Janet Shapiro, Dean of Social Work, on Psychological Impact on Students of Active Shooter Drills
Janet Shapiro, Dean of the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, was interviewed in an article for NEA Today about the psychological impact on students of lockdowns, active shooter drills, and mass shootings. Shapiro discussed children’s vulnerability to anxiety, ability to cope, and the effects of news coverage of shootings.
From the article:
"One of the main things that affects kids’ ability to cope is whether they have faith in the capacity of the adults around them to protect them from danger," said Shapiro.
"Educators and parents should remember that they don’t have to experience it directly to have anxiety about it. Research shows that indirect exposure to a traumatic event, either through someone you know or someone you identify with, can have a major impact.
"We need to find that balance between allowing students to feel that the school is prepared and recognizing that kids need to be reassured once we raise their anxiety. The more holistic the approach, the better it will be for everyone."
Read the full article on the NEA Today website.