Galloway’s Protocols for School Safety

In the past decade, gun violence, specifically intruders carrying guns into schools, has increased significantly. The U.S has had 2,032 school shootings since 1970. To counteract this, American schools have created protocols in order to ensure that their students are safe and equipped with the skills they need to bring themselves to safety. One of those schools is ours, Galloway. 

Galloway's lesson on safety during the second week of December officially brings the students into the equation. In past years, teachers had received school intruder presentations, but this is the first year that students have been clued in. The Upper Learning and Middle Learning presentations were quite different from each other. All Upper Learning students received the same amount of information, while each grade in Middle Learning had varying amounts of information.

A few eighth grade students had much more knowledge and transparency about the subject than the youngest kids in Arnold, the fifth graders. These eighth grade students said that for the fifth grade presentation, the words “school shooter” were not mentioned. Although these kids are young and the topic is sensitive, it is important to have transparency in these types of situations. The students were presented with a slideshow and the faculty and staff leading the presentation made sure to tread lightly, for whatever the reason may be. The older the students, the more “real” the subject matter got. Each student was informed on how to adequately ensure safety for themselves and others. Despite their ages, gun violences is “real” and if the circumstances were different, we should be protecting them from it, but in this society, the more knowledge they have, the more safe they are.  

High school students practiced drills and activities that would be necessary if we were to encounter the situation of an intruder. We watched videos and practiced drills between a two day period. 

According to its administration, the Galloway School will continue to work their best to protect the students that attend this school. They want all students to remember to take caution and be safe, and in emergencies to find a responsible adult and/or call 911.

By Peyton Louie