A few weeks ago the school district I work in experienced a severe weather event. This event was predicted the day before and the school district I work in could have cancelled school as a precaution. Instead they chose to keep school open. I have my opinions about this decision. This post will not be about that opinion. Instead I will focus on what it felt like to be “on the ground” experiencing the collateral damage of that decision.
Half way through the day...due to the severe weather that was predicted the day before, our school had to go into tornado drill mode. During this time the students are expected to go into the hallway, get on their knees, and duck down with their hands over their head.
They are expected to remain quiet. During a drill, the students are only expected to do this for about 5-8 minutes...the time it takes for a school of my size to get all of the students in this position. This wasn't a drill. We weren't practicing. The severe weather that the district I work for knew was coming...was here. This was the real thing.
The first few minutes were fine...my 9 and 10 year old students were trying to comply and I only had to remind a few of them that we needed to remain quiet. 10 minutes passed. Then 20 minutes. At about the 30 minute mark we were told that the students could get out of the tornado drill position and sit with their backs to the wall. It was at this point that the questions, complaints, and concerns, like cracks and leaks in the wall of a dam...started to come at me. “Why are we out here? Can’t we go back in the room? I’m hungry! Can I take my jacket off and sit on it? Can I go to the bathroom? Can I get a drink of water? Do my parents know what’s happening? Are my parents ok? I spent the next 30+ minutes attempting to absorb ALL OF IT!
I have taught for 30 years. I’ve been through my share of fire drills, lock downs, tornado drills and national tragedies. “On the ground,” in that hot, crowded hallway, in the midst of fear, anxiety, and discomfort my 9 and 10 year old students were AMAZINGLY cooperative!! I was so proud of them!
Educators and school personnel are called upon daily to do many things. And trust me...I know...we are NOT the ONLY occupation that has to endure these moments. Many of these “many things” go above and beyond the call of duty! As I sat with my students in the hallway, attempting to absorb “the flood” I thought...this all could have been avoided!