Roxanne Gray: Schools have to choose between fight and flight

Our new school has a well-organized drop-off system. You must pull into one of two lanes as you approach the school. Students will be out on the field chatting with friends, or running through the grass, backpacks discarded in a pile.

When your car comes to a stop, let your child out on the side that faces the sidewalk so they don’t step in front of oncoming cars. Don’t exit your vehicle, because it slows down traffic. Blow a kiss. Say, goodbye. I love you. Don’t forget to turn in your homework. I’ll pick you up after school. I love you. I love you.

A teacher will escort a group of kids along the crosswalk, and one of them will be yours. They will walk into the building, join their friends, laugh and chat, and run, run, run.

In our old neighborhood, you could walk to school. You walk the two blocks to Telegraph Avenue and join the stream of neighboring families. Students greet friends, laughing and shouting, running around the black top, backpacks discarded in a pile.

Colored dots are painted on the asphalt, and when the bell rings all the children get in line–a well organized system. Before your child runs off, you give them a hug and a kiss. Say goodbye, I love you. Don’t forget to turn in your homework. I’ll pick you up after school. I love you. I love you.

A teacher will gather the line of kids to walk them to the classroom, and one of them will be yours. They will go to class with their friends, learn and sing, and run, run, run.

Our new school also has a well-organized system for active shooter emergencies. Your child has practiced this drill before. The front office will broadcast a code word that will signal all teachers to gather their students and exit the building immediately. They are to avoid the area where the shooter is, and direct the children to the closest and safest exit.

Our school has five main exits, one in each direction, with two to the south. But, teachers are encouraged to find any and all exits available, including windows. Once the children are outside, they are instructed to cross the field and over the hill to the neighboring park, and run, run, run.

Our new school’s system is based on research that claims it is safer for the school to empty out instead of lock down. You will receive a text message warning all parents to stay away from the school. You will receive more information about the children when it is available. One of the children will be yours.

Our old school also had a well-organized system for active shooter emergencies. A code word is broadcast on the intercom, which signals teachers to immediately barricade their door. The doors come equipped with industrial locks, but teachers are encouraged to bar them with whatever is available. Students are instructed to crouch below their desks and cover their heads. If the shooter has entered the classroom, the teacher is instructed to protect them with their bodies. Your child has practiced the drill before.

Our old school’s system is based on research, as well. It is the tried and true method, proven by hundreds of American school shootings.

I can’t decide which emergency system will work better for survival. Fight or flight.

All I know is, I miss our old school.

I miss our old school because, if my daughter were to get shot today, at least I would have been able to hug her goodbye at drop-off.

Roxanne Gray is a writer and mother of three school-age children, living in Salt Lake City.