Are the NJ educators by policy, encouraging our children to cowardice?

 Let's take a look at two policies in the Education system:

• Zero Tolerance
• "Lockdown"

 As defined in Wikipedia: 

A zero-tolerance policy is a policy of having no tolerance for transgressions: any infraction of existing laws and regulations, regardless of mistakes, ignorance, or even extenuating circumstances, will be met with full punishment. The term may be used in general or with reference to a particular category of transgressions, e.g. a zero-tolerance policy towards alcohol use.

It is typically enacted by an organization (usually a school) against a particular action, or possession of something on organization-controlled property. Many schools have a zero-tolerance policy concerning drugs or weapons. For example, a student possessing or caught using drugs on school property governed by a zero-tolerance policy could immediately suffer the highest possible consequence for their actions. Many organizations avoid these policies because it binds those in authority to an action, regardless of circumstances. The policy must be written extremely explicitly or it may have negative consequences.

Zero-Tolerance is a well-intentioned policy in principle, but it should be zero tolerance to real violence, not by kids playing.  Threats of violence may be an issue too, but drawing a gun by doodling, or a sandwich bitten into the shape of a rifle and saying "cool" between two kids is absolutely ridiculous. 

On the other side of zero tolerance, if a bully hits your child and he defends himself, both typically get suspended.  Punishing a victim the same as the bully sends the wrong message.   I don't know about you, but if someone hits my children, they are instructed to defend themselves until the violence initiator has been turned away.  If that means hitting back, well yes, I support it.  The Zero-Tolerance policy suggests that a child run away and call for help.  Someday these children will grow to adults and they will not be able to run from their problems.  So are we training our children to be cowards with this policy as executed?  I think you would agree the answer is yes!

 Lockdown Policies:

Here's one example from our recent NJ press of a NJ High School:

Students and staff started yelling "Code C," other students said - a signal to run to the nearest classroom, close the door, and turn off the lights. Students inside the building complied with the lockdown, officials said, but students who hadn't gotten inside decided to remain out of the building.

This is another one of those run-and-hide type policies. Teachers should be instructing students to dial 911 on their cell phones, and call anyone else who can bring help.  Barricading the door with desks would be helpful.  Perhaps prior to that they should be arming themsleves with fire extinguishers, and anything else they might find to deal with a gunman in the event of a confrontation rather than sitting down and waiting to be shot.  The point here is not to "run and hide", but to prepare and deal with an intruder.

My children have been personally instructed to break out the windows and jump out of the building if they hear gunfire.  The best experts in the world advise "distance, cover, and time" in that order with respect to armed or unarmed defense against gunfire.  Gaining distance should be the first priority, and if possible in a covered retreat manner.  

In  "gun-free zones" like our schools, educators need to be leaders in the event of an emergency, and that includes setting the example to protect, defend and even repel a violent attacker.  Perhaps if we trusted our educators to carry conealed weapons like the Israelis do, we would have fewer attacks in our schools.