More than two thirds of school districts in the United States conduct “active shooter” exercises, but some are having difficulty threading the needle between scaring kids and informing them about how to react, according to the Associated Press.
Some schools make their drills very realistic, simulating the sounds of gunshots and using smoke and fake blood,” the AP reported. “In one case, armed police officers with weapons drawn burst into a Florida middle school, terrifying staff and students alike.”
Students and teachers are not always told in advance that there will be a drill or what kind of drill it will be.
GAO investigators said one district noted “the difficulty of striking a balance between providing knowledge and inciting fear, particularly at schools with younger children.”
The FBI says that between 2000 and 2013, there were 25 shootings at U.S. elementary and secondary schools, resulting in 57 deaths, the AP reported.
