Sandy Hook – What Minneapolis is Doing Right.

As someone who used to work in a Minneapolis Public school this past friday’s events were profoundly disturbing. It was a reminder to me how random an act of violence can be.

My first thoughts were about my teacher-friends, people who have the gift of working with children and go into work each day trying to make a difference in each students life.

The one reassurance that I had was that my friends and their students would know what to do if an event like this would take place. Minneapolis Public Schools practices code red drills at least five times a year. Along with practicing these drills they speak with their students about why they need to pratice these drills.

When I remember back to doing these drills, the students, even the very young ones understood the importance of these drills. They hid and were quiet for up to 15 minutes at a time.

Anyone who has worked in a classroom knows how hard it can be to have silence in the room for more than 20 seconds. But, it is truly amazing how students understand how important these drills are to practice.

It is my hope that no one ever has to do what they have practiced in these drills, but it feels good to know they are prepared if something were to happen.

@mplsgossipgirl