Schools Across America Grapple with Lockdown Drills Amid Rising Campus Shootings
In the United States, the challenge of preparing students for potential gun violence on campus has become a pressing concern for educators. This year alone, there have been over 70 shootings reported on school grounds nationwide, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database.
Amy Kujawski, the principal of St. Anthony Middle School near Minneapolis, frequently contemplates this issue, aiming to reassure her school community. “The biggest, the most important message I can share to my students and my families and my teachers,” Kujawski affirms, “Schools are really, really safe places.”
Despite the low likelihood of violence occurring at her school, Kujawski remains committed to preparedness. Minnesota state law requires five lockdown drills annually, and the school recently conducted its first drill following a tragic mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School that led to the deaths of two children.
‘We will emphasize the belonging’
Kujawski works diligently to create a supportive environment, with her office featuring calming tools like breathing exercise stickers and fidget spinners. A sign on her wall boldly states, “Hate is Loud. Love is Strong.”
Safety protocols are visibly posted throughout the school, ensuring everyone is familiar with procedures. “Look how simple it is,” Kujawski explains. “Hold in your room or area. Clear the halls. Secure. Get inside, lock outside of doors. Lockdown. Locks, lights, out of sight.”
Indeed, drills are a routine part of American school life, despite the reassuring statistics that most schools will never experience an active shooter event. “Remember, we do this because we want to make sure we feel prepared regardless of any situation that happens,” Kujawski emphasizes.
‘This is a lockdown drill’
Seventh-grade teacher Kathleen West instructs her students on how to avoid being seen by potential intruders, highlighting the importance of staying away from windows. “We just have to kind of sit in this unpleasantness for a little bit,” she tells them as the drill commences. The classrooms darken, and silence envelops the halls.
After the drill, students like Phoebe Strodel and Raegan Dunkley, both 12, express familiarity with the process, noting that it feels as routine as reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
‘Rehearsing’ for their own deaths
Yet, questions arise about the normalization of these drills. Psychologist Jillian Peterson, who researches violence prevention, notes that while St. Anthony Middle School executes the drills considerately, the practice remains controversial, particularly for younger students.
Peterson highlights concerns such as the unknown effectiveness of these drills and the potential psychological impact on children, stating, “We’re just normalizing this type of violence.”
Back at St. Anthony, West reflects on the unsettling normalcy of these drills, especially after the recent shooting at her family’s church. “I don’t think it’s fair, as a school teacher who started out making $30,000 a year and will never make more than $100,000 a year,” West argues. “My job should not be to save your child’s life.”
