Current Events Journal

Recent Events JournalName
Institution

Recent Events Journal
Madeline Will article, “Lockdown Drills Prompt Fear, Self-Reflection After School Shooting,” published on February 20, 2018, cover the reactive measures taken by schools after the recent series of fatal school shootings. The school shootings that have been experienced in the U.S. in recent years have prompted many schools to take on an educative project. Myer’s preschool class, which includes children between two and three years, go to a corner of the classroom every month and the door is locked with the lights off as the teacher takes the role of a shooter. The children are told to be silent until it’s all clear. In 2012, a gunman shot 20 elementary school children at Sandy Hook forcing many schools to carry out lockdown drills (Will, 2018). Kelly Myer’s preschool class is an example of how typical lockdown drills are carried out, and by 2016 the number of schools carrying out such programs had risen.
The drills are meant to make children remain psychologically prepared for any event similar to what happened in Sandy Hook. The children are, therefore, exposed to violence at their early stage in a bid to ensure their safety, something which may come with different effects on their minds. Such drills are carried out without any consideration on those children with disabilities, especially psychological issues. How will the children settle after such drills? The effects on the children might be far more dangerous than expected.

The teachers, during these drills, take the part of a shooter. Although it is meant to prepare the children for the worst, it might build a whole different image in their minds. The places where children feel safe is reconstructed in their minds as the most unsafe area. It is like a way of telling them that even the closest relatives may turn on them, which makes them feel insecure around anyone. Settling down after such a drill is quite difficult for a child who is still learning the new world. Their concentration in class is slashed by a significant percentage because they will be more concerned about their safety than education. It might sound like a good thing to some, but once it is built in the child’s mind that this place is not secure, their ability to work on anything constructive will be minimized.
The article is full of enlightening information about the safety measures being employed in schools as a result of the recent shootings. Will Madeline’s idea of citing the past shootings and giving an example of elementary school shooting drills enhances the readers’ ability to relate to the events in the article. The most interesting part of the article is when ideas are quoted directly from those who have been involved in these drills before. It not only facilitates understanding of the situation but also makes it more real.

Reference
Will, M. (2018). ‘I Worry Every Day’: Lockdown Drills Prompt Fear, Self-Reflection After School Shooting. Mobile.edweek.org. Retrieved from http://mobile.edweek.org/c.jsp?cid=25919821&bcid=25919821&rssid=25919811&item=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.edweek.org%2Fv1%2Few%2Findex.html%3Fuuid%3DE250542A-1680-11E8-AA20-9D98B3743667&utm_source=fb&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mrss&cmp=RSS-FEED