Were the kids at Highland Ranch forced to risk their lives because of the dangerous lockdown procedures and building designs created in response to the Columbine shootings?
A few years ago I toured Highlands Ranch STEM as part of a School Choice Conference held by the Franklin Institute. A group of writers, bloggers and community activists were brought together to learn about the successes of the Denver School System’s Charter School Program. We were given the task of disseminating that information to our followers and bloggers during the Obama era Common Core Education push. This was meant as an effort to bring back diversity and alternatives to a government backed cookie cutter (dare I say propagandized) system.
As I toured the school, I remember feeling a bit claustrophobic and imprisoned in the shiny new building. As I saw the news coverage of the recent shooting on this campus, I reflected on this. It was built as a fortress to protect the children from an invading threat such as the shooters at Columbine 20 years ago. The windows were very high up on the walls. There was no looking out on the beautiful countryside. This would provide protection from anyone trying to fire shots into the building.
The stairs were in the center of the building with the classrooms surrounding them. This would provide protection from an outside danger. There was a lockdown protocol in place during the shooting at STEM. You can here the computer generated voice announcing as the security system went into play. It said, “Lights out, doors locked, shelter in place.” This is a good protocol if the danger were outside but what if the danger was in their midst?
Kendrick Castillo sprung into action and put himself in harm’s way to tackle the shooter when he realized that the fortress to protect had become a death sentence for the victims imprisoned by it. His actions saved other lives but was this loss of life a consequence of the new “safety” measures meant to protect lives? They may have in reality endangered lives.
One new system in place that did save lives was a change from previous policies to secure the perimeter and draw the threat out. The new policy is to send officers immediately toward the threat to disarm them as soon as possible. Police were on the scene within minutes of shots fired and the threats were in custody soon after.
It is sad that we must identify better ways to keep children safe from shooters at school. It is interesting that while speakers at a vigil were calling for stricter gun laws, the children who were victims of the shooting shouted ,”Mental health is the issue.”
They may be the generation that ends these atrocities by addressing help for those that commit them. There is a saying that “Hurt people hurt people.” May we heal those that hurt in order to help all of us
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cindybiondigobrecht 