Monday, February 18, 2008
Protocol
My heart goes out to all of victims who have ever been affected to school shootings, and with the recenet media coverage of Northern Illinois, I really got to thinking...what protocol does our elementary school have in case of a such an emergency. We have a handbook which tells us what to do if there is a bomber, or bomb threat. The same can be said if there is a tornado, flood, fire, etc. How can we prepare teachers, staff, and students (without scaring them) in case of the rare event there is a gunman. How does an administrator inform teachers and students to take cover, and what does taking cover really mean? Having a plan is nice, but one can never plan for a tragedy -- I would like to at least have some sort of a protocol.
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We assume after Columbine that each school took measures to help prevent this from happening, but then again, it won't happen to us, right? We also know that a tragedy such as this can be very unpredictable, with little to no warning. With every crisis procedure in place, would we really be prepared if tragedy struck? The unfortunate answer is 'no'. Ask yourself this- if a gunman entered your classroom today, threatening the lives of your students, would you refer to procedures or would you act on adrenaline? As future principals, it is our responsibility to do whatever it takes to protect our students- even if it means jumping in front of a car or taking a bullet. Educators are on the front line in more ways than one.
Last year in our district we had a situation where there was an armed robbery at a bank about a half a mile from our school building and the man fled to an apartment complex that was next door. We were instantly on lockdown the the super and assistan super where in both buildings that is was affecting and the police where everywhere. We had/have a procedure for these kinds of events but when it happened and the announcement came some of the staff still complained after that they didn't know what to do and didn't feel well informed during the situation. I happened to have to help in the office duringthese kinds of events and got to see everything that goes on when there is a threat of somekind to the school or children in it and Janelle is right you are never 100% prepared even with a plan. The armed man was outside of our building and it was still extrememly chaotic in the office. I can't imagine how it would be if an armed person was in the building. As an administrator I feel you have to be able to instantly act/react no matter what the situation in the best interest of your students.
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