“Lock-down” procedures at my school.
For all the talk I’ve heard about what happened, one thing that was mentioned in the 60 Minutes piece about Sandy Hook was the lock-down procedure implemented immediately when the tragedy happened and the practice the students have had.
Their procedure sounds very similar to my school’s. Here are the steps used:
- Locks: Lock the doors within your classroom. If you see someone in the hallway, pull them inside the classroom. The teachers/staff in classrooms or rooms near the hallway bathrooms will pull kids in their rooms immediately as well.
My school’s classroom locks are a bit old school: you can only lock from the outside, which is a concern. Some classrooms are locked with the doors open, some lock the door when coming inside and out of the classroom.
- Lights: Turn off the lights and pull up the shades to allow for a sniper’s eyesight not to be affected. My school keeps our shades open at all times, which allows the teachers to have one less thing to do.
- Out of Sight: Get out of the eyesight of the classroom door. For my classroom, everyone would get as close to or inside the classroom closet as possible and duck down. An announcement from the intercom would give notice to wherever you can get out of your spot. Don’t answer the doors or phone.
My school has been practicing our drills as many other schools do, but I believe the lock-down drills will be more of a focus for this last week before winter break due to the tragedy.
Sadly, there is a reason for them to be in place, but they are absolutely necessary.
#Education community, what is your school’s procedure? How often does your school practice it?
