treelizard

We had a lockdown situation at my school today, which was intense. I was stuck in my classroom with my rowdiest class for about three hours. They were released from school an hour and a half late. I did not know what type of lockdown it was because I only heard the announcement that there was a lockdown, and so I assumed it was the hardcore all-out lockdown and not the "soft" lockdown (which I didn't even know about). I covered the windows, locked the doors, turned off the lights and had everyone get down under desks and away from the doors. I did not talk or teach except that I spent the next hour and a half crawling around the room trying to get people to be quiet, to get and stay down, etc. One kid was stealing other people's shoes... only in 8th grade...

Sometimes the school has lockdown drills but the kids soon figured out this wasn't a drill because it "would've been over by now."

My classroom has two doorways both on the same wall and while I was positioned next to the door I thought was most likely to be entered, when someone came to escort students to take bathroom breaks he came in through the other door. I immediately ran over but it took about three to five seconds to get across the room, which is bad. When I heard noise by the door I was near I had gotten a desk ready, which I thought was the best tool I had available...IF someone got through that door. I also stood up when I felt it was necessary, which is against procedure but tough. When dude opened the door the first thing I asked him was whether or not it had been locked and he said it had been. *Whew.*

The kids were really scared. It is interesting because a lot of the tough kids were holding hands and praying or crying and some of the less tough kids were really strong and focused.... The really "tough" kids though were the ones who kept talking loudly and standing... Grrr...

One kid started having trouble breathing so I elevated his feet and just treated for ASR which worked okay. He said it was too hot so I went ahead and stood up quickly to turn down the heat. Don't want some kid fainting in my room during a lockdown. One kid had a headache so I used some acupressure which worked well. One girl *really* had to pee so I set up a little makeshift barrier with cardboard and took my paper towels and trash can over to the area. She didn't use it so I guess it wasn't really an emergency. One kid was really worried about the doors being locked and I promised up and down they were. He then was like, "You train in jiu jitsu right?" I told him anybody who comes through that door would have to get through me. Not much consolation if they have a weapon but I think between the locked doors and the desk I was about to throw at anybody coming through the door I could've at least put up a fight... except that darn two door thing!! I hopefully would've heard noise and been by the right door. Kids asked me if they could fight back if he came in and I said they could do anything they needed to.

I allowed kids to text but not call on their phones (due to noise level) and later found out you're not supposed to use phones during a lockdown. Oops. I still don't understand why. Also later found out everyone communicates via e-mail during a lockdown and knew when to turn the lights on (etc.) and request bathroom escorts. I kept mine off anyway just to keep the noise level down a bit... but the first thing I did was turn off the computer screen because it was a source of light...

The most disconcerting part for me was how hard it was to keep my class quiet. This is a problem I have with this particular class in general all year long, but I just feel like situationally it was terrible. If I was a dude with a gun I would go to my loud classroom first... I have always said I'd put myself in harm's way to protect children but I'd rather it not be because they can't keep quiet... I think they got that I was serious when they heard me swearing for the first time... but it was like pockets would talk as soon as I left. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr so frustrating.

I'm embarrassed to say I didn't have a stockpile of food or water in my classroom as I have been treading water all year trying to keep up with everything. I will certainly invest in that.

It's funny because we had a fire drill this morning and while I was able to quickly take roll and make sure everyone was present they did not all stay in the group and come back to the classroom. In fact I called 8 parents to let them know their students were late in returning and that I take fire drills very seriously. I had them all write letters about why they should, too, which I wanted returned back with parent/guardian signatures. We have had like three fire drills but no lockdown drills, not sure why. I'd only done a cursory reading of lockdown procedures and I remembered (and practiced) covering the windows with some paper I have that is like sticky paper but very huge to make sure it fit.

I guess what had happened was that some guy was pulled over and ran out of his car and possibly had a gun so the schools in the area were put in lockdown until the police lifted it. The entire school was secured, helicopters everywhere, the whole streets were blocked off and there was a lockdown in nearby schools as well.

The hardest part other than trying to manage 31 rambunctious 8th graders in a two-doorway classroom for hours and attend to their needs while thinking strategically was not having any information about what was going on. If I had known about the e-mail thing, that would've helped.

At some point I felt like there was no real danger but at another one I felt like it was palpable. I think it was just from hearing noise in the hallway. I immediately stood up and students wanted me to get down but... if someone comes through that door...if I knew which door...

Anyway, just some things to think about. Things I want to improve: NOISE LEVEL!!! and compliance with procedure, also my own preparation re: supplies in the room (first aid, water, food, emergency bathroom buckets, etc.). Things that went well: I think it took me a total of forty-five seconds to cover up the windows, lock the doors and turn off the lights. I'd already thought about the covering the windows thing but not since the beginning of August. Also I felt like I was willing and able to do what was necessary to stand up to anything that came into that room...but since nothing happened it's hard to say whether I really was. I *felt* like I was...

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DickHardman

crazy.

was the desk all you had?

might i recommend the spyderco military? its a large blade thats quite sharp and light. you would have no problem running someone through with this bad boy.....

bigboywasim

Knives are good but I do not think a teacher can have it at school. If weapons were allowed for teacher I would keep both a gun and knife.

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Ghost

wow, never heard of a lockdown before. sounds pretty intense, glad everything turned out ok for you though. not sure about the idea of a teacher carrying a knife.
why didnt the police sort this out quicker?

DickHardman

who said you have to let others know you have it?? carry it in your waistband or treelizard can carry it on her thigh high stockings and garter belts.

Tom Yum

Good thing no one was hurt and you made it out safely.

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