Confession time...
I have been in a few REAL emergency situations with students
-one hit by a car
-kids accosted by unfriendly types under the Eiffel Tower
-Kid mugged in Boston
-Kid broke window with hand bleeding profusely
-various cuts, scrapes, sicknesses
I have traveled THOUSANDS of miles with kids and ALWAYS brought them home safely
I have always managed to handle fire drills efficiently getting all my kids safely out of the room and to the designated safe zone...
But today I "killed" half of the Sophomore class...to be clear the half of the Sophomore class that was my responsibility to keep safe...
Today was my very first "Lock Down Drill" Sadly we live in a world where it is essential to know what exactly to do if an armed person were to suddenly appear on campus.
I was a little nervous about it and I knew it was coming but the kids did not and I was trying to time my lesson plan around the time the drill was to take place...
It was not announced as a drill - the announcement just said "we are immediately going into Lock Down." However, we did not want kids calling parents or dialing 911 so after I had bossed the kids around appropriately (Jill pull the blinds, Jeff turn the lights off, everyone on the floor against this wall and be quiet...) I quietly told the kids it was a drill and please don't dial 911...
We sat there quietly for 10 minutes which is like 3 hours in teenager time...and my time for that matter...
We were quiet as we heard the door handles rattle....we were quiet when we saw shadows of people passing by the outside windows...
But then there was a knock on the door...and I could see through my uncovered window (something that will be fixed shortly) that it was a Police Officer. He not only knocked but also said "the drill is over". So after checking carefully that this man was in uniform ( I could even see his holstered gun) I went to open the door...my kids told me not to do it but I said "its a cop it's ok!" Of course, as soon as I opened the door, Mr. Policeman told me I shouldn't have opened the door....to which I replied but your a cop!
Long story short I failed Lock Down drill...
Frychik
That's a great example of why we drill events! I hate drills in the hospital, but you always learn something and find somewhere to make it better. Were you thinking of me when you put in 'not kid' names? =) I need to meet up with you to get some signatures and I want you to see my living room!!
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