A few months ago, I was driving my kids to school and I heard them chatting in the backseat. Their conversation turned into active target practice as my sweet 6-year-old daughter practiced hiding from intruders in preparation for the all-too-real possibility that one day her life would depend on her ability to hide and stay. I heard that they were doing it. quiet.
My innocent first grader regularly taught me that unicorns are real, still sleeps with a pile of stuffed animals, and thinks tutus and sparkly clothes make any outfit better. But my heart broke when I heard that her school day was so active for target practice. Instead, it should be filled with learning to read, practicing artistic skills, and enjoying downtime on the playground.
“It hurt a lot”:Indiana teacher shot with plastic bullet during target practice
In recent years, mass shootings have been occurring frequently in American schools. To limit the serious injuries that occur during these incidents, many schools in the United States are implementing “active shooter drills.” Similar to fire drills, the idea is that if students can practice what to do in a high-stress situation in a controlled manner, they will be better prepared to act if the situation actually occurs.
Unfortunately, there is little evidence to support that this is actually happening. Even more unfortunately, active shooter training has a negative impact on students' mental health.
One study found a 42% increase in anxiety and a 39% increase in depression in the months following target practice. Some schools simply practice quietly in classrooms, while others run intense simulations that include gunshots, toy guns, and the sound of guns firing blanks in the hallways.
The majority of students who undergo these trainings say they feel “dangerous, scared, helpless, or sad” because of the training.
While active shooter drills may not be effective at keeping students safe at school, there are evidence-based methods schools can engage in to keep children safe during the day. School administrators can avoid the mental health effects that active shooter drills have on many students and keep students safe by increasing access to in-school mental health services and conducting regular threat assessments. can be protected.
As a future doctor, I will be educating those who care for children, including my colleagues who look after children in the clinic and teachers and school administrators who look after children during class, in a scientifically-based way. We recommend that you do so. I urge educators and policymakers to consider the impact of active shooter drills on students and implement improved access to mental health services and threat assessments to make our children safer, happier, and healthier. I strongly encourage you to consider it.
Jara Álvarez Del Pino is a fourth-year medical student and mother of three children in Indiana.
