More Valentine's Day thoughts
Northern Illinois University is located just 45 minutes from us. Yesterday's tragedy struck very close to home. Getting ready for work this morning, I made a decision. Monday, I'm taking a baseball bat to work. It's the only weapon I can think of that might work. The way my room is arranged, there's a very limited access and a spot I could wait unseen should there be an intruder. My room is on the third floor, and right by the door is a closet in which to store/hid the bat. I think I'll have some warning. I hope so. It's all I could think of.
And I have to be more careful. No more going to school with a phone nearly out of charge. I have to keep my cell phone in my pocket. Not in my desk. Not back in the office. Not in my purse. In my pocket. Close at hand. Fully charged. Ready to call 911.
That's the tragedy. A school teacher with thirty 13-year olds in her charge has to think of what to do in the event that an armed intruder makes it to the third floor. What is this country coming to???
And I have to be more careful. No more going to school with a phone nearly out of charge. I have to keep my cell phone in my pocket. Not in my desk. Not back in the office. Not in my purse. In my pocket. Close at hand. Fully charged. Ready to call 911.
That's the tragedy. A school teacher with thirty 13-year olds in her charge has to think of what to do in the event that an armed intruder makes it to the third floor. What is this country coming to???
Just me and my Louisville Slugger. Never dreamed it could come to this.
8 comments:
So scary...
About the time my son was born (8+ months ago) I started thinking, "I can keep him safe at home, but how can I keep him safe when he goes to school?" It's so sad that I have to think of this.
*sigh* who knew, indeed.
come quickly, Lord Jesus!
This is so sad. How the world has changed. I think what is happening in our schools is a direct result of teaching evolution and kicking God out of the schools. If human life was started this way, it has no value and of course people are going to do whatever they think benefits them. There will be no consequences, no God to judge them. No reason to do what's right.
When I came to your blog I intended to comment on your comment about my Brighton jewelry. Then I read your post and got to thinking about that. I have two Brighton watches. One is all silver. The other has a leather reversible band, black on one side, brown on the other. Obviously I love Brighton.
PJ, thanks for your comment on my blog. My husband has been a teacher for many years, and I have the utmost respect and admiration for teachers. You truly have a calling. It's sad that teachers now have to face the very real worry of danger to themselves and their students!
What a shame. The university is 35minutes west of me. So scary, and what a shame for a teacher to feel the need to bring a baseball bat to school. I fear for my children in school and all the years they all still have yet to go, more now than ever.
You know, you could just carry that bat around with you and sort of slap it in your palm as you walk amongst the students...it would look intimidating and might motivate them to behave...
Just kidding!!
I'm sorry PJ, I shouldn't make light of it. When I was teaching, we had to practice emergency evacuation in case there was a bomb threat. I also remember formulating a plan in case there was an intruder. We even had special code words that would be spoken over the intercom in case there was such a situation.
I remember when 9/11 happened, I watched it in the school library while my kids were in P.E. It was so hard to go back to the classroom and carry on as nothing happened, the elementary kids knew nothing about it and it was best to just leave it at that. But the next day...many of them knew what was going on. It was tough.
I like the bat idea!!! :) I just may resort to that!!! (Just kidding!)
I was teaching on 9/11 also. But ...we were in a staff meeting. School hadn't started yet. Some of our kids saw it minutes before school started. It was a tough, tough day.
I was also teaching the day the Challenger exploded! That was another difficult day. Emotional, but sad, not frightened.
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