Chromebooks do not grant superpowers.
The mere thought of a school lockdown drill is daunting enough. The idea of preparing for a potential shooter on school premises can send chills down anyone’s spine. But what if I told you that there was an additional unhealthy practice that takes place during many of these drills that could potentially put students in even more danger? This strategy—instructing students to utilize their Google Chromebooks as a weapon or a shield against an armed intruder—is deeply alarming.
The reality is hard to swallow: A Google Chromebook, no matter how sturdy, stands no chance against the lethal force of an AR-15. This was a truth that 12-year-old Lizzie learned all too quickly.
With her usual flair for dramatic entrances, Lizzie burst into my office one day, her backpack landing with a thud on the couch as she threw herself into the chair opposite me. “You won’t believe what happened today in school,” she began, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and disbelief.
Lizzie had always been a daydreamer, often getting lost in her thoughts while gazing out of the classroom window. But that day, her wandering gaze landed on a chilling sight: a man pacing back and forth with a gun. The terror was immediate and visceral. She knew what she saw.
Despite her teacher’s obliviousness, Lizzie didn’t hesitate to alert her mother, sending frantic texts from her Apple Watch. Her mother, alarmed, immediately contacted the school, only to discover that the ‘man with the gun’ was a newly hired plainclothes security guard.
Relief washed over Lizzie when she received her mother’s message. But this brief respite was shattered when her teacher announced a new policy: In the event of a lockdown, they were to grab their Chromebooks and prepare to hurl them at any potential shooter. The absurdity of the idea left her stunned. How could a lightweight laptop deter a gunman? Despite being just 12, Lizzie was faced with the harsh reality of navigating safety protocols that seemed more likely to induce fear than provide protection.
First and foremost, Chromebooks are not designed as tools for self-defense. They are lightweight laptops that students use for educational purposes. The idea of using them to protect oneself against a lethal weapon is absurd. It not only puts students in harm’s way, but it could also give them a false sense of security.
Second, throwing Chromebooks at an armed intruder is not only ineffective but also irresponsible. Even if students manage to hit the shooter, the chances of causing any significant impact are slim to none.
Third, the very act of asking children to prepare to throw their laptops during a lockdown drill can induce fear and anxiety. Lockdown drills are already an unnerving experience for children; to add a layer of responsibility on them to protect themselves with inadequate means is counterproductive. Instead, children should be taught to follow established safety protocols, and authorities should be responsible for protecting them.
Fourth, the use of Chromebooks as a strategy not only undermines the gravity of the situation but also skews the focus away from the real issue at hand. Instead of addressing the root cause of the problem, which is gun violence in schools, we are focusing on finding quick fixes.
Ask your child if they have ever been taught to throw items at a potential shooter in their school. If the answer is yes, start a conversation with your school administrators and school board. Ask questions. And please reach out to me for guidance on how to become an advocate for safer, less traumatic school security drills.
