Active Shooter Lockdown

Parkland, High School Shooting, AR-15, Gun Violence, NRA, School Shootings
Temporary Memorial in Parkland, Florida.

Written by Dana, a Teacher, Somewhere USA.

I communicated with Dana last night via Messenger and obtained her permission to copy her post.  We both feel that people should know what it is like to be students or teachers in the present state of gun violence on school campuses.  Please share this.  These are her words.



Today in school, we practiced our active shooter lockdown. One of my first graders was scared, and I had to hold him. Today is his birthday. He kept whispering, "When will it be over?" into my ear. I kept responding "Soon" as I rocked him and tried to keep his birthday crown from stabbing me.

I had a mix of 1-5 graders in my classroom because we have a million tests that need to be taken.  My fifth grader patted the back of the 2nd grader huddled next to him under a table.  A 3rd-grade girl cried silently and clutched the hand of her friend. The rest of the kids sat quietly (casket quiet) and stared aimlessly in the dark.

 As the"intruder" tried to break into our room twice, several of them jumped but remained silent.  The 1st grader in my lap began to pant, and his heart was beating out of his chest, but he didn't make a peep. Eventually, the principal announced the lockdown was lifted.

I turned on the lights, removed the table from in front of the door, opened the blinds, and announced, "Let's get back to work. " I was greeted with blank faces... petrified faces.... tear-stained faces... confused faces... elated faces...and one "bitch REALLY?" face.

This is teaching in 2018. And no... I don't want a gun. #teacherlyfe

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