Parents furious after unannounced shooter drill at Polk middle school

[Suzanimal]

It's for the children.


WINTER HAVEN (FOX 13) -
Police say they are changing their policy following an active shooter drill at middle school that frightened students and parents who weren't notified ahead of time.

Lauren Marionneaux, a seventh-grade student at Jewett Middle Academy, said it was about 9 a.m. Thursday when the principal announced the school was going on lockdown.

Students huddled into classrooms waiting for further instructions. Instead, they started hearing voices in the hallway.

"A lot of people started getting scared because we thought it was a real drill," Lauren said. "We actually thought that someone was going to come in there and kill us."

Two police officers burst into Lauren's classroom with their guns drawn -- one carrying, what Winter Haven police said, was an AR-15 rifle. Lauren was so scared she texted her mother, Stacy Ray.

"I'm panicking because I'm thinking that it's a legitimate shooter is coming, that something bad is happening at the school," said Ray, who also received frightened text messages from her other children, including one that read, “I thought he was going to shoot me.”

The school sent an email out after the exercise, called a "lockdown active shooter drill," to let parents know it had taken place.

Jason Geary, a spokesperson for Polk County Schools said it's standard procedure for these types of drills to take place without advanced warning to parents, students or teachers. Winter Haven Police Chief Charlie Bird said police are able to evaluate a school's response.

"It's very important that, when you do your drill, you do it without everyone knowing that it's a drill," Bird said. "How you train and how you prepare is how you're going to react when everything goes bad."

Bird said a school resource officer would plan out with the school's principal when a lockdown active shooter drill will happen, but no one else has to know.

Ray, meanwhile, said some parents feel it was extreme for police to have their guns drawn.

"It's very scary, especially from a parent's perspective," Ray said. "You hear all this horrible stuff on the news and you think it might be happening at your child's school."

Winter Haven's police chief said it's all necessary to make it as realistic as possible.

"It really is to protect the children and at no point in time would we endanger any of the children," Bird insisted.

...

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/27383629/parents-furious-after-unannounced-shooter-drill-at-polk-middle-school

[chudrockz]

If I had kids, and they were in a school that did this, two things would happen. First, they would never, EVER go back. Second, I'd lawyer up.

[sparebulb]

I'm going to speculate that 98% of these school children's parents would not complain if their legislature were to pass a law requiring no-notice live-fire terrorism drills in every school in the state. Because it would be law, and it is to keep children safe, it would be A-ok.

[Anti Federalist]

Who are the terrorists again?

Someone rep Suzanimal for me, I'm outta bullets.

[presence]

it's standard procedure for these types of drills to take place without advanced warning to parents, students or teachers

Since the fuck when?

[kcchiefs6465]

Since the fuck when?
Oh about 11, 12 years now.

[limequat]

Who are the terrorists again?

Someone rep Suzanimal for me, I'm outta bullets.

Covered.

[presence]

The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man

falsely shouting fire in a theater

and causing a panic.

Schenck v. United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schenck_v._United_States)

[presence]

A bomb threat is generally defined as a threat, usually verbal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Words) or written (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Written), to detonate an explosive (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explosive) or incendiary device (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incendiary_device) to cause property damage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Property_damage), death, or injuries, whether or not such a device actually exists.


Criminal statutes typically dictate severe penalties (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentence_%28law%29). For example, the American (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) state (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._state) of Massachusetts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts) provides for penalties of up to 20 years in prison (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison), up to $50,000 fine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine_%28penalty%29), and restitution (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restitution)


for the costs of the disruption (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disruption).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomb_threat

[devil21]

All it takes is the gun-grabbing national media standing ready to capture the real reactions of the kids and staff on camera, along with a fabricated narrative, to turn a drill like this into a "mass shooting". The police will cooperate with the charade since they receive national attention.

[presence]

What if a teacher has a miscarriage or a heart attack?

What if a child is left with PTSD?

WTF?



In common law, assault is the act of creating

apprehension


of an imminent harmful or offensive contact with a person.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault

[kcchiefs6465]

Schenck v. United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schenck_v._United_States)
A joke of a decision.

[presence]

A joke of a decision.

Yes... and ultimately overturned... but nonetheless... even later...



(Brandenburg v. Ohio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburg_v._Ohio) (1969)) abandoned the disfavored language while seemingly applying the reasoning of Schenck to reverse the conviction of a Ku Klux Klan member prosecuted for giving an inflammatory speech. The Court now said that speech could be prosecuted only when it posed a danger of "imminent lawless action (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imminent_lawless_action),"


Certainly someone could be compelled at the very least to cause property damage and jump out a window, etc. "imminent lawless action"

[kcchiefs6465]

Yes... and ultimately overturned... but nonetheless... even later...

I am somewhat familiar with that case as well. The decision of Schenck v. United States was never overturned and is cited fairly often. The [I]Brandenburg v. Ohio decision was simply one of those instances where a broken clock showed the right time. Though rather than twice a day, the SCOTUS gets it right every ten years or so.... and most often for the wrong reasons.



Certainly someone could be compelled at the very least to cause property damage and jump out a window, etc. "imminent lawless action"
It has nothing to do with the legitimate authority one has to say or express themselves without retribution. For one, they are paid through the theft of all (that should be enough to end the discussion on whether they ought be tolerated in an ostensibly free society). For two, they are brandishing weapons traumatizing children. And for three, it is counter productive to the supposed goal they are offering. Now on the extremely remote chance something were to happen at that school, kids are more likely to think, "Oh, it's just the principal and the police conducting another drill."

I've gone through many of them. They used to rattle the door knobs and suspend anyone in the hallway. They had lockdowns more than fire drills. It is very prevalent and is illustrative of the methods of fear used to indoctrinate children since a young age. It is a means to condition the young... regardless of what the power tripping baboons of said drills believe. Not that you didn't know all this, but for the people who might not have.

If at all possible, do not have your children in that sort of environment. Knowing what I know now, I would have showed up less than I did... And told more people to eat a dick when questioned about it.

I think people who went through public schooling before the [flagrant] militarization of the police and 9/11 would be rather surprised by the open air prison mentality of the Prussian, subservience based, murdering of creativity institute know as "education."

They never taught Schenck v. United States, for instance. Or what a principal was. All in all just a undeniably evident joke.

[euphemia]

Experienced mom, grandma, and teacher here. Sorry, but I don't think children should be ordered around like animals. They should be taught to use common sense and know the difference between nonsense and a real emergency. I have done fire drills with every age student from birth to high school seniors. There is no fear in a drill. We practiced in a non-drill situation as part of our school day, starting with learning how to put on their own coats. We practiced walking together. I kept a roll sheet beside the door. I never raised my voice and never talked down to them. I just showed them the next thing to do until they understood. We go here, and we don't talk until Mrs. Tobismom gives permission because a leader might have something important to say. Fires happen.

I am so sick of the drama. If people would allow children to free range a bit they wouldn't need to be frightened into compliance. Teach them how to know real danger from drama. Parents and schools need to work together, and schools need to understand that ultimately the parents are the ones in charge of the children.

[Suzanimal]

I don't know if anyone watched the new report at the link but some of the texts kids sent their parents during the drill were just heartbreaking. They were truly terrified, as I would've been at that age.:(

[Spikender]

Start them young.

Fear works better when ingrained at a young age.

[osan]

What a terrible shame that none of the parents were well trained in aikijujutsu. What, pray tell, would the "authorities" have been able to do or say had a parent killed the man with the rifle in reasonable action against the perceived shooter. How I would love to see this happen. Theye need to have their heads handed to them for stunts like this.

OTOH, fie upon the parents for placing their issue into public schools in the first place.

Stoopid people will stupid.

[osan]

I don't know if anyone watched the new report at the link but some of the texts kids sent their parents during the drill were just heartbreaking. They were truly terrified, as I would've been at that age.:(


Can you say, "class action"?

[LibForestPaul]

Maybe if things heat up in Ukraine we can go back to duck and cover. Train the lambs early to quiver, and to beg the wolves for protection.

[otherone]

If people would allow children to free range a bit they wouldn't need to be frightened into compliance. Teach them how to know real danger from drama.

+rep.
In addition, children should be taught their responsibilities in confronting danger; that there are sometimes options other than cowering under their desks waiting for the Stasi to arrive. Maybe kids should be taught self-defense instead of dodge ball.

[Suzanimal]

+rep.
In addition, children should be taught their responsibilities in confronting danger; that there are sometimes options other than cowering under their desks waiting for the Stasi to arrive. Maybe kids should be taught self-defense instead of dodge ball.

No dodge ball allowed in school.


http://www.infowars.com/dodgeball-now-banned-in-public-schools-as-nanny-state-goes-insane/

[otherone]

No dodge ball allowed in school.


http://www.infowars.com/dodgeball-now-banned-in-public-schools-as-nanny-state-goes-insane/

AWESOME!
We're half-way there!

[presence]

Maybe kids should be taught self-defense instead of dodge ball.

If you think there is a possibility kids will ever be taught martial arts in public school, then you're missing the point of public school.

[otherone]

If you think there is a possibility kids will ever be taught martial arts in public school, then you're missing the point of public school.

somethings never change.

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_4/w04_07200118.jpg

[Cissy]

Experienced mom, grandma, and teacher here. Sorry, but I don't think children should be ordered around like animals. They should be taught to use common sense and know the difference between nonsense and a real emergency. I have done fire drills with every age student from birth to high school seniors. There is no fear in a drill. We practiced in a non-drill situation as part of our school day, starting with learning how to put on their own coats. We practiced walking together. I kept a roll sheet beside the door. I never raised my voice and never talked down to them. I just showed them the next thing to do until they understood. We go here, and we don't talk until Mrs. Tobismom gives permission because a leader might have something important to say. Fires happen.

I am so sick of the drama. If people would allow children to free range a bit they wouldn't need to be frightened into compliance. Teach them how to know real danger from drama. Parents and schools need to work together, and schools need to understand that ultimately the parents are the ones in charge of the children.

All of this.

[Occam's Banana]

It's for the children.

Boogity-boogity!!


"It really is to protect the children and at no point in time would we endanger any of the children," [Police Chief Charlie] Bird insisted.

Oh, yeah? Go tell it to Baby Bou Bou, Chief ...

http://heavyeditorial.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/1440617_1401421287-1583.jpg

... and send a memo to Aiyana Jones while you're at it ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Aiyana_Jones

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2f/Aiyana_Jones.jpg

[Cissy]

What a terrible shame that none of the parents were well trained in aikijujutsu. What, pray tell, would the "authorities" have been able to do or say had a parent killed the man with the rifle in reasonable action against the perceived shooter. How I would love to see this happen. Theye need to have their heads handed to them for stunts like this.

OTOH, fie upon the parents for placing their issue into public schools in the first place.

Stoopid people will stupid.

Speaking for myself, if a schoolteacher immediately reacted to the sight of someone *pointing a gun* at children by attacking that individual, regardless of the threat's costuming, I would never vote "guilty".

On the grounds of one of the most basic rules of gun safety: don't ever point a gun at anything or anyone you are not willing to destroy.

The officer has proven that he is *perfectly willing* to shoot children; responding to a threat against a defenseless child is natural and just.

[euphemia]

somethings never change.

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ww2_4/w04_07200118.jpg

This is also the earthquake and tornado drill position, except the children move into the halls away from outside windows for tornados. When children are not at home under the supervision of their parents, teachers need to show the children where to go and how to behave during emergencies. Waiting for the emergency is not a good idea.

[otherone]

teachers need to show the children where to go and how to behave during emergencies. Waiting for the emergency is not a good idea.

they are taught well

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/4/19/1366384388595/boston-empty-001.jpg

[devil21]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN5JnPvOdWQ#t=28

[phill4paul]

UPDATE: Jewett Academy Principal Suspended Following Last Thursday's Lockdown Drill


The Polk County School District suspended a principal Tuesday and changed rules for lockdown drills following a controversial drill held at Jewett Middle Academy Magnet on Thursday.

The incident drew national attention and public criticism after weapon-carrying officers checked darkened, locked-down classrooms, frightening students and parents who hadn't been told it was only a drill.

"I very much regret that this occurred," Superintendent of Schools Kathryn LeRoy said Tuesday evening during a School Board meeting.

A Winter Haven Police Department spokeswoman said last week that one officer involved in the drill had a loaded handgun out while checking a classroom and the another officer had an unloaded AR-15 rifle with no magazine, and both were pointed toward the ground.

Some students told parents that officers pointed guns at them.

LeRoy said Jewett Principal Jacquelyn Moore was suspended Tuesday pending an internal investigation.

In the past, the School District has not informed students, parents or staff members in advance about lockdown drills. But LeRoy specified some new rules for the future.

From now on, she said, officers will not carry weapons during such practice; administrators should send a message to parents at the beginning of the drill and let students know a drill is taking place; and staff members should be on hand at the school entrance and answering phones to let callers know the lockdown is just a drill.

The district's Department of Safe Schools requested routine lockdown drills at schools beginning last month, LeRoy said, but the district never requested active-shooter drills and didn't know officers would have weapons in their hands.

She said the organizers of the Jewett drill showed a "lack of good judgment."

Jewett school administrators, including Moore, and the Winter Haven Police Department school resource officer coordinated the drill.

"(Director of Safe Schools) Capt, (Loyd) Stewart and I were not aware that officers had weapons in their hands until after the drill was conducted," LeRoy said.

After some students and parents complained, Winter Haven police announced Friday that future drills would be performed by uniformed officers without weapons.

LeRoy said the School District has now contacted other law enforcement agencies to stress that rule.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20141118/newschief/141119425?p=all&tc=pgall

[jbauer]

Just imagine if one of the teachers or students was armed (obviously illegally according to the school/town) but that they shot the officers dead?


Who are the terrorists again?

Someone rep Suzanimal for me, I'm outta bullets.