It’s happened again, and this time it feels too close to home — in my close friend’s neighborhood. Recently, news broke that two children and a teacher were injured in a shooting at Pine Valley Elementary School in South Carolina. The teenage shooter tragically took his father’s life before the incident. Just moments before unleashing chaos, he reached out to his grandparents. Thankfully, a brave bystander, a volunteer firefighter, intervened until law enforcement arrived. The shooter, whose identity is protected due to his age, used a handgun in this horrific act.
This incident is a significant reason I decided against sending my children to school. I fully understand that homeschooling isn’t feasible or appealing for everyone. Many parents work multiple jobs or are single caregivers without the option to stay home. It requires time, resources, and often a parent to be available, so I recognize how fortunate I am to have this choice.
My partner is a public school teacher, and the protocols he must follow during lockdown drills are alarming. Each drill involves detailed procedures, such as covering windows with cardboard to prevent anyone from looking inside. He cannot open the door for anyone, even if a student claims to be hurt. During these drills, heavy doors are locked throughout the school, displaying messages like “Do Not Open. Active Shooter Behind This Door.”
What’s even more unsettling is that these drills are now being conducted with preschoolers. A recent image went viral of a young child standing on a toilet, practicing what she had learned during an active shooter drill. Her mother, Laura, expressed her heartbreak, stating, “In that moment, I realized my little girl’s innocence was lost.”
Experts like Joe Adams, who trains students of all ages on how to respond to active shooter scenarios, emphasize that even young children might be taught to throw objects to distract a gunman. “Try to overwhelm him,” he advises. But I cannot fathom my little ones being expected to toss blocks at someone armed with an assault rifle.
While school shootings are not the sole reason for our homeschooling decision, they weigh heavily on my mind. The frequency of these tragedies seems to increase every week, making it difficult to breathe as I send my kids off to the bus. The uncertainty of which school might be next is terrifying. I refuse to send my children to a place filled with such a palpable sense of danger.
Additionally, my middle child struggles with the idea of active shooter drills. My oldest might brush them off, but my youngest would dwell on them, asking countless questions that would lead to sleepless nights filled with fear. He’s prone to anxiety, and I simply can’t allow that fear to consume his childhood. So he stays home with me.
Of course, our reasons for homeschooling extend beyond safety concerns. We are not in favor of the constant testing model that dominates American education. With my background in education, I disagree with how history is often presented in schools. At home, I have the freedom to teach my children what I believe is important. We have more opportunities to explore the outdoors, which is beneficial for my sons who struggle to sit still for extended periods. We follow their interests — my youngest is captivated by space, especially the concept of dark matter — and they’re able to learn at their own pace. My oldest can dive into reading classic literature, while my middle son is just beginning to grasp basic math concepts. They don’t feel pressured to meet arbitrary standards.
While school shootings are a significant motivator for our decision, they are not our only reason for choosing to homeschool. Research from institutions like Harvard and Northwestern indicates that mass shootings have tripled since 2011, occurring on average every 64 days. Furthermore, Everytown’s tracking of firearm incidents in schools has uncovered over 160 cases of gunfire on school grounds in just three years, resulting in fatalities and injuries. I cannot bear the thought of my children becoming just another statistic.
So, my children will continue to learn at home. I acknowledge that risks exist everywhere, even in homeschooling, where accidents can happen — particularly during our kayaking adventures. However, the likelihood of them being in a life-threatening situation at home is far lower, and that remains a significant benefit of our choice.
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In summary, while my fears about school shootings have played a critical role in our decision to homeschool, our choice is also influenced by our beliefs about education and the unique needs of our children. We prioritize their safety and well-being, allowing them to learn in an environment where they can thrive without the looming shadow of violence.