Troubled Times We Live In
I remember being a kid back in the day, growing up gentle amidst the plains and the cornfields of Illinois, when the worst thing we had to worry about was the possibility of a tornado.
I never saw a tornado, I never saw the aftermath of a tornado, but our school did everything they could to prepare us kids, in case one of the devastating twisters should occur in our vicinity.
This involved having us "duck and cover" underneath our desks, for a period I recall as being fairly brief. The drill was done every so often, followed by the immediate resumption of our studies.
Times have changed, though, and these days the threats are darker, and much more ominous.
The most recent drill introduced at the elementary school where I work is called the "active shooter" scenario. Our response was later analyzed and discussed by an armed police officer during a staff meeting.
For this drill, which assumes a bad guy with a gun, intent on doing physical harm to those he encounters, we are no longer taught just to lock the door and cower in a corner.
Instead, we have been instructed to build a "fort," barricading the door with heavy bookcases, desks, chairs, etc.
Rather than grouping the children in one part of the room, we are instructed to spread out around the room. Older kids are to "arm" themselves with books, chairs, backpacks, or anything else which might be used as a weapon or to distract an intruder.
We even have the option of fleeing with the class out a fire exit window, at our discretion.
I'm glad we have been given these well-thought-out strategies. It's good to be prepared.
I can't help but feel a sense of sadness, however, at the dangers our children may one day be faced with.
"The times they are a changin'"
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That is so really sad, Кick.
Hope nothing of the kind will ever happen in your school. But people need to be prepared, that's right. :)
They haven't had any active shooter shelter in place exercises at my grandkids school yet rick but they should!.
Apparently they have calculated that it gives kids and staff a better chance of survival, Mike.
I remember those drills and I also share your sense of sadness. It is hard to understand what drives these people to kill. Not only one but in some cases so many.
Hope you are well Rick.
I would say ominous is a bit of an understatement if you are paying attention to the alarm bells ^^,
We still just lock the door cower in the corner in my school. Sounds like your school is more prepared.
We had a shelter - in emergency the other day. That means the threat is from outside. One of the high school kids had a knife and was on the street looking to carve up another kid. I hope they caught him.
It's very sad that we have to put our kids through these kinds of traumas. It has to affecting them emotionally.
They tried an experiment, where they put a bunch of balloons in a corner, and timed how fast a guy could come in and shoot all the balloons. It was much quicker than if the balloons were spread out around the room.
This is a very thought-provoking and soul-stirring post
Rick. I pray that in spite of all the preparation, that it wouldn't have to become a reality.
All the best, peace, health and success to you and yours!
David
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My youngest, who is in a special needs program, has had to practice these drills quite often. The scary part is that he has even had to participate in real lockdowns. not for a shooter on the school grounds, but because there was someone the police were searching for in the vicinity of the school.
I know my older children had to practice this when they were going to school as well, but I don't recall being as scared when they were doing it. I guess I wasn't afraid for any of them until I got a text about the school actually being locked down.
It does bring on a profound sadness.
Anita
PS How is it you grew up in IL and never encountered a tornado in any form, but I have lived my life mostly in GA and VA, but have lived through several? Funny. Never one at school, though, and that's where we were prepared to encounter one.
Hi Anita. I know there were tornadoes in my state, and probably in my county, but I just never saw any, that I can recall.
They can be brutal and fascinating all at once. You will see one structure demolished and the mailbox standing straight and proud.
Yes, they are very random in their destruction.