Lockdown

Today we had a situation at school that we hope will never happen again. At least we were somehow prepared for it.

This morning we had a situation where a couple of students at Howard High School decided to bring a handgun to school. This took place during first block algebra, around 7:30. When a student reported the situation to the principal, she put the school on lockdown. That meant that we had to shut the blinds, make sure that all of our students that were supposed to be in our class were there (which they were in mine!) in the room. We were also told to close and lock the doors (which I did) as well as cover the doors and make sure the blinds were closed.

I had a group of 9th graders who thought that this was a game and decided to be loud and not listen to me or the co-teacher that was with me in the room. They also decided to get on the computer (there was only one in the room and they were not getting to my laptop!) and peek through the blinds.  They had no regard for either of us, despite our requests as well as the requests of the assistant principal and our athletic director, who had a radio, to keep the noise down.

We stayed in the room as per orders from the principal and some of them were really quiet and minding their own business. The rest decided that it was play time and some of them wanted to leave. This was not going to happen. We told them at least three or four times to sit down and be quiet. RUDE? YES! DISRESPECTFUL! YES!

Around 10:15, the powers that be determined that it was safe for the kids to use the restroom. I volunteered to help with that. What we did was take five at a time to the restroom with the reminder that there was to be NO talking in the restroom. Some of them did comply. While the toilets did flush, the sinks in the restrooms were turned off for reasons I don't know and did not inquire.

Around 11, it was decided that rather than the kids go downstairs to the lunchroom, we would bring the lunches to the rooms. It was also my planning period, so I helped with that to get away from the chaos that they chose to create. I don't know how the lunchroom staff did it but they got the lunches together faster than most fast food places. We took the lunches to the rooms and everyone was somewhat happy.

We finally let the kids go to their fourth block classes around 1:30. I was actually glad to see that group of people go. They were really, really, really rude and disrepectful and had no regard for authority period. Here was a situation that could have ended worse than it began and they were taking this as a joke. They also made some really stupid and snide remarks, such as when a student was called to the office, a remark like, "Don't get shot." That was uncalled for and I let them know by way of a note that I left their teacher. I also sent an email to their teacher as well as the principal about their behavior. From what someone had told me about this class, some of them were failing this course. I want to be a fly on the wall when they fail it and have to take it over and they have to explain to their parents. With regard to that, I am taking a Pontius Pilate approach and washing my hands.

Many thanks go to some people that made this possible. First to the students that chose to be calm and classy during the situation. Then the administation at Howard for making sure that our ducks are in a row as well as the Bibb Sherrif's Department, Macon Police Department and Bibb Public Schools Police and their dogs. Next to get cheers are the lunchroom staff. They were busy but they didn't complain. Then we have the teachers that took time to help with bathroom and lunch duties. Lastly and certainly not least is the person that could have chosen to ignore the situation but chose to step up and do the right thing and let someone know. That person doesn't know it but they are a hero (or heroine).  

It was a long day indeed. While it didn't start like I wanted to, I'll take the result and that result is that no one was hurt.