It’s happened again—this time, in my own state and in the town where my close friend lives. Recently, everyone learned about the tragic shooting at Townville Elementary School in South Carolina, where two children and a teacher were injured. The teenage shooter, who took his father’s life before the incident, made a tearful call to his grandparents just moments before he unleashed chaos behind the school. Thankfully, he was stopped by a brave volunteer firefighter, but the aftermath left an indelible mark on the community. The shooter, who remains unnamed due to his age, used a handgun.
This horrifying event is a significant reason why I choose not to send my kids to traditional school. I understand that homeschooling isn’t feasible for everyone. Many working parents, particularly those with two jobs, or single parents, face immense challenges in this regard. You need resources, time, intelligence, and often a stay-at-home parent to make it work. I feel incredibly fortunate to have the option to step away from the conventional school system.
My husband is a public school teacher, and the protocols he has to follow during intruder drills are downright absurd. They even cover the windows in their doors with cardboard to prevent anyone from seeing in. He’s instructed not to open the door for anyone, even if a student claims to be injured. During these drills, steel doors are locked throughout the school, marked with ominous signs stating, “Do Not Open. Active Shooter Behind This Door.”
It’s alarming—they even conduct these drills with preschoolers now. A recent viral photo showed a young child standing on a toilet during drill practice, which left her mother, Lisa Carter, devastated. “In that moment,” Carter noted, “all the innocence I thought my three-year-old possessed was shattered.”
Joe Parker, who trains students of all ages on how to react during active shooter situations, mentioned in a Washington Post interview that even young children can be taught to throw objects at an intruder. “Try to overwhelm him,” Parker advises. “Throw off his plan.” But the thought of my little ones being trained to throw blocks at someone with a weapon is terrifying.
While school shootings aren’t the sole reason for my decision to homeschool, they certainly weigh heavily on my mind. With mass shootings occurring almost weekly, the anxiety I feel when sending my kids off to the bus is suffocating. No one can predict which school will be next, and the proximity of danger feels ever-present. I simply can’t take that risk.
Moreover, my middle child wouldn’t be able to handle the stress of active shooter drills. My eldest might brush them off, but my youngest, Max, becomes consumed by anxiety, asking endless questions that lead to sleepless nights filled with nightmares. I can’t let that fear dominate his childhood, so he stays home.
Of course, there are other reasons for our homeschooling choice. We disagree with the relentless test-centric approach prevalent in today’s education system. With my background in pedagogy, I want to teach history unfiltered—without glorifying figures like Christopher Columbus or misrepresenting events like Thanksgiving. At home, I can present the information as I see fit. We have more time to explore the outdoors, which is beneficial for my sons who struggle to sit still for extended periods. We can delve into their interests—like Max’s current obsession with dark matter—and they can learn at their own pace. My eldest can tackle Peter Pan while we discuss its themes, although he may not be as adept in math. Meanwhile, my youngest is just starting to add but hasn’t mastered his letters yet, and that’s completely fine. They’re where they need to be without the pressure to conform.
While the threat of school shootings isn’t our only reason for homeschooling, it’s certainly a major concern. According to research from scholars at the Harvard School of Public Health and Northwestern University, the frequency of mass shootings has tripled since 2011, averaging every 64 days. Since 2013, Everytown has documented over 160 incidents involving firearms on school campuses, which includes fatal and non-fatal assaults, suicides, and accidental shootings. Tragically, these events have resulted in numerous injuries and fatalities. I refuse to let my children become mere statistics.
So, they stay home. I recognize that homeschooling can come with its own set of dangers—accidents can happen anywhere, especially when our “PE” often involves kayaking. Yet, the likelihood of them being caught in a shooting is significantly lower at home. And in today’s world, that’s a huge advantage of homeschooling.
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In summary, my decision to homeschool my children is greatly influenced by the fear of school shootings, among other educational concerns. The current climate of violence in schools makes it hard for me to feel secure sending my kids into that environment. While homeschooling presents its own challenges, it allows us to foster a nurturing and flexible learning atmosphere that prioritizes their well-being.