Viewpoints
KGB School Lock-Down
By Anne Lucas
October 24, 2006
Tuesday
Dear Editor,
I'm encouraging the KGB School Board to take a closer look at
the lock-down procedures that are occurring in our schools. This
kind of bunker mentality is like living in a state of fear each
moment - all day.
Doors are required to be shut and locked when students are in
the classroom. When there is a knock on the door (which is very
often in elementary school), the teacher must interupt instruction
to go to the door, inquire who is there and let the person inside.
So, the educational process is constantly interupted. Over time,
you can expect productivity to decrease, which will be reflected
in lower scores on the spring State testing.
Sometimes nobody hears the knock (in the gym, during a active
classroom setting, in the large library, etc.), and then the
students are locked out. This is frightening for young children.
If you are a volunteer helper like I was today, you are locked
out of the library, gym, & classrooms always knocking,
always interrupting. It's a very unfriendly atmosphere.
I'd like to know where this idea came from. Who was the expert
that Mr. Martin consulted? What were his credentials? How has
this worked at other schools.
Let's not give in to the threat of terror (which causes fear),
and stop this unrealistic, so-called protective procedure now.
Let's continue with our lock down drills (threat in the building)
and our reverse fire drills (threat on the playground). Add
a good anti-bullying curriculum and increase student awareness
about their responsibilty to detect and report possible threats.
Let s return to a vibrant and productive school atmosphere.
Sincerely,
Anne Lucas
Retired Elementary Teacher
School Substitute Teacher and Volunteer
Grandparent of students in Ketchikan Schools
ktnanne[at]hotmail.com
Ketchikan, AK
Received October 23, 2006 - Published October 24, 2006
About: "Retired Teacher; Substitute Teacher and Volunteer"
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