http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/03/28/teache ... index.html

When I was a substitute (for one school year only), we were all instructed in an emergency or "lock down" to get under the desks, I think we were only supposed to first check to see if any students were immediately outside the classroom door who needed for safety to be brought it, then lock the door and turn out all the lights.

Actually, come to think of it, maybe we weren't supposed to lock the door, (I don't remember now), but we were definately supposed to hide under the desks, be absolutely quiet, and turn out the lights.

Nevertheless, I know this is going to sound cold, but wouldn't this woman have served her students better if she has simply followed protocol and gotten under a desk as well, rather than stand out in the open, praying aloud?

Am I alone, or did anyone else have that thought come to mind first when reading this?

I'm not saying she deserved it, but I'm pretty sure she was supposed to be under the desk along with her students. I'd speculate she'd be alive had she done so.

What a waste (of life). The article praises her work, but she wasn't of the right mind set to simply get under a desk? Seems Bizarre.

c-

I thought exactly the same thing. She seems to have been a wonderful person, but because she felt the need to openly pray aloud in this crisis, she is now a dead wonderful person. Damn shame.

Yes it is.

Thank you punkdavid, you are forever the voice of reason.

c-

I guess it's hard to say how people will react in these types of situations. You can be told time and again to do something a certain way during an emergency, but it can all go out the window when an emergency actually comes up.

If only Jesus would have kindly told her to shut the fuck up and hide under a desk...

It's just like they tell you:

God helps those who help themselves to ducking under the damn desk!!

I had to sort of explain that a couple of times when going through the "lock down" drill (like a fire drill, specific steps, etc.)

The kids asked, "Well, how does this help if the person with the guy or whoever the police are chasing are in this room?" And I had to tell them that, unfortunately, it actually doesn't help the one room, it's intended mostly to secure the rest of the campus.

His response to that was, "Well, what do we do in the room?" And I said, "Whatever your teacher instructs you to do, and if your teacher cannot instruct you, do what makes sense to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you". I got a round of "Well, I'd....." and "Well, I'd...." with all manor of brave and/or perhaps unreasonable scenarios. Ultimately, I explained to them that you don't really know what you will do when faced with such an emergency, but hopefully, that day doesn't come. That said, if you have any other specific questions, or concerns, you should speak with your Counsellor or with your Home Room Teacher, all of whom have much more knowledge and experience than you or I."

I know that was a bit of a cop-out, but it was the best I could do. The most likely scenario on the campus I was on would be that the school be "locked down" in the event that the police were chasing someone and they were cutting through the school to get away.... the airport and the city/county courthouse were within five miles of this particular school.

But you're right, you don't really know until the situation presents itself.

But getting under a desk is almost always a good move, unless there is a flood of course.....then you want to be on the desk, methinks.


c-

you have been talking a lot about jesus lately

I'm really not surprised that she reverted to her faith during a time of crisis, if you find fault in that I would take issue. I have no idea what I would do under a similar set of circumstances (though I am sure praying would have escaped me), perhaps I'd run for an exit students be damned.

She still could have prayed underneath her desk.

Now lets be serious, jesus doesn't exist. Maybe if the ghost of Quorthon had instructed her in the black arts?

Or she could have shit her pants and fainted in the hallway.

And yet I think that would have made more sense.

To me and you, yes. To a person of faith, no. Never allow reason to interfere with religion.

Have I?

Jesus Was Death Metal before Death Metal was cool.

*Makes bad Deicide joke*