Hearing the announcement over the intercom that an ALICE drill is being conducted can evoke many emotions in students. ALICE is an acronym for the steps students are taught at Hershey High School to survive an intruder or threat: Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate.
Administrators should inform parents of upcoming ALICE drills.
This would help curb anxiety in students and parents alike and give the parents an opportunity to talk to their children about these topics. By giving parents prior notice, they may feel more confident in the school’s ability to handle these situations and gain a sense of preparedness, which can reduce stress.
On November 1, 2024, Hershey High School students practiced a “Lockdown” drill. This drill is one part of ALICE. Students learn that in a lockdown scenario, they must turn off the lights, lock and barricade the door, and hide in the corner of the room furthest away from windows and doors. Throughout the school year, students will also practice the “evacuate” step of ALICE, which is very similar to that of a fire drill, which is practiced monthly.
A report from Dan Keemahill, a journalist who compiles data sets, shows that Pennsylvania is one of just 13 states that does not require schools to undergo active shooter drills. However, many schools in Pennsylvania still practice these drills. The National Center for Educational Statistics estimates that school shooting drills are practiced in 95% of schools nationwide.
One study from Humanities and Social Sciences Communications found that anxiety, stress, and depression increased 39-42% following drills such as ALICE. After these drills, students are expected to return to normal activities, shoving their experiences aside to continue learning. With the increase in anxiety and stress, students may be unable to focus on schoolwork and deal with anxiety surrounding their safety at school. School should be a safe place for every student, and drills like these may change that perspective.
The stress is rising in teachers as well. RAND, a research organization focused on safety and security, found that in the 2023-2024 school year, the number of teachers who reported fear that they would be victims of an attack rose greatly. Most teachers were more worried about their students than themselves, and 13% more female teachers reported anxieties than male. Teachers who constantly worry about their safety, as well as their students’ safety, may be unable to provide the quality of instruction they are capable of.
With the rising stress surrounding these incidents, weighing out the positives and negatives of these drills is necessary. Hershey High School has better policies surrounding these drills, offering counseling services to any students who may feel anxious following the drill. However, they are still stressful, and change should be made. Hershey High School does not inform students or parents when an ALICE drill will take place, which can contribute to the anxiety students may experience by informing parents about upcoming drills and trusting them to decide if they should discuss this with their child.
To lower the stress of ALICE drills for students, contact Hershey High School’s principal, Lindsey Schmidt, at [email protected].
