Schools Are Now Selling Bulletproof Panels For Kid’s Backpacks

Keep Reading ↓

It’s not uncommon to see schools selling a variety of different items, usually marketed towards parents as a means of fundraising.

From holiday gifts to cookie dough and even coffee – schools are known to do this. One school in Florida however has raised eyebrows with one of the items they are currently offering parents for sale.

These days we can’t seem to go a week without hearing of another mass shooting or terrorist attack in this country.  With the Las Vegas and Texas attacks so fresh in everyone’s minds, many can’t help wonder who will be next?

This may however,  be the most depressing thing you’ll read all week, but a Miami private school is now selling bulletproof panels that go inside your child’s backpack – to shield them from bullets.

This is rather depressing that we live in a world where our children and educators have to think about having bulletproof backpacks in school.

When I was a child in school our drills were all about ‘stopping, dropping and rolling’ in case of fire.

But nowadays, our kids go through lock down procedures in case someone unstable decides to shoot up their school! What a scary world that we live in.

A Miami private school now has a new product for sale that parents can purchase for their children, in addition to school shirts and winter gear.

According to CNN, The Florida Christian School is now selling ballistic panels to their students at a cost of $120.

George Gulla, dean of students and head of school security at Florida Christian School said that the panels, which are inserted in to a child’s backpack, would provide “another level of protection in the event of an active shooter.”

Gulla told the Miami Herald that he’d rather have more protection than less.

“It’s just a tool,” he said. “I’d rather be prepared for the worst than be stuck after saying ‘Wow, I wish we would’ve done that.’”

Gulla says that it was after running through safety drills with parents last year, where he explained that he instructs students to hold their backpacks against their chests, that one parent had an idea.

A Parent, Alex Cejas, founded and runs a body armour company, and after discussions with parents and school administrators made the ballistic panels available to the school.

“While books and stuff in your backpack may stop a bullet, they’re not designed to,” Cejas said. “I wouldn’t bet my life on it.” Gulla told the Miami Herald he’d rather have more protection than less.

Gulla says that the reaction to the product has been mostly positive.

“We thought, yeah, let’s offer it to anyone who wants it,” Gulla said. “It’s not required. But if it gives you extra peace of mind…”

Some feel that products like these aren’t doing students or the school any good. School security expert Kenneth Trump told CNN that products like these aren’t the ‘quick fix’ people think they are.

“The first and best line of defense is a well-trained staff and student body,” Trump said. “If you need a bulletproof backpack, don’t you need a bulletproof front pack, headgear, and bulletproofing the rest of your body down to your toes?”

He agrees that while these products are meant to give parents ease of mind, what’s more important is staff that is “well focused for a child-centered environment.”

Trump fears schools may be planning for the worst case scenario when other security issues, like children being picked up by an unauthorized person, are more likely to pose real threats.

“You’re bypassing grade school and jumping straight to grad school before you mastered the basics,” he said.

What do you think of these backpacks?