[AmericanInTokyo]

I hate to say it. Well, we had "DROP" under-the-desk drills in the 1950s and 1960s in the event of a nuclear explosion. Now it is clear we need to have "HOSTAGE" drills in the 2000s, in the event the enemy penetrates the soft underbelly of America, goes to the heartland, cases various schools, and considers doing the unthinkable on our own soil. Sorry if I am an alarmist and/or this kind of drilling practice at American schools worries children and parents. It would probably never get past the NEA though, because it might be considered "offensive" or "politically incorrect" or somehow "anti-Muslim" under the surface.

The bastards would have the nerve to sacrifice up our children on the altar of diversity, open mindedness and PC.

[brbethke]

I used to live in the Selby-Dale 'hood of St. Paul, and after the third drive-by shooting that strafed the playground of my daughter's school, the principal held a huge PTO meeting to explain what the school was doing to deal with the problem.

It amounted to teaching the kids a "drive-by shooting" drill, in which the teacher blew a certain whistle and all the kids hit the dirt.

I suggested that it might be more effective to put up ladder stands at the corners of the playground and staff them with parent volunteers armed with high-powered deer rifles. They thought I was kidding and laughed a lot. I pulled my daughter out of that school and moved out of the city shortly after that.

Understand, the teachers and school administrators of today are vastly different from the teachers of the 1950's. More than half of them seem to think America is the problem.

I wouldn't count on them to do anything useful to protect American children.

[Irene Adler]

"Well, we had "DROP" under-the-desk drills in the 1950s and 1960s in the event of a nuclear explosion.

Did you actually experience such drills, personally? I went from first grade through high school during this period and never even heard of any drills remotely like that. I am not sure they were ever anything but an urban legend. If other FReepers actually participated in such drills, I would be interested to know.

[Stone Mountain]

I hate to say it. Well, we had "DROP" under-the-desk drills in the 1950s and 1960s in the event of a nuclear explosion.Now it is clear we need to have "HOSTAGE" drills in the 2000s...

You realize that those "drop and cover" drills would have been completely useless in the event of a nuclear attack, right? Just something that the government did so that they couldn't be accused of not caring about the children...

[Conservative4Ever]

Nothing alarmist about your thinking. This is a very real possibility. I'm just afraid while we are concentrating on Schools..which is a good thing..the bad guys have moved on to other soft targets...malls...theaters...outdoor concerts...but, protecting our kids is of vital importance.

Red

[Republic]

I believe that hostage drills, along with professional vetting of all workers associated with school districts is essential. The payoff of this preparedness could be immense!

[johnb838]

The bastards would have the nerve to sacrifice up our children on the altar of diversity, open mindedness and PC.

I hope all will forgive me if the following sounds cold, but I hope that when they are wailing over the dead, bloody corpse of what that morning had been their dear sweet child they will understand what has to be done.