Updated: Oct. 11, 2019
Originally Published: Oct. 11, 2019
Last week, my sixth-grade twins experienced a school crisis that never escalated. Just forty-five minutes before the end of what began as an ordinary Wednesday, I received an automated message from the principal informing us of a verbal threat. Police were present, everything was under control, and the “children had been so brave and helpful.” I took a moment to gather my thoughts. Should I rush to the school? Were the buses still running? Why was the message so vague?
As my phone buzzed with messages from other parents inquiring about the situation, we turned to our private class Facebook page for updates, only to find our posts swiftly deleted by administrators. The lack of communication fueled our anxiety, and rumors began to swirl.
When I finally picked up my kids, they were just as confused. The information they had was inconsistent, and since they had been instructed not to share or text about the incident, they imagined the worst. They were terrified and reluctant to return to school the next day. I paced the house, reaching out to more informed parents for clarity. Eventually, the principal made a subsequent Facebook post to provide some much-needed reassurance.
In the end, there was no shooting, nor even a weapon involved. A troubled student, who had been bullied, had made alarming comments about bringing a gun to school to “kill as many people as possible.” Thankfully, other students reported his threats to adults, prompting authorities to intervene and take him into custody. He is now likely navigating through the juvenile justice system, which should involve a thorough evaluation and access to therapy.
This brush with danger left me acutely aware of how fragile our sense of safety is. I realized that I had never truly felt shielded from such threats, and the incident served as a stark reminder of our vulnerability. My children and I were left shaken, as if our very souls had been momentarily displaced by the ordeal.
While I initially felt anger toward how the situation was communicated, I soon recognized that my emotions were misplaced. Beneath the surface of our “non-event” lay something much more troubling. Unlike a fleeting close call with a car, this incident was steeped in a national crisis. The reality is that we are raising children in an environment where threats of gun violence are becoming alarmingly commonplace.
I noticed differing reactions among parents discussing the incident. Some maintained the perspective that the situation was handled correctly and was an isolated incident. “The threat was dealt with appropriately,” they said, emphasizing school protocols and drills. Others expressed gratitude for the administration’s response. Even my spouse remarked, “Well, the child is in custody, and the school acted, right?” While this perspective is valid if viewed as a rare occurrence, it feels unsettling when we consider the broader context of a nationwide epidemic.
The increasing frequency of school shootings, along with other public violence, has fundamentally altered how we experience daily life in America. We often express sorrow over the regularity of these tragedies, yet what’s even more concerning is the seemingly muted response when danger almost strikes our own children.
I don’t blame the school or the parents for their reactions. The absence of outrage and open dialogue may reflect a deeper societal malaise, where we have become so desensitized to violence that even a near miss fails to stir us. It’s as if we are waiting for a real tragedy to provoke a collective response.
While protocols and counseling services provide a degree of reassurance, they cannot guarantee our children’s safety. I share the common gratitude toward the principal for his efforts to protect my kids, but I remain painfully aware that our current culture cannot ensure their well-being. Initiatives like March for Our Lives and the efforts of Sandy Hook parents advocating for gun control highlight the reality that we are all precariously balanced on the edge of danger.
Every school in America is one step away from becoming the next Parkland. It’s crucial that we pull back the veil on this “almost” reality, moving beyond drills and anxiety to have a candid conversation about our fears.
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Summary
Last week, my twins faced a potential school crisis that fortunately did not escalate. A verbal threat was made by a troubled student, leading to police intervention. While the situation was resolved without violence, it highlighted the fragile nature of safety in our schools. The incident reflects a broader epidemic of gun violence in America, revealing how desensitized we have become to threats. Despite protocols in place, no school can guarantee complete safety. It’s vital to engage in open discussions about these fears and acknowledge the reality of our current culture.