Chris in VA Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 Dd told me she had a lockdown drill at her school on Monday. We are very close to DC, so, really since 9/11, they have had these drills. They are a little disconcerting to me as a parent, but I don't have a big problem with them--they are like tornado and fire drills, and a good idea. So, she had the drill while in science class, and had a substitute (her teacher is pregnant and was out). The sub did not know what to do! The kids had to tell her--go to the back of the class away from the windows, pull the blinds, put something up on the window on the door (there wasn't anything--that was the teacher's fault, not the sub), and do not answer the door if someone knocks. The kids pulled the blinds, gathered in the back, couldn't find the door window blocker (I guess it's posterboard or something, normally), and THE TEACHER ANSWERED THE DOOR WHEN A PERSON KNOCKED! As my dd so eloquently said, "We could've all gotten shot and killed." Lovely, huh? I am calling the school today to discuss this with...someone. I'm not sure who to ask for; maybe head of security (they do have a security team) or the subschool principal. I am not "scared" or "worried," but I do think it needs to be addressed; I see this as an admin failure, not the sub--she should've been trained. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 Yes notify the school. You could call and send an email to both departments. They need to know so they can up the training. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted September 25, 2013 Author Share Posted September 25, 2013 I called just now. The security specialist was good about listening to my concerns and making a plan to address them. He also admitted that HE had actually made a mistake--at his old school (he is new this year at dd's school), the principal would get on the PA to say when the drill was over. He had someone do that, then realized there were still rooms on lockdown 20 mins later! That's because they DON'T come on the PA at dd's school--b/c a "bad guy" could be holding a gun to the head of the principal and making him announce the end of the drill! So they have a security person go around to each room--but I'm honestly not sure how that works, since they wouldn't be knocking...LOL--(It'd be funnier if it wasn't so serious...) Anyway, ITA that's what drills are for. What a world, eh? What a world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatHomeschoolDad Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 DW has lockdown drills regularly and absolutely hates them. Still, in her first school in rural MD, circa 1987, they had a real bomb scare and sent the teachers around to look for the bomb. DW was the band director, and found herself looking into tubas for....what does a bomb look like? Red sticks taped to an alarm clock? A black bowling ball shape with a burning fuse? It doesn't help when your main point of reference is the roadrunner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 We had to had one of these at a once-a-week preschool class through the local elementary school when my daughter was three. Nothing like having to explain to a preschooler that we're all sitting quietly in the dark because we have to practice what we'll do if bad men come in and try to hurt us. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 They block the window with a piece of cardboard...are they able to lock the door? Is there way to get out of a classroom other than the main door? Classrooms at my kids' old school had a door to the outside that was always locked, but available in case of an emergency situation where the main door was not a good option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 I loathe these drills. Since Sandy Hook DD's program has been fixated on them. And guess how many fire drills they've had? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatHomeschoolDad Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 One of DW's former principals used to stock cases of bottled water and cheap crackers in DW's room -- it's a big (relatively) band room with shelves at the back. I guess the idea was they could still have food and water during an extended shelter-in-place emergency?!? Yikes. I don't think any food is left, as the kids ate it all over the past few years. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 They need to add a step for the kids to subdue any unaware substitute teachers... I'm really surprised they haven't planned for the substitute teacher contingency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alef Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 I'm glad the school listened and made a plan to deal with your concerns. When I lived in Guatemala as a child, our school used to have coup attempt drills. If there was a military coup we were supposed to all cross the fields behind the school to a dirt road where presumably parents (but not the people organizing the coup) would know where to find their children). There were quite a few children of political and military leaders attending the school, and I think the concern was that the children could be taken hostage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Library Momma Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 We had to had one of these at a once-a-week preschool class through the local elementary school when my daughter was three. Nothing like having to explain to a preschooler that we're all sitting quietly in the dark because we have to practice what we'll do if bad men come in and try to hurt us. :glare: Yikes -Where I live they tell the younger kids that there may be a skunk in the building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamajudy Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 Speaking of having a supply of water, we've had actual lockdowns here when a bad guy was at large in the neighborhood. Kids needed to use the restrooms and couldn't leave the rooms. DH (a band director) prays he never has a lock down, which can last for hours, when he has 60+ kids in his room. The PE teacher has classes with 80 kids. Lord have mercy if he ever gets stuck in a room with them for an extended period of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 I think this does need to be included in sub training. You do want the kids to get to the point that they can do the drill no problem and maybe even explain it to the teacher -- although I do not want the teachers needing explanation from the students I just want the students to know it that well. That kind of automaticity helped some kids in the library during Sandy Hook. The librarian and an aid hustled a third grade class into store room. The librarian didn't know what to do then, but the aid then told the class "this is a drill" and the class got on the floor and got quiet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 The sub isn't blameless. The kids said what needed to be done. What the kids said was very reasonable. The sub did not follow what the kid's said. I think that the sub was just an idiot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted September 25, 2013 Author Share Posted September 25, 2013 They block the window with a piece of cardboard...are they able to lock the door?Is there way to get out of a classroom other than the main door?Classrooms at my kids' old school had a door to the outside that was always locked, but available in case of an emergency situation where the main door was not a good option. Yes, the doors lock, and there are windows on the first floor, but being on the second floor would mean quite a drop if they had to exit via windows.Speaking of having a supply of water, we've had actual lockdowns here when a bad guy was at large in the neighborhood. Kids needed to use the restrooms and couldn't leave the rooms. DH (a band director) prays he never has a lock down, which can last for hours, when he has 60+ kids in his room. The PE teacher has classes with 80 kids. Lord have mercy if he ever gets stuck in a room with them for an extended period of time. They have had a couple of actual lockdowns for bad people in the area. A letter is mailed to parents and we are emailed after the fact. The sub isn't blameless. The kids said what needed to be done. What the kids said was very reasonable. The sub did not follow what the kid's said. I think that the sub was just an idiot. I don't think the sub is wihout fault either, as there are written instructions in every classroom re emergency procedures. I don't know if the kids spoke up re the opening of the door or not, but as soon as she opened it, the security person corrected her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moxie Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 The sub isn't blameless. The kids said what needed to be done. What the kids said was very reasonable. The sub did not follow what the kid's said. I think that the sub was just an idiot. Have you ever been a sub?? There is no limit to the crazy things kids tell you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 No one said the sub was blameless. Everyone should know the procedures. By middle and high school students should know the procedures. I live in the same district as the OP. Every school is required to have 2 lockdown drills a year. The first must occur in September. Every elementary school has one fire drill a month. I think the middle and high schools have less fire drills. Students who have been going to school in the district since K should know all the procedures, because they have done it so many times. The sub should also have known all the procedures. Fire, lockdown and tornado drill procedures should be one sheet handed to the sub when he/she reports to the school for a job. That would be an easy way to handle the situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 Have you ever been a sub?? There is no limit to the crazy things kids tell you! I have. That is why I added the reasonable check. But if the class seems to be in agreement that you shouldn't open the door during a lock-down, and that seems like a reasonable rule, then you don't open the door during a lock-down. Regardless of training, or the lack thereof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2scouts Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 Our schools no longer encourage lock down drills. They are implementing ALICE training instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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