More than 4 million children endured school lockdowns last year, according to a Washington Post report based on a review of news stories and data from school districts in 31 of the country’s largest cities. Experiencing a lockdown can be extremely traumatizing for children, with some soiling themselves and writing what they believe to be their last messages to their parents. At least 61 percent of lockdowns in the 2017-2018 school year were related to firearms, according to the Post’s findings. School shootings are still rare, but lockdowns are now a hallmark of American education. While lockdowns can save lives, they can also inflict psychological damage on children convinced that they’re in danger. “We have very good data that children in proximity to frightening circumstances, such as those that trigger school lockdowns, are at risk for lasting symptoms,” said Steven Schlozman, a child psychiatrist and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. “Given the potential scope of the problem, we are in dire need of more information. How do we protect children from these issues?”
