Post by title1parent on Dec 12, 2008 6:41:22 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/pfundstein/1327666,6_4_NA12_PAGE2COL_S1.article
Evaluating reaction to report of gun at Waubonsie next step
December 12, 2008 SUN OPINION
Headlines like the one that appeared on The Sun's cover Thursday bring scary thoughts of tragedies past and relief that this incident would not become one of them.
Parents hovered around cell phones Wednesday as Waubonsie Valley High School was held on lockdown by administrators for about five hours. Two 15-year-old students were charged with disorderly conduct after students reported they had a gun, which turned out to be a BB gun. But not before a school and a community were terrified by a report that a student was spotted with a gun at school.
The very thought brings back vivid memories of the tragedies at Northern Illinois University earlier this year and Columbine, Colo., in 1999. These moments stand out as needless and reckless moments of disregard for human life.
Luckily Wednesday was not that day for Waubonsie.
Principal Kristine Marchiando sent out an e-mail notifying parents of the situation that began at 7:30 a.m. She said the lockdown was a "precaution" only while a "potential threat" was investigated.
Police came, sealed off the grounds and checked each room, each student.
As students waited, they text messaged, twittered and talked with parents to assure them all was OK.
Administrators and police weren't ready to say that till the school reopened at 12:30 p.m.
Some parents criticized administrators for not communicating the situation better with the community to underplaying the gravity of the situation.
Asking students not to text family and friends seemed extreme, especially if the situation had turned out to be more severe than it was. If a tragedy had occurred, every parent would want that message from their child, "I'm OK."
School officials most likely wanted to avoid creating panic among students - and parents at home or near campus. That's what grown-ups do - they say everything will be OK, then the go out and make sure, just like police and administrators did Wednesday.
The confusion about a threat made Tuesday night and the report of a gun Wednesday does merit reflection. A recorded message went out to parents that classes were optional Wednesday, according to a story in The Sun. Then the incident occurred Wednesday. At the time though, school officials didn't know whether the two incidents were related and still don't as far as we know. Bottom line, some parents didn't feel well informed.
Like all situations, learning from what worked and what needs improvement are lessons gleaned for the next time a potential threat arises. The next step is to reflect on what did happen and how school officials, students and parents reacted.
Now's the time for parents to make sure they are properly signed up for e-mail or cell phone alerts. Administrators should consider the communication process. Were their alerts clear? Would they have handled the situation differently? And students should consider the importance of keeping a watchful eye and reporting suspicious activity to teachers.
Technology has upped the ante, too. With cell phones and hand-held devices, communication becomes easier - or maybe in this case, more complicated. Who knows who is accurate or misinformed or confused?
In the end, administrators got a test run for something more serious. Take it for what it is - a chance to evaluate the plan and pray a situation much worse than this one never happens in our backyard.
Heather Pfundstein is the associate managing editor/news. Contact her at hpfundstein@scn1.com or 630-416-5237.
Evaluating reaction to report of gun at Waubonsie next step
December 12, 2008 SUN OPINION
Headlines like the one that appeared on The Sun's cover Thursday bring scary thoughts of tragedies past and relief that this incident would not become one of them.
Parents hovered around cell phones Wednesday as Waubonsie Valley High School was held on lockdown by administrators for about five hours. Two 15-year-old students were charged with disorderly conduct after students reported they had a gun, which turned out to be a BB gun. But not before a school and a community were terrified by a report that a student was spotted with a gun at school.
The very thought brings back vivid memories of the tragedies at Northern Illinois University earlier this year and Columbine, Colo., in 1999. These moments stand out as needless and reckless moments of disregard for human life.
Luckily Wednesday was not that day for Waubonsie.
Principal Kristine Marchiando sent out an e-mail notifying parents of the situation that began at 7:30 a.m. She said the lockdown was a "precaution" only while a "potential threat" was investigated.
Police came, sealed off the grounds and checked each room, each student.
As students waited, they text messaged, twittered and talked with parents to assure them all was OK.
Administrators and police weren't ready to say that till the school reopened at 12:30 p.m.
Some parents criticized administrators for not communicating the situation better with the community to underplaying the gravity of the situation.
Asking students not to text family and friends seemed extreme, especially if the situation had turned out to be more severe than it was. If a tragedy had occurred, every parent would want that message from their child, "I'm OK."
School officials most likely wanted to avoid creating panic among students - and parents at home or near campus. That's what grown-ups do - they say everything will be OK, then the go out and make sure, just like police and administrators did Wednesday.
The confusion about a threat made Tuesday night and the report of a gun Wednesday does merit reflection. A recorded message went out to parents that classes were optional Wednesday, according to a story in The Sun. Then the incident occurred Wednesday. At the time though, school officials didn't know whether the two incidents were related and still don't as far as we know. Bottom line, some parents didn't feel well informed.
Like all situations, learning from what worked and what needs improvement are lessons gleaned for the next time a potential threat arises. The next step is to reflect on what did happen and how school officials, students and parents reacted.
Now's the time for parents to make sure they are properly signed up for e-mail or cell phone alerts. Administrators should consider the communication process. Were their alerts clear? Would they have handled the situation differently? And students should consider the importance of keeping a watchful eye and reporting suspicious activity to teachers.
Technology has upped the ante, too. With cell phones and hand-held devices, communication becomes easier - or maybe in this case, more complicated. Who knows who is accurate or misinformed or confused?
In the end, administrators got a test run for something more serious. Take it for what it is - a chance to evaluate the plan and pray a situation much worse than this one never happens in our backyard.
Heather Pfundstein is the associate managing editor/news. Contact her at hpfundstein@scn1.com or 630-416-5237.