Later in the day, teachers were also subject to a series of drills in which they were instructed at different times to hide in classrooms, to try and barricade doors from potential intruders and to throw tennis balls at the officers. During each drill, officers shot the teachers with the airsoft guns, according to the complaint.

American pedagogy grows stranger and stranger.

Anyone with a lick of sense subjected to this would have said, "Fuck it, I'm going down to Kroger and see if they need someone to retrieve carts from the parking lot."

Teachers at Meadowlawn Elementary School were supposed to be receiving what is called ALICE training, an "options-based" approach that encourages students and teachers to be proactive in their response to an active shooter and teaches tactics that include rushing a shooter in some situations.

Why weren't the first-graders given the same training? It could save their lives when Mikaylah, age 6, "proactively" rushes a dude with an AR-15.

What do they and you think the active shooter will do?

Bring a latte and coo comforting words?

Sure, their needs to be more discussion about what happens during the drill, but I have no respect for a teacher claiming emotional trauma. The kids have to come first, which means a suck-it-up demeanor should be on display at all times.

Those of us who are prior military recognize this as a weeding out of the psychologically unfit to teach or lead.

I can think of better training, like taking these people to the range,

I also really dislike the infiltration of law enforcement into the actual schools, and now with zoom, into people’s homes through the public schools.

Is that stupid DARE program gone yet?

I've read a fair amount, and also seen video presentations on how to respond as a civilian to an active shooter situation, including the basics of the ALICE strategies. I'm all for education and training regarding personal safety. But this "training" exercise is probably the weirdest thing I will see on the internet today, and in "these troubled times" that's saying a lot. Physical assault should never be a part of mandatory training, outside of law enforcement or military.

Oh boo the f-uck hoo. My kids shoot each other with airsofts for fun. Talk about the whinification of the world today.

About the only time you're going to be shot execution style in a school shooting if it's a recreation of Beslan.

https://www.rferl.org/a/beslan-russia-chechnya-ossetia/26551039.html

I'm with Momof4. Terrorists are always going to be around; if you want to learn to survive, grow a pair.

This is why we need unions.

I think they should expand this program.

Fire drills should involve real fires, where burning bits of debris are flung at the teacher. What, you think the fire is gonna just sit there and wait for you to run out? Also, smoke should fill the halls, making it difficult to see and breathe. Afterwards, the firemen should laugh at the teachers.

Also, earthquake drills should involve little bits of debris falling on their heads. What, you think your building is just gonna calmly wait for you to crawl under your desk? Naw man, it's gonna be collapsing all around you.

Covid discussions should involve people coughing on you.

CPR class should involve an actual unconscious person. That's what school pools are FOR.

They should put me in charge of all drills. School will be much more exciting. Gotta weed out the weak!!!!

A little intensity in the training may be a good idea. If we're asking teachers to be the first line of defense in a school shooting, a simple lecture ain't gonna make 'em situationally aware.

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CPR class should involve an actual unconscious person. ~ NicoleK at August 26, 2020 10:32 AM

I realize you're begin facetious, but no.

In doing CPR, you're gonna break a rib or two on the recipient. So, you don't want to do CPR on someone who does not actually need CPR.

Just crunching on the CPR dummy for 2 minutes in training was exhausting because of the amount of pressure required. Doing that to a real person who does not need CPR is gonna hurt them unnecessarily.

Some intensity in training that matters can be helpful. You've gotta get past the panic reflex so teachers are thinking, not panicking, under pressure.

They should put me in charge of all drills. School will be much more exciting. Gotta weed out the weak!!!!

NicoleK at August 26, 2020 10:32 AM

As someone who has been in three live tear gas drills, (Hold your breath in a tear gas filled room, put on a gas mask, and then clear it) I do think it would be advisable to weed out those people who lose their shit in a minor emergency.

That said, this training was stupid, but anyone who can’t take being laughed at, has no business around children. They will mock you mercilessly if you are thin skinned.

Hello. I am the Administrator, a position that took years of schooling and work experience to achieve. I am in charge of the Teachers and Students. You will blindly and without question bow to my authority.

Hello. I am the Teacher, a position that took years of education to achieve. I both relish and teach blind obedience and will do as you say.

Hello. I am the Police Officer. I have authority as indicated by this badge and gun which took two months to achieve. Stand there while I shoot you in the face.

Administrator and Teachers: Yes, we recognize your authority. You may shoot the Teachers in the face.

Children: WTF is wrong with you people?

Sure, make the training as real as possible to prepare them for the real thing. But, also keep it sane. Conducting mock execution style killings is just plain stupid as I don't see what the "victims" learn from this. Unless, and it may be omitted from the story on purpose, they explained how to avoid this situation or what to do (fight like you're about to die comes to mind).

Try that mock execution style training with me and you'll find yourself rolling on the floor from a kick to where it hurts the most. You may win in the long run, your fellow "trainers" will take me down for my well-placed kick, and I might be charge with assaulting an officer of the law. But, hopefully, you and your dumb ass superiors will think twice before doing something so stupid again.

This sounds like a bunch of immature deputies basically concocted their own 'active shooter' drills and things got out of hand. It sounds like something a bunch of 13 yr old boys would come up with.

If the training was opt-in and the teachers knew what it consisted of, it actually could be a really fun day. Like laser tag.