Two Sheepdogs that heroically acted in the Chardon High School shooting are now named. Coach Frank Hall yelled, "Hey!" after the shooting started. This startled the shooter, then Hall chased the shooter out of the school. Teacher Joseph Ricci grabbed one of the wounded students, pulled them into his room, then administered first aid. Both of these actions showed great courage, and demonstrated great love for the students in their charge.
Kenneth Trump is quoted in an article on MSNBC as saying about Coach Hall, "It's not something you can train somebody to do, it's inside the person." After the comment he made about the woman who attempted to disarm a shooter at a school board meeting, it would appear that the end result is what makes a person's actions heroic. I would say that the actions of the woman were heroic, even if unsuccessful. Coach Hall's actions were just as heroic, and were successful.
As can be discerned by my blog, I disagree with Trump's assessment. I served in the Army for 12 years, eight of them as an Infantry Drill Sergeant. I took civilians and taught them how to react in stressful, violent moments. It can, and has been, taught. The Sheepdog mindset is all about getting educators to think how they would react, to provide them with the experiences so that they can use pattern-matching and recognition to come up with the best decision.
If teachers and staff are trained properly, are given numerous scenarios to consider, and utilize mental simulations, they can reach the point where they will hear a gun shot, and know what to do. It can be done, and it must be done. A great first step is "Safe Topics - The First Thirty Seconds", a new product developed by Safe Havens International.
As Michael Dorn, Executive Director of Safe Havens International writes, "Emergency reference charts should not be viewed as an instructional manual to follow step by step during the first critical seconds of a crisis. Instead they are a valuable tool to help staff develop what Dr. Gary Klein refers to as a base of knowledge. Klein’s research shows that people can perform exceptionally well in making life and death decisions but they need practice using a concept known as mental simulation. For school employees to get increased benefit from this research – based concept, they need to be provided appropriate responses to a wide array of situations rather than just a few situations that we fear the most like active shooter situations."
If there is any lesson to be learned from this tragedy, it's that the people who watch out for our kids during the day need to be taught how to protect our kids when the wolves come howling into our safe schools. If educators don't want to develop that skill, they're in the wrong profession.
Thoughts and views on the state of school safety in public schools today.
School Safety News
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
A Sheepdog You Should Know
Gary Sinise. A Sheepdog who watches out for other Sheepdogs. God Bless you, Gary!
http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/02/gary_sinise_an_american_hero.html
http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/02/gary_sinise_an_american_hero.html
A Sad Day in Chardon, Ohio
http://www.campussafetymagazine.com/Channel/School-Safety/News/2012/02/27/Ohio-School-Gunman-Apprehended.aspx
A 17-year old makes a life-changing decision, ending the life of a another, wounding four more, and forever altering the lives of a whole town.
In the numerous stories I've read today, mention is made of a Sheepdog who chased the shooter out of the school. Think about that.
School is starting as usual. Kids are in the cafeteria talking, laughing, griping about things that happened over the weekend. Pretty much a routine start to what will be a horrible day.
A wolf, for an as yet unknown reason, stands up, pulls a pistol and begins firing. Early indications are that these are targeted victims, as it seems the victims are spread out. There is blood, the smell of gun smoke, screams, and students running everywhere.
Anyone within earshot has suddenly come face-to-face with a spiked heart rate, tunnel vision, and the oft-times overwhelming fight-or-flight response. Many are running. In the midst of all this, a teacher, whose name has not been unreleased yet, chases the shooter out of the school.
Michael Dorn, and international school safety expert, posted a great blog on some key points to remember here: http://www.safehavensinternational.org/secondary-nav-pages/micheals-blog/
Training and preparation can only bring you to the decision-point. At that point, the Sheepdog makes the decision to protect others.
Can you see yourself making that decision?
An update:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/27/ohio-high-school-on-lockdown-after-reports-shooting/
A further update:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2107152/Chardon-High-School-shooting-THIRD-classmate-dies-TJ-Lanes-online-rantings-revealed.html
A 17-year old makes a life-changing decision, ending the life of a another, wounding four more, and forever altering the lives of a whole town.
In the numerous stories I've read today, mention is made of a Sheepdog who chased the shooter out of the school. Think about that.
School is starting as usual. Kids are in the cafeteria talking, laughing, griping about things that happened over the weekend. Pretty much a routine start to what will be a horrible day.
A wolf, for an as yet unknown reason, stands up, pulls a pistol and begins firing. Early indications are that these are targeted victims, as it seems the victims are spread out. There is blood, the smell of gun smoke, screams, and students running everywhere.
Anyone within earshot has suddenly come face-to-face with a spiked heart rate, tunnel vision, and the oft-times overwhelming fight-or-flight response. Many are running. In the midst of all this, a teacher, whose name has not been unreleased yet, chases the shooter out of the school.
Michael Dorn, and international school safety expert, posted a great blog on some key points to remember here: http://www.safehavensinternational.org/secondary-nav-pages/micheals-blog/
Training and preparation can only bring you to the decision-point. At that point, the Sheepdog makes the decision to protect others.
Can you see yourself making that decision?
An update:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/27/ohio-high-school-on-lockdown-after-reports-shooting/
A further update:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2107152/Chardon-High-School-shooting-THIRD-classmate-dies-TJ-Lanes-online-rantings-revealed.html
Thursday, February 23, 2012
A Sheepdog You Should Know
Kathy Phillips drives a Pre-School bus for Southern Hancock Schools. Last month, while driving her students home, a car pulled out from behind a fence and ran into her bus. The car was heavily damaged, and the bus' front fender was slightly bent.
Inside the bus, the bus aide, Peggy Jones, was turned in her seat, supervising her students. The impact knocked her to the floor, injuring her neck. The children were secured in their seats via child car seats and five-point harnesses.
The first I heard of the accident was a radio call. Kathy's voice was firm, controlled, and calm. I grabbed a handheld radio and drove over to the scene of the accident. I got there right after the fire department, and I walked onto the bus.
Kathy was standing by her bus seat. She appeared as calm and collected as she sounded on the radio. She was giving information to a Sheriff's Deputy, and was watching as the EMTs cared for Peggy.
When we were released, I ended up riding with her as the replacement aide as Peggy was taken to the hospital. She was engaged with her kids, upbeat, and we got the kids home.
Her peers were very impressed with her demeanor on the radio. Several of them nominated her for the Sheepdog of the Month, and last week, she received the award in front of all of her colleagues.
Her citation read, "During a recent accident, Kathy’s aide was injured, and substantial damage was done to the car that hit her bus. Kathy maintained her composure and performed all the steps necessary to keep her kids safe. Her peers noted her calm voice on the radio, providing them with an outstanding example of how to react to a crisis. Her love for students, and her focus on what is important has helped the CSCSHC FLEET remain a safe place to travel and excel."
Kathy Phillips is an excellent example for bus drivers to follow.
Inside the bus, the bus aide, Peggy Jones, was turned in her seat, supervising her students. The impact knocked her to the floor, injuring her neck. The children were secured in their seats via child car seats and five-point harnesses.
The first I heard of the accident was a radio call. Kathy's voice was firm, controlled, and calm. I grabbed a handheld radio and drove over to the scene of the accident. I got there right after the fire department, and I walked onto the bus.
Kathy was standing by her bus seat. She appeared as calm and collected as she sounded on the radio. She was giving information to a Sheriff's Deputy, and was watching as the EMTs cared for Peggy.
When we were released, I ended up riding with her as the replacement aide as Peggy was taken to the hospital. She was engaged with her kids, upbeat, and we got the kids home.
Her peers were very impressed with her demeanor on the radio. Several of them nominated her for the Sheepdog of the Month, and last week, she received the award in front of all of her colleagues.
Her citation read, "During a recent accident, Kathy’s aide was injured, and substantial damage was done to the car that hit her bus. Kathy maintained her composure and performed all the steps necessary to keep her kids safe. Her peers noted her calm voice on the radio, providing them with an outstanding example of how to react to a crisis. Her love for students, and her focus on what is important has helped the CSCSHC FLEET remain a safe place to travel and excel."
Kathy Phillips is an excellent example for bus drivers to follow.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
A Wolf in Sheepdog's Clothing
One of the worst things a Sheepdog has to face is betrayal. When a person who is in a Sheepdog position betrays his/her trust and violates the children they were to protect, real evil occurs. Such a thing happened to us right before Thanksgiving: http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-brian-turner-former-teacher-facing-child-molestation-allegations-dating-back-30-years-20111219,0,4490875.column
Now, to be sure, he's only been charged with molestation, and I won't go any further into what I know of this case while it is still under investigation. However, this situation does bring up a very important consideration. How do we keep the wolves from wearing sheepdog clothing?
Child predators do not look like child predators. They look like real people, for obvious reasons. We had done a background check, but all that does is discover if the person had ever been arrested, or charged, with a crime. It cannot get into the mind of the monster. Thus background checks only indicate the obvious. So now what?
Child predation is a behavior. So there should be a way to ferret out this behavior prior to allowing them near children. This would require a behavioral assessment, one that would be upheld in court. My friend Michael Dorn tells me there is one. I will investigate further.
It is doubtful that this assessment will tell you that the screened person is, with certainty, a predator. However, it should raise enough uncertainty that hiring someone else would be the prudent thing to do.
Both my mom and dad were molested as children. My mom repeatedly by her father. My youngest was molested when she was 6. The man above was charged for an act that occurred on my watch.
Never again.
Case in point: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/03/molestation-complaints-increase-at-school-where-teacher-allegedly-abused/?test=latestnews
Now, to be sure, he's only been charged with molestation, and I won't go any further into what I know of this case while it is still under investigation. However, this situation does bring up a very important consideration. How do we keep the wolves from wearing sheepdog clothing?
Child predators do not look like child predators. They look like real people, for obvious reasons. We had done a background check, but all that does is discover if the person had ever been arrested, or charged, with a crime. It cannot get into the mind of the monster. Thus background checks only indicate the obvious. So now what?
Child predation is a behavior. So there should be a way to ferret out this behavior prior to allowing them near children. This would require a behavioral assessment, one that would be upheld in court. My friend Michael Dorn tells me there is one. I will investigate further.
It is doubtful that this assessment will tell you that the screened person is, with certainty, a predator. However, it should raise enough uncertainty that hiring someone else would be the prudent thing to do.
Both my mom and dad were molested as children. My mom repeatedly by her father. My youngest was molested when she was 6. The man above was charged for an act that occurred on my watch.
Never again.
Case in point: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/03/molestation-complaints-increase-at-school-where-teacher-allegedly-abused/?test=latestnews
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