‘Fight Or Die’: When Students And Educators Are On The Front Lines Of School Safety
Farmington River Regional School in Otis, Massachusetts. Photo by Nancy Eve Cohen for NEPR
Just like a fire drill, students and teachers routinely practice what to do if an armed intruder enters their school.
Some students and teachers across the country are being told to fight back. And that’s happened in recent weeks, when two students — one in high school, and one in college — died lunging at gunmen.
The type of training students receive can vary from district to district, and by age group.
At the Farmington River Regional School — an elementary school in Otis, Massachusetts — principal and superintendent Thomas Nadolny recently got on the intercom.
“The school will now be conducting a lockdown drill,” he announced. “Please go into lockdown mode at this time. This is just a drill. Thank you.”