On May 6, 2011 Orangeville Jr/Sr High School, the school my son attends, enacted an emergency drill to simulate a gunman situation. Although this is a wise idea, given the reality of today's world, it was handled in a heinous manner.
This is the account from a student that experienced the simulation:
A huge guy barged into the office waving a gun and demanding [one particular student], He popped off one shot, a blank. At that point, one of the staff [who knew about the upcoming drill] went yelling into the halls that there was a man with a gun, everybody run. The "gunman" barged into a gymnasium full of kids waving the gun and asking for the same student. Students began screaming, crying and running anywhere they could. One high schooler, for sure, was injured while trying to escape. Kids were running out of the school; running all over. Teachers in classrooms were taking the action they could (I am not clear if they had been made privy to the "drill"). One teacher yelling for all the kids to get in the corner, where he began surrounding them with sport equipment, another handing out pens and pencils for kids to use as weapons.
The child named by the "gunman" ran out of the school, halfway across town and hid. He was called by a teacher and told that two students had been shot. A bit later he was called again and told the cops had arrived and all was well. He was told to return to school. He did not. The kids were ordered back into the school and back to class. As if nothing happened.
Now, I did receive a phone call from the school on Friday stating that a drill would take place. Parents were told to stay away from the school, and not to come get their children if they were texted or called to do so. That was at 9:37am. I do not know exactly when the drill took place, but I am sure that calling parents on the day of the drill was not timely. And, I will tell you now, that if my son called me after that, I would most definitely go pick him up! It has been reported that some members of staff were visibly shaken, as well, lending me to believe that not all staff was aware of the plan.
This was an "epic fail" on the part of OSD. The idea to prepare a school for the all-too-real possibility of an intruder is smart. The way OSD handled it was outrageous. I am a supporter of the school district, attending and cheering events, even though it is my "adopted" team/school. I applaud many of the education programs. I can not support the manner in which this "drill" was handled.
In my opinion,1. Parents should have been notified at least three days in advance of the drill. Perhaps not being told exactly when it was going to happen, to ensure the element of surprise, but told. 2. Parents should have been warned of the intensity of the drill. My son said there was a vague reference to students of "something happening sometime" but nothing definitive. 3. All of the staff should have been warned. 4. The "drill" should have been a learning experience. Afterward, the children should have been routed to the gymnasium and a discussion of what did, and what should have happened, should have taken place, with people there to offer comfort. After that students could return to the classroom, but with structured free time, to let them calm down. 5. One child should not have been singled out as hunted. Reports are that this child's family will take legal action, but in a town of 800, rumors do fly. I certainly would toy with the idea, if it were my son traumatized in such a way. It is also reported that he may not return to school this year. Again, I'm not sure of the accuracy of that.
As of yesterday, Sunday, some of the kids were still shaken.
I agree that a drill is a proactive way to protect students from a Columbine situation, but it must be handled delicately and professionally.
Orangeville Jr/Sr High School has some explaining to do.
