Lockdown drills teach reaction, but true safety lies in proactive prevention — addressing root causes and stopping threats before they reach our school.
With the ongoing discussion regarding school safety across America, lockdown drills have become a standard practice. A critical examination shows that they often fall short from preventing the core issue; preventing violence from even entering the school.
One of the main issues with lockdown drills at Grand Junction High School is their focus on external threats. This means we should stop students or outsiders from even getting in the school or classrooms. The current approach to lockdown drills has students preparing for threats that are coming inside the school, but what about when they are already in the classroom? By the time the lockdown drill is initiated, the safety of the kids is already compromised.
Lockdowns only induce a feeling of safety. The standard procedure usually involves securing classrooms, turning off lights and remaining quiet. According to the website Cooperative Education and Internship Association, it has been proven that shootings mainly happen during busier times such as morning classes followed by lunch and dismissal times, so these measures may be less effective.
I believe that we should focus on preventing the threats, whether they are students or outsiders, from even getting in the school or classrooms. Key strategies the school can include can be physical security like more security personnel. More security could make kids nervous to bring anything dangerous onto the property and implement more extensive use of Safe2tell, the anonymous reporting system students can use if they hear anything from fellow classmates.
By repeatedly practicing the same routine, individuals may become complacent, assuming that the prescribed actions will guarantee safety. In reality, every situation is unique. Pre-planned responses may not be the best for these situations. Flexibility and adaptability are crucial in these situations.
Considering not all threats are outsiders, I hope Mesa County Valley School District 51 continues their emphasis on bringing more safety to schools. They are implementing more locked doors, which is useful to kids on the inside.
Editor’s note: Brielle Johnson is currently enrolled in a reporting class.
