[blparent] School shooting drills?

Tue May 8 15:45:57 UTC 2012

        Sounds like you and Gab should read Gavin Debecker's book Protecting The Gift. She's old enough for you two to read it together and to talk about this stuff.
I agree we do have a culture of fear, but it doesn't have to be this way.
There are some very real things you and Gab can do to give her a feeling of power.

Both of you will meet people who wish to harm you.  There are things you guys can do so that you don't become victims.

She isn't too young to learn about this stuff.

As for fires, teach her that there are things that she can do.

Also, is she really afraid of this stuff, or is she using it as a buzz word to score some extra cuddle time? Nothing wrong with cuddling, but you do want to figure out if this is a real fear or if she's manipulating you.

Also, do you guys watch or listen to the news in the evening?  We used to and stopped because it was just too upsetting. You can find out what happened the next day.  Since you have sirius radio, I'd highly suggest music, old time radio and whatever sport you like.

I'd even stay away from the late-night talk shows as much of their humor is political and if you guys are already spun up, you don't need it.

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Veronica Smith
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2012 6:05 PM
To: 'Jo Elizabeth Pinto'; 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] School shooting drills?

So when Gab started school 5 years ago, she was terrified that there would
be a fire at school and at home.  Reality, there might be and how does one
assure a 5/6 year old that it is safe to go to school or better yet sleep in
your own bed.  Whether a fire drill or a shooting drill, the fear is
instilled into our children.
I would like to believe that none of the above would ever come to my child's
school, but the reality is we just don't know.  the only drills that I have
ever been apart of was a fire drill, but what would I do if a gunman came
in, I've never been taught, I've  never been drilled.  Gab says they have
fire drills now and then and lock down drills.  The first time I heard that,
a lock down drill, I was terrified and thought to myself, I take my child
there, do we live in a bad neighborhood, WTH
But it happens everywhere, in good neighborhoods and in bad.  If a bad peep
wants to come into my neighborhood, all they have to do is jump in their car
and go.

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jo Elizabeth Pinto
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2012 6:15 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: [blparent] School shooting drills?

Students Participating in Fake 'School Shootings' May End Up More Anxious
Than Prepared

Posted by Jeanne Sager on May 2, 2012
How's this for unsettling? I hit the website of my local paper to see
pictures of a school up the road from me filled with cops brandishing big
guns. The good news? It was all a drill. The bad news? High school shootings
have now become so commonplace that teachers and students are now practicing
for them!

The photos from the local school are an example of a national trend. Mock
shooting drills are now lined up on the school calendar right along with the
fire drills of our youth. This is our reality.

Schools here in New York. Schools in Florida. Schools in Michigan. They've
all let men with guns into the building so teachers, and in some schools,
the teenagers too can practice -- in a safe manner -- what to do if a child
turns into a killer. They're hoping to save lives by being proactive.

I trust the members of law enforcement who led the shooting scenario in my
area. I understand their reasoning for trying it out. I want my kid to be
properly prepped for an emergency. I went through fire drills and mock DWI
accident drills and God knows what else drills back in my day, and I admit
they helped. When I hear a fire alarm, I know what to do.

But that doesn't mean I like it.

Yes; a shooting may happen. But actually, thankfully, the statistics say it
probably won't. Just this February, in the wake of the horrific shooting in
Chardon, Ohio, Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics released a
study showing school-related violent deaths are at an all-time low since it
began tracking such deaths in 1992. And these are the statistics we need to
focus on.

We send our kids off to school each day thinking that they are going to a
safe place. We aren't naive. We're aware there are shootings. But we have to
focus on the positive in order to get through the day, in order to entrust
teachers with our most precious "belongings" so to speak. The reasoning is
two-pronged. It's to make us feel better, but it's also to comfort our kids.
This is a place where they spend much of their lives; they need to feel safe
there.

A school shooting drill takes the careful fantasy we have built and rips it
in two. And for what? For the possibility that there may be a shooting at
our kids' school?

I understand why law enforcement is suggesting these drills. But if they are
the new normal, I'm afraid of what we're accepting as "normal."
_______________________________________________
blparent mailing list
blparent at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blparent:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/madison_tewe%40spinn.n
et

_______________________________________________
blparent mailing list
blparent at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for blparent:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/rebecca.pickrell%40tasc.com
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message and any attachments or files transmitted with it (collectively, the "Message") are intended only for the addressee and may contain information that is privileged, proprietary and/or prohibited from disclosure by law or contract. If you are not the intended recipient: (a) please do not read, copy or retransmit the Message; (b) permanently delete and/or destroy all electronic and hard copies of the Message; (c) notify us by return email; and (d) you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of the Message is strictly prohibited.