What would the Winnie the Pooh character do during a school shooting? According to a book distributed among students in the United States, the Pooh bear and his friends would teach them to run, hide, and, if there is no other option, fight the aggressor. This book, entitled “Stay Safe” and published by the security consultancy Praetorian, has been created in response to the frequent violent incidents in the country, especially in states such as Texas, where a tragic school shooting occurred last year in Uvalde, leaving 19 children and 2 adults dead.
The book features a red cover with the image of the popular Winnie the Pooh character and is accompanied by three key words: “Run, hide, fight,” which is the protocol recommended by the authorities in cases of shootings. It suggests that if there is danger, students should flee, close and secure their classroom doors, hide in a safe place without making noise, and, if there is no other option, fight with determination. The book’s illustrations show the characters Kanga and Roo wearing boxing gloves, with Piglet also prepared for combat.
The text also advises students, once the incident is over, not to react angrily and wait for a policeman or teacher to guide them. This approach has been used to prepare children in the event of a violent event, with the goal of providing them with tools to protect themselves in extreme situations.
However, the distribution of this book has generated controversy. Some parents argue that they should not “normalize” shootings and that it is not appropriate for bedtime stories to focus on how to react to a shooter. Although the book uses the original Winnie the Pooh images, created by A.A. Milne in the UK in the 20th century and copyright-free, it has been adapted with simple, child-friendly language with the collaboration of police officers and teachers.
This year, there have been more than 220 shootings in the United States, according to the NGO Archives of Gun Violence. President Joe Biden has urged regulation of the use of firearms, especially military-style AR-15 rifles, but this measure meets resistance in conservative regions of the country. The distribution of this book illustrates the efforts of communities to address the troubling reality of gun violence in schools and prepare students for emergency situations.