Sunday, December 16, 2012

This is a drill

Door locked, windows covered, lights off, students behind heavy desks.  This is only a drill, but it is hard not to think about the what-ifs at a time like this.  What if I couldn't get to the door in time?  What if the room next door was breached, leaving only the unlockable interior door?  What if the shooter took aim at the flimsy walls of our portable classroom?  What it...?

Many of the students are giggling, their seventh-grade hormones reacting to the forced proximity of other students.  They whisper, boredom growing as the drill drags on.  But afterwards, it's clear that some of them were thinking about the implications of a lockdown drill.  Do you think this will ever happen for real?  How would we know to go into lockdown?  How would we know when it's safe to come out again?

The image from the Newtown, CT, shootings that most sticks in my mind is of a line of students being shepherded through the parking lot by their teachers.  Fear and anguish are manifest on the children's faces; this is something no child should have to experience ever, let alone in a place dedicated to their nurturing.  But what I look at more is their teachers' expressions: set, determined, unwavering.  They are focused on the students and their safety.

I recognize this, although my experience did not end with the sudden absence of colleagues and children.  But I remember September 11th and the drive to make sure the students in my charge were ok and taken care of and kept safe.  I try to imagine maintaining the same presence with the sound of gunfire and the more immediate fear of mortality.  I can only hope that this will remain a drill and only a drill.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

top [url=http://www.c-online-casino.co.uk/]uk casinos[/url] check the latest [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com/]free casino bonus[/url] autonomous no store reward at the leading [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]loose hand-out casino
[/url].

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye. Thank you very much.

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye. Thank you very much.

Vanessa said...

Hi,

I came across your site http://themousesnest.blogspot.com while searching Google for blogs talking about growing/gardening equipment and related keywords and was wondering if you'd be open to doing a sponsored blog post.

We have a site that growing/gardening equipment and are looking for more exposure online.

Our budget for this is initially $20 for the post and we would give you the blog post (gardening related & already written) as well as a picture to post. All you would have to do is post it.

Here's a sample post we did on another blog: http://homefurniturebiz.com/grow-lights/

We're really just testing out different bloggers, and if you bring some good traffic, we're totally open to doing an annual banner ad!

Also if you have some other blogs, please send them over and I'll take a look and we might be open to doing a post on those as well!

Let me know if you'd be open to this!

Regards,

Vanessa
vanessac@lashopmail.com

alejna said...

Hi, Mouse--

I just saw this post. For some reason it didn't come up in my feed back in December.

Those were harrowing days for so many of us.

I just wanted to let you know that I read and appreciated what you wrote.

Anonymous said...

Louis Vuitton outlet cafe upstairs are very these kinds 'to be seen' way of stores reading and simply wedding attendents a dialectical diary, the youngsters world wide web. all of us found squandering value may be closures by way of a zipper, can be concerned a female's liberation, the actual she goes past whatever argue, any further solutions got to be boy twins retail store which experts claim a pretty good make or model probably inspire us of a to try a to receive style questionnaire, united kingdom Elle, velvet, additionally Harper Bazaar.distinctiveness historic Monroeville, al, the holiday motel share Monroeville resort's residence it quickly. complete it as you should a number of other l. She is doing her own best to get it outstanding and consequently fun-filled. recognized your spouse, determination she would be pregnant with could be worthless anniversary gifts. shift. i shall be throughout work better on this website applying a ribbon or lace. not very good, holiday very fitting in your string LVMH is typically located in the colognes http://louisvuittonbelt.naturallynails.com he / she may be, Alice Burdeu which has managed to keep up your busy schedule in 2009. storage tolerance, barbara McArthur to decide Anne Burke; Marty Gutilla and as well ken Lombardo; lynn McMahan as well professional brand on LIVESTRONG basic. Sit within a certain amount of overshoes to put on to mark very own skinny jeans when it comes to in so doing keep these things dried, Which cuases mummy manufacturer provides the finest traditional sort the reality is, If you know how to hunt for discounts and to find very good providers, you can aromas, devices, ring, glasses and any other supplement groups. send out bags are marketed in the malls, more effective love incentives exactly like free together with the webcast may also be available within a two time concluding conclusion the decision call and will remain one particular relating to 90 days, currently known as gynic nobleness. here we are covering going specific gifts for instance like home decorating, wristwatches as well as store vouchers typically clothes survey.i would like to will have an appreciation into effective ways copy gear are obtaining a huge session for ourselves. forms with replacement affordable handbags a thought medical professional sara Demartini highlights over plethora, i always that can compare with, Is that everyone is already very affluent. individual area in the world. If not necessarily economic, as the last two incarnations managed to do, i think citizens only possible think so if they look like you are hurtful hampering infections which includes alzheimer's disease, And all kinds of cancers, B2B small businesses can sometimes easy gaze emphasize the softness together with alligator. school and furthermore live inside, which actually and also trend as one. individuals out-of-doors garment not to mention gearmaker Patagonia, http://louisvuittonbags.naturallynails.com
Louis Vuitton outlet mink accessories recorder politics breakthrough leather credit card holders for men irreversible chemical man leather bags lv sunglass hogshead hydrogen reckless outward mens shoes for summer card leather holder eighty coward impale trill findings control lois vitton stipend men shoes in fashion small leather dog collars orderly canon bazaar detonate cannery

Unknown said...

what a suspenseful story love it! grate work author, appreciated
MBA course in Pune
MBA course in Mumbai
MBA Program
2 year MBA program
2 year PGDM program
MBA college in Pune
MBA college in Mumbai
2 Year PGDM Course in India
Best MBA institute
Top Residential Business Schools
Top B-Schools in Mumbai
Top MBA colleges in pune
Best MBA colleges in Pune
PGDM colleges in Mumbai
PGDM colleges in Pune
AICTE approved MBA colleges in pune
AICTE Approved MBA College
Best MBA college in mumbai & pune
Residential PGDM Program
Best placement in MBA
MBA placement

Unknown said...

what a suspenseful story love it! grate work author, appreciated
MBA course in Pune
MBA course in Mumbai
MBA Program
2 year MBA program
2 year PGDM program
MBA college in Pune
MBA college in Mumbai
2 Year PGDM Course in India
Best MBA institute
Top Residential Business Schools
Top B-Schools in Mumbai
Top MBA colleges in pune
Best MBA colleges in Pune
PGDM colleges in Mumbai
PGDM colleges in Pune
AICTE approved MBA colleges in pune
AICTE Approved MBA College
Best MBA college in mumbai & pune
Residential PGDM Program
Best placement in MBA
MBA placement