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My humorous thoughts about life.

"My Humorous and Helpful Thoughts About Teaching / Educational Resources for Your Classroom / Music and Random Fun"

Friday, April 12, 2013

#AtoZ: K - Kids And A Lockdown - Not Funny

I failed the lockdown at school last week. This drill is meant to teach us what to do if a gunman enters the building. While I flushed a toilet, someone said, "Lockdown," over the intercom. All doors slammed shut and locked to keep intruders out. Of course, I didn't hear the announcement and wandered carefree down the quiet hall. When I saw my administrator, I said, "Oh. I see you changed shoes," because earlier that day, she wore adorable, yellow duck shoes for the rainy bus duty.

She said, "You know we're in a lockdown?"

I said, "No."

Next, I tore down the hall looking for a place to hide. Finally, I knocked on the nurse's door. Allison wondered if this was a test, but opened anyway and let me in. We had a delightful visit while waiting for the drill to end.

After the lockdown, several staff members and I chatted in the office. My administrator asked what I did. When I told her, she said, "You are casualty number one, and Allison is casualty number two." Then she spilled out the gruesome truth about school shootings. Apparently, crazies will grab a kid and have him or her knock on doors.  

"Let me in! Let me in!" 

It is our job to ignore the frightened child in order to save the class. How does one ignore a scared voice? Dear God, I pray I am never in that situation.

23 comments:

shelly said...

Dear God, I'm praying what you're praying.

Tweeted and shared this one.

Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly

Martha Jane Orlando said...

I pray you aren't, either!

Paula Martin said...

A sad reflection on today's society when lockdown drills are needed in schools. All we had when I was at school fire drills.00

Grace Grits and Gardening said...

Yikes. Funny and scary all rolled together.

Kellie @ Delightfully Ludicrous said...

God, times certainly do change. When I was at school all we had to worry about was the odd bomb threat.

Unknown said...

What a terrifying thought to even contemplate. :( Hope it never happens either.

Cattitude and Gratitude

mail4rosey said...

I would fail that test, I already know. And how horrible that we have to even consider it.

C Hill said...

Praying with you...because I would fail, for sure. I hate that this is the reality of our world today.

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

It would be a terrible situation to be in for sure.

Theresa Mahoney said...

What is the world coming to when we have to have these kinds of drills? Our schools are on heightened alert here. The police have received anonymous tips that there are plans to kill 20 students in 5 schools on Monday. It's just unbelievable that it's come to this.

I would fail the test. I couldn't bear not responding to a plea for help from a child.

Rowena said...

How scary, I didn't know you practiced lockdowns here in the states. That would freak me out too!

LA Nickers said...

Scary times! Glad it was a drill.

Visiting from GBE 2: Blog On page.
Hope you have a lovely weekend.

Petro said...

I also hope you'll never be in that terrifying situation. Considering the latest increase in gun shootings in schools that looks more and more like a pretty good chance (we're "safe" for now, our kids only use knifes so far)

Have a lovely weekend, Joyce.

Rhonda Albom said...

Wow Joyce, really scary stuff. Here is a virtual {{hug}} for you.

Anonymous said...

That really is scary.

Maurice Mitchell said...

That is scary, since I could never ignore the child cries. Can't they install peepholes? Foods for thought Joyce.

Unknown said...

That is awful and scary. I am facing the real thing Monday. Some crazy has threatened to shoot 20 random kids in one of the schools in the county. I am terrified to send my kids to school. I hate living in fear but I can not face a day without them in it either. It is serious business. The principals assure us that police men will be at school Monday and the schools will be locked down, but who knows. It is not a joke.

Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com

Suzy said...

I hope you are never in that situation too.

Cynthia said...

I think it's so horrible that a child hostage could be used that way.

I'm relieved that what you'd experienced was just a drill.

Anonymous said...

There were no lockdowns my first few years of teaching. It wasn't until later that there were drills or real ones.

stevebethere said...

Blimey that is frightening Joyce :-(

Have a good weekend :-)

Masked Mom said...

What a terrifying thought.

Anonymous said...

I failed a lockdown drill at my school too. They announced it and I locked the doors, turned off the lights and got the students in the corner. Then, it was taking way too long so I went over to my desk and did some grading. Of course the desk is close to the window by the door. They told me I could have been shot through the window. It was only a drill...