Every month at Cherry Hill East, fire drills are conducted with the intention of practicing procedures and educating students on how to respond in the event of a real emergency. New Jersey State Law requires this, stating that every school shall have at least one fire drill each month. 

But when teachers tell their students when there is going to be a drill, the entire reason behind why East implements them vanishes. The aspect of being caught by surprise is gone. The realism is gone. And what happens instead? Students grab their phones and fool around outside, treating it like recess.

Fire drills are meant to prepare students for unpredictable emergencies. When the element of surprise disappears, so does the effectiveness of the drill. Emergencies don’t come with a warning. There is no email being sent out to teachers, saying “Fire starting at 9:30, please exit the building calmly”. 

In a real situation, people need to think fast and follow directions to get out of harm’s way. When everyone is expecting a blaring alarm, how are students supposed to practice this? Students don’t take it seriously because they know there isn’t any real danger — and when a real emergency happens, that lack of seriousness could be costly.

Teachers might argue that warning students would avoid chaos from unfolding, or keep lessons from being interrupted. But that defeats the whole purpose, and is exactly what would happen if there were a fire. No one gets to pick a “good time” for a fire. Students need to know how to handle situations like these responsibly, without a warning.

Unannounced drills also help students develop habits beyond school. When alarms go off without a warning, you must respond quickly and carefully. These are skills that are valuable in any emergency, not just fires. The unpredictability makes the practice meaningful, rather than just an interruption in the school day.

East’s safety has always been taken seriously — and there’s a way to do that better. Teachers shouldn’t be spoiling drills to their students; instead, educate them on why they matter. Students need to understand that drills aren’t just breaks in the middle of class — they’re enacting real-life situations that could save lives and happen anywhere at any time.

If a real emergency ever occurs, no one’s going to get a warning. So why should the drills get one? Keeping them unannounced isn’t meant to stress students out; it’s about keeping them ready for anything. The best way to stay safe is to be prepared, and that only comes with practicing for the unexpected.