School can be stressful. Tests, homework, the fear of crowded hallways, crowded lunchrooms, crowded bathrooms… the stressors can seem never-ending.

But one thing students should never stress about is encountering an intruder at school with the intentions of harming us.

Since the Parkland shooting in 2018, there have been hundreds of copy-cat threats towards schools in the United States. Fortunately, most threats are false. Still even false threats are terrifying. The reality is the world is not what it used to be. School threats have become common stories on the nightly news. 

Recently on a routine Monday morning about ten minutes into class at Cartersville High, an announcement came over the intercom. The school was now on lockdown. Teachers locked doors and turned out lights. Students huddled in classroom corners with backpacks shoved out of sight. Some teachers even moved tables to block doors.

Turns out, no school threat was actually posed, but there was an incident that could have put students in danger.

An individual tried to rob the Dollar General located near the school campus. After his failed attempt, the would-be-robber sprinted towards the school.

CHS took all the necessary precautions, and the school was under lockdown in less than a minute. Throughout the stressful ordeal, everyone remained safe.

When interviewing students around campus, all talked about feeling safe and never truly feeling worried on that particular day. 

Sadly, in this day and age, threats and lockdowns are a common occurrence in the United States. That same week, two or three days later, a frightening post was spread across social media. It was a message of here-say about a planned shooting at CHS.

The post spiraled out of control and before long, numerous students, parents and faculty members had seen it.  Some students were afraid to go to school the next day.

Turns out, the post was not meant for Cartersville High at all. Regardless, there was a heavy police presence at all community schools the following day. 

When being interviewed about this incident, many students discussed the police standing guard and feeling safe as a result.  

The fact that the attack did not occur doesn’t diminish the fear that was in student and faculty hearts after learning of the threat. A school should be a safe place. Students should be able to get an education without feeling targeted or unsafe. 

Although the commotion of that week is still talked about, thankfully everyone was safe and both incidences are now a distant memory.