other option. I say train and arm the teacher. That wii at least give the attacking kids a chance at survival.
Sounds like a pretty good plan to me. Where are students in a classroom going to run to and find shelter. Better to be on the attack then to sit idly by like a lamb to the slaughter.
If teachers were armed and trained kids wouldnt need to be used as distractions, better yet hire a Veteran who is already trained and let them guard our schools!
Lol you are worried about this, what about the thugs stealing learning opportunities the good kids all day long without consequence?
How about letting teachers have pepper spray or tasers. Books are for reading, not self defense.
Or install anti-entry devices on each classroom door. Just a steel tube will work.
So you’re saying cowering in a corner and waiting to die is better than at least trying to fight back with anything. You’re the problem!
Is everyone aware that there was a real threat at Berlin Middle this week. Yes, a boy posted pictures of the guns he was going to use to kill a bunch of people at the school that were on his hit list. The school administration was made aware of it last Friday by a concerned parent. Supposedly law enforcement and the school released the boy to his parents to home school him and address his mental health needs. What prevents him from going back there and doing what he set out to do. Not enough done in my world. Oh, and ,yes, the throwing of the books is a true story!
Sorry to say but if a shooter does break into a locked classroom full of students some are going to die. That is the sad truth. The best hope if things progress that far is to try and fight back because again sad to say fighting back is the last hope to save some lives.
I don’t think it is teaching the student to be a hero. It is giving the student who can’t leave the room a chance to live. If you walk in a room and 25 or 30 people are throwing stuff at you it may deter you from entering and save a life. Thank You teachers for being pro active
They are all being told to attack, fight back, don't just wait to die! Throw book bags, books, lunchboxes, chairs, anything you can.
The days of just waiting for your turn in the gas chamber or oven are over!
At least your kid’s school tried to teach them
to protect themselves.. my kids school didnt mention it to students or parents
The training is called Run, Hide, Fight and it was created several years ago. It is one of the best available at the moment and teaches victims for every option under the circumstances. As stated in the name the victim is encouraged to escape the situation if possible, hide if they can and fight the attacker as a last resort.
Unless the teacher has a gun, this is the best thing to do. If you can’t get away, if hiding didn’t work, if a barrier didn’t work, it’s either fight back or get shot.
Don't worry, Andy Turner (board of Ed) is telling teachers to throw their shoe at an active shooter.
I hope this is a joke. If not that teacher needs to be fired.
Hide, Run, Fight....those are anyone’s 3 options in that order.
the best defense is a good offense. gonna wait to be a number? get out of there immediately or attack. no way the shooter can shoot everyone so if everyone attacks shooter loses! i teach my daughter to get out or attack. hiding and waiting for help which will never materialize in time or waiting for your number to come up is stupid! more reason to be nice to everyone! maybe that's where our society is lacking? hmmmm!
If you are sheltering in place and a shooter comes in - FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE! Throw anything you can at shooter and then as many people as possible tackle the shooter. A few may get hurt, but many more will be saved. Flying books or other objects will be a distraction and give the time to tackle and disarm the shooter. FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE!
I understand your point although I don't agree with it. In reality you are part of the problem. You don't want your child to be taught to be hero, your words. It's not about being a hero, it's about survival. In the situation you described your child has two choices. 1) cower in a corner waiting for help and probably die. 2) Fight for his/her life with whatever means possible. Books, pencils, desks, anything. Now that being said, if there was an avenue for escape, by all means take it. As a concealed carry permit holder in the state of Maryland. I can say with all sincerity, the LAST thing I want to do is shoot somebody. I will give them every opportunity to reverse the threat to me or my family by retreating and then calling 911. I hope you understand my point.
That sound like a good plan under those circumstances. Another thought is to block and barricade the doors and get below any ground level windows. And in a room with no windows, turn off the lights. Also remain silent until the teacher has tried to and hopefully hit the attacker, then yell like hell and throw books, etc.
The rehearsal is a very good idea -- maybe the sheriff/police should do such drills at each school several times a year -- including telling them how to act when they arrive and ask them to leave, etc.
Another is to have some emergency items at each classroom, both for first-aid/bleeding and to use offensively -- mace, etc -- against the attacker.
So you’re saying you’re ok with your daughter dying to save the rest? I want all of my kids home safe. Maybe that’s what this article was trying to say. Not that they shouldn’t fight but maybe better security or options. Young kids freeze in scary situations. So the one kid that remembers to throw a book while others freeze is the unfortunate target along with the rest because the shooters ticked off
It seems as though the unthinkable scenario from the movie "Lean on me" with Morgan Freeman has come to fruition. Its a shame nobody in today's school system or the public officials have the balls to stand up and push back like the principal portrayed in the movie. Today's leaders talk a big game but have NO backbone
it's easy to sit there and dictate what SHOULD happen but you're talking about kids facing some nut firing real bullets, getting splattered with real blood, in a building that is in total chaos.
When it comes right down to it a full mass charge might be the best option, if they are not frozen with fear. Throwing a book? How heavy is the book? How far can they throw it? What happens after the book(s) has been thrown?
It's a bad situation and grasping at straws throwing things, even in the best circumstances, offers little help and false hope.
Depending on the ages of the kids and their physical abilities, not to mention their frame of mind, their only hope may be to charge the shooter with enough kids and hope one is strong enough to overpower him, or he gets scared and runs away. Doubtful.
You just had a full grown man the size of a small tank charge at this latest shooter to no avail. He did manage to take some bullets meant for kids but the shooter still won, so chances for kids to be successful where he wasn't?
Successfully hiding or running out of the danger area still seems like the best bet to me.
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