Ep 10: Fight, Flight, or Freeze

This week Angie and Joanna talk about the ways preparing and maintaining safe school environments have impacted them as teachers. Plus we hear from a teacher who is questioning how to discipline a student. Please note: we discuss some intense moments in this episode related to school lockdowns.

Video preview

Episode Transcript

Resources

All of the resources listed below contain sensitive content. Teachers should personally review the materials and use their personal discretion in evaluating if/how they are appropriate for students.  

1. Hiding In Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness (For Teachers & High School Students)

Ken Burns Presents Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth mental Illness, a two-part documentary by Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Eweres gives voice to the experiences of young people who struggle with mental health challenges and focuses on the importance of awareness and empathy. his documentary can be seen as a preventative measure of sorts, helping educators and students, alike, to recognize the ways young people may be hurting and in need of support.

2. Student Filmmakers School Their Peers on Safety (Grades 6-12)

This clip and support materials from PBS NewsHour features high school student reporters who set out to create a school safety video that provided clarity and practical information to students if/when they were in an emergency situation. They discuss several of their production strategies for the student-friendly video, including interviews with various stakeholders and experts, responding directly to student concerns, and reviewing existing safety protocols to get a better sense of what was and was not effective. 

3. Above The Noise: Do Active Shooter Drills Do More Harm Than Good? (Grades 6-12) 

As active shooter drills become more common in schools, there’s debate over what type of drill is best. In just six minutes, this Above The Noise video covers a lot of ground on the topic, encouraging students to consider various perspectives on how to best be prepared for dangerous situations on campus. The video includes support materials and cited sources to use with students and engage them in deeper discussion.   

4. Above The Noise: Should Teachers Be Allowed to Carry Guns at School? (Grades 6-12)  

More and more schools are allowing staff members to carry firearms at work, sparking controversy nationwide, as many opponents question whether arming teachers with guns will actually make schools safer. This nine-minute segment from Above The Noise digs into the topic and presents various opinions and evidence-backed insights to inform students. The video includes support materials and cited sources to use with students and engage them in deeper discussion.