I was just downloading some information on ethics and counselling when the librarian hurried up behind me and hissed “ Go to your classroom now “
She had chivvied several students ahead of her and Donna whispered “ It’s a lockdown “ into my ear.
We hurried into our classroom where the tutor closed the door and turned off the lights.
We were ushered into a corner of the room, away from prying eyes
Only then did we realised that it was a test.
Sadly all colleges , schools and University campus’ now have to have this training. Not only from lone gunmen but also from knife assault
I’ve just been looking at the stats
And they are worrying
That IS scary, John. What a sad world we live in where these scenarios are necessary. Gone are the days when it was just fire drill we all had to practise. Sigh. xx
ReplyDeleteA first for me, and I agree a sign of the times
DeleteThink how you felt doing this at your age and then think how kids in the elementary schools and high schools must feel having to do these exercises: Terrified!!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I don't have kids in school anymore, however, there is a step great grandson who is autistic ... I can't imagine how they might affect him!
I wonder if kids just cope because it is normalised and just part of fire drills and the like
DeleteIf this is frightening to a grown man, imagine how frightening it is to children? Here's a sad story: a mother took her son shoe shopping for school. She pointed out a pair of those light up, flashing shoes that small kids so love. He nixed them right away and his reasoning was, "If I have to run and hide, those shoes will make me easy to find." A child, a third grade child.
ReplyDeleteI’m not sure if that’s true Debby, for some I think, of course it would be, but if it’s normalised , then perhaps the kids will just accept it?
DeleteWhat do I know?
The kids understand why this is happening. What we learned, belatedly, is that when there was a school shooting, in my grandson's mind, everytime that he saw it on television, he thought it had happened again. So he was seeing a weeks' worth of media coverage as a different, daily occurrence. He was very nervous about the drills because he was seeing the possibility as far more likely than it actually was (and God knows the possibilities are not negligible.) When we realized, we explained it to him, but still, he looked at me with those big brown eyes and said, "I feel like it will probably happen at my school." He was in first or second grade. Now he's in middle school which has a real problem keeping violent students in hand and I find myself worried that he might have been right all those years ago...that it will probably happen at his school.
DeleteI remember when we use to duck under our desks for school drills. I didn't understand why we were doing it, so it was not scary to me. It was just strange. Kids know exactly why they are having these lockdown drills. I think that's the difference.
So glad I was brought up in peaceful years just after ww2 I can’t fathom what kids are going through now, so scary. I was a scaredy cat as a child. No wonder young people are drinking and doing drugs to cope. Gigi
ReplyDeleteI’m watching The Great British BAKE off…everything in the world is ok again
DeleteThis is why a friend of mine quit her teaching job. She said, 'I just can't bear to lead kindergartners through an active shooter drill.' What a world. I'm sorry the US poison has spread worldwide.
ReplyDeleteMaybe with reflection then US WILLone day change it’s guns laws
DeleteSadly, we don't appear to be a reflective people. It will be our undoing.
DeleteHow did it all come to this?
ReplyDeleteColumbine ….et all
DeleteEt al
DeleteOr Dunblane, Scotland, a mere few miles from my door and one of the worst... (Andrew S.)
DeleteWelcome to Student Life 2023
ReplyDeleteIndeed pat x
DeleteWe're told when we're having a fire drill or a lock down drill. Schools, unis etc should have the same thing when it's a lockdown drill. That was a drill you had and you should have all been warned that it was about to happen. People, especially children should not be made to feel afraid that something dreadful is happening unless it really is.
ReplyDeleteHow did Donna know it was a drill and you didn't? You were only told it was a test when you were in a dark and locked classroom? That is not how it's supposed to happen.
Right!? I'm in NJ, USA. We've watched various videos on what to do if you are in such a situation. Hide, flight or fight. What if folks didn't know it was a drill and fought back against the "bad actor"?
DeleteWe were out of class when it was called, I think the librarian told her, I knew for sure when we entered our classroom
DeleteWe knew something was afoot today because there were security guards visible during lunchtime , something I’ve never seen in University before
DeleteDisheartening to hear that we (the US) have exported another vile thing to the rest of the world.......
ReplyDeleteAt least we have strict gun laws
DeleteWe had these test lock downs where I worked. There was one time in particular where it was scary when the actor tried to open our locked door. It is so sad that it has come to this.
ReplyDeleteAn actor ? Employed or accidental
DeleteScary and sad
ReplyDeleteIt caused much long term discussion with the counselling group
DeleteAt least that is a positive result
DeleteA necessary evil these days. But a very sobering thing to experience. Always try to have a metal comb and your car keys with you. They make adequate weapons if necessary.
ReplyDeleteI’d squash anyone with a chair
DeleteJohn your attempt at humour wouldn't go down well with those who have lost loved ones during such an attack. Squash them with a chair? More thought needed before you give such a flippant reply.
DeleteJohn here
DeleteNo humour intended at all
I would fight with all my might to overcome a knife or gun and would use anything to help me fo it.
John
I can't say I blame them it's better to be well prepared than not. It's just a shame in these times we are accepting this as normal behavior when it doesn't have to be.
ReplyDeleteI guess terrorist attacks would seem more of a threat here than a shooter but I guess it’s a small world
DeleteYikes! Better safe than sorry but it's sad and wrong that the nice people cannot just live safely.
ReplyDeleteI went to school when we hid under our desks to "be safe" from nuclear attacks ...
Hugs!
Yes funnily enough I was just thinking of this phenomenon today
DeleteBloody hell John. I'm speechless to know what to say, except l had no clue this is happening. Neither grandaughters have mentioned anything about this, but maybe they just accept it as part of life now. How sad, Tess
ReplyDeleteIt was surprising to us, my counselling student colleagues are all older than the average student
DeleteThe first such drill is always the most disconcerting. Such wretched commentary of the world we live in.
ReplyDeleteAll of us standing out of view from the door , I think reflected seriously about how sad the whole thing was
DeleteOdd. I teach in a UK university (in Scotland) and have never heard of such a thing. Fire alarm test and drill is all we ever have (Andrew S.)
ReplyDeleteThis is the first of such lockdown events at our college campus
DeleteYes, I remember reviewing a school lockdown novel in book club last year and one of the women present was American and had experienced a school shooting firsthand
ReplyDeleteAll schools in our district are required to do lockdown drills ("active shooter") drills once a month. I feel bad for the little ones at the elementary school where I now work. It's a damn shame that things have come to that!
ReplyDeleteOur culture here is more knife orientated , especially with terrorist overtones
DeleteYikes, that was unexpected, not what I thought I’d read of your university days. Keep safe all of you. Noreen
ReplyDeleteFull of surprises …
DeleteSchool attacks and violence are horrific. All it takes is one (or more) angry person to do great harm. I do think about what drives such individuals and how warning signs were missed prior to the attack(s).
ReplyDeleteAbout twenty years ago I attended a management course. At the beginning of the session we were told the usual things about loos, fire escapes and what the fire alarm sounded like. The lecturer then proceeded to tell us what the bomb scare alarm and drill was. Our lecture room was above the County Courts. Very sobering and quite scary.
ReplyDeleteWhat sad times we are living in :(
ReplyDelete~Jo
Can’t imagine. I’m in the States and I understand that the youngest of our students participate in shooter drills. When I was a kid, I lived near Cape Canaveral and we drilled in fear of the Russians bombing the Space Center. It was a silly exercise. Now, School shootings are very real and very frightening for this grandmother.
ReplyDeleteWhat stats? Which country do we live in?
ReplyDeleteAh jeeze. I can still remember the "get under your desks and cover your heads" drills to "protect us from atomic blasts"!
ReplyDeleteIt is sad....but if it helps save lives overall, well done. Just sad that violence is almost to be *expected*, isn't it? The fear of it all is what is most sad to me.
ReplyDeleteSusan M
It was a sad event
ReplyDeleteWe have to do this at the primary school i work at, as the children are only 4 and 5 in our class we have to do this without frightening them so we make it like a game...bloody sad though....
ReplyDeletePlease always carry two door wedges with you. It may be possible to circumvent the lock, but it is very difficult to force open a door if it is wedged shut.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the reality of todays world. There’s no point in saying …’ in my day ‘ Some people had to cope with war , the plague, sent to the colonies for stealing bread. A. Lockdown trial is at least preparedness for what we all hope will never eventuate
ReplyDeleteWhat I really needed to say was that the American people have the "right" to own firearms so that they can protect themselves from a total government takeover and we would lose all our freedoms.
ReplyDeleteUnless you have drones and missiles, good luck with that. It was written when the guns people had were flintlocks.
DeleteOh what a jolly wheeze!
ReplyDeleteOh my, John. You have had quite the week. You are a survivor! I hope you are feeling better and you’re able to get a handle on the fainting. You are young and vital with so much time left to enjoy your travels near and far. Meanwhile your whole family - 4 legged included - and friends and school will be a support for you. You are doing fine.
ReplyDeleteThat reminds me of doing 'Fire Drill' at school; always in the middle of the night.
ReplyDeleteA dril and then a real event:
ReplyDeleteMy grandchildren live in a very rural part of California in the Sierra. They have had to go through active-shooter drills, which I find appalling. One day however, the school called a lockdown and the kids knew exactly what to do. My grandson was caught outside so couldn't get back to his classroom so hid in the restroom until the 'all clear'. Good for him! (In the end, we learned the lockdown was called because there was a bear wandering around the campus.) but the lockdown drill worked in this case .)
What a sad state of things.
ReplyDeleteIt hasn't reached here yet but we have the dubious pleasure of the protected rooms everywhere in case of missile fire.
ReplyDeleteMy office is in a secured building, one a limited access floor, with, fob access to the office space. Enough. The day they held the "active shooter drill" I arranged meetings outside of the office all day. I have watched the video training.
ReplyDelete