The Feelings, Memories, and Cultural Impact of Active Shooter Drills
An immersive experience that explores the impact of active shooter drills on students, parents, teachers, and the general public.
Installations feature a series of booths where visitors undergo a Code Red drill, listen to teachers and students reacting to drills within their schools, and record their reflections on what they’ve experienced in the last booth.
“I think it’s a very powerful exhibit that talks about the importance of being developmentally appropriate with our drills.”
— High School Principal
“This exhibit is really intense. I don’t think these [drills] train anyone but the shooter…they’re unnecessary and a sensory nightmare. This was a really, really good eye-opener.”
— Heather
“I actually had to leave…I kept thinking about my five-year-old daughter and how scared she would be…that this is something that school systems are creating to give the illusion of safety is infuriating.”
— Nicolina
“[The installation] was very good and very informative. I believe in drills and think they are necessary. The number of drills is excessive, but people have to go through the motions.”
— Summer
This is Not a Drill is a listening installation that meditates on the impact and experience of code red drills in an active shooter society. Drawing on interviews and conversations with SOMA teachers, students, and parents, these voices shine in a series of booths that block out the visual noise of everyday life.
Quick Facts
Folks who believe drills are important for children argue that the skills save lives. But research shows that…
Students feel significantly less safe at school or in various parts of the building after school shooting drills.
90 Days
Students who participate in active shooter drills at school have trauma symptoms as far as 90 days afterwards.
23%
In the 90 days following a drill, concerns over health increased by 23 percent and concerns over death increased by 22 percent in students.
Active shooter drills that involve students may train potential shooters on emergency responses and give them an advantage in an attack.
After school shooter drills, there is a sharp increase in stress, anxiety, depression, and fears about death among high schoolers.
Want to Get Involved?
Visit an Installation
April 16 - May 28
Th, F: 6-8 p.m. | Sa, Su: 2-4 p.m.
1978 Maplewood Arts Center
Host or Partner Up
If you’re a venue looking to host an installation or someone who would like to donate, we’d love to partner with you.
Share Your Story
Do you have the story of a drill that you want to share? We’d love to hear from you!
