The USA surrenders, and goes "to school of shootings"

In the United States, the tragic normalization of school shootings has pushed institutions to integrate emergency preparedness exercises into students' educational routines. This practice, which is reflected in the adoption of emergency simulations, aims not so much to solve the problem at its root, intervening on arms control and the influential lobbies that hinder it, but rather to make students accustomed to the constant presence of a threat .

A study recently published in Journal of School Violence (I link it here) reveals how this strategy, despite being a source of controversy, contributes to making those students who have already experienced forms of violence at school feel safer. I find it a bad symptom of addiction, and a terrible signal for the future of entire generations.

A heated debate

In the heartland of America, the issue of school shootings is intertwined with the fervent debate over right to bear arms, giving rise to a stalemate where solutions seem to be increasingly oriented towards adaptation rather than radical change. The choice to prepare students for a reality that is as harsh as it is potentially lethal through emergency drills has become a norm, arousing conflicting opinions among security experts, psychologists and public opinion.

What is the point of all this training? Sure, they aim to build student confidence and readiness, but they raise significant questions about their psychological impact. Familiarization with scenarios of potential massacre could in fact contribute to a sense of constant uneasiness and fear, undermining the learning environment that schools should guarantee. Yet, as I said, the study cited suggests otherwise. For those who have already lived experiences of violence, these exercises represent a beacon of security in a sea of ​​uncertainties. O tempora, o mores.

US school shooting drills were introduced after the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. On that occasion, two teenagers killed 12 of their classmates and a teacher and injured 24 others. but it would only be the beginning.

School shootings, the illusion of preparation

The actual effectiveness of these trainings remains a matter of debate. On the one hand they offer the possibility of building “muscle memory” that can save lives in extreme situations. On the other hand, they risk normalizing a phenomenon that is anything but normal. Emergency preparedness thus turns into an illusion of control, a blindfold that diverts attention from preventative measures that could, indeed: they should tackle the problem at its root.

The American approach to school shootings, with its emphasis on preparing for events rather than prevention, it raises profound questions about the future of education and society. Emergency simulations can offer a sense of security, but the real challenge remains to create an environment in which such measures are not necessary.

The road ahead requires a critical examination of gun policies. Moreover. An examination of mental health care in schools and a culture that, until now, has struggled to protect its youngest and most vulnerable members. The "normalization" of shootings in American schools is not the result of a complex and multifaceted reality, but of simple evidence. We need a broader debate on values, priorities and public policies. Far from toying with the idea that “the Far West” is the best possible place.