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Home Front: Culture Wars

Teachers stage fake gun attack on kids

2007-05-14

Hat tip Orrin Judd.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Staff members of an elementary school staged a fictitious gun attack on students during a class trip, telling them it was not a drill as the children cried and hid under tables. The mock attack Thursday night was intended as a learning experience and lasted five minutes during the weeklong trip to a state park, said Scales Elementary School Assistant Principal Don Bartch, who led the trip. "We got together and discussed what we would have done in a real situation," he said.

Of course, none of that included throwing stuff at the attacker and gouging his eyes out. Now that would have been a useful exercise ...

But parents of the sixth-grade students were outraged. "The children were in that room in the dark, begging for their lives, because they thought there was someone with a gun after them," said Brandy Cole, whose son went on the trip.

Some parents said they were upset by the staff's poor judgment in light of the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech that left 33 students and professors dead, including the gunman.

During the last night of the trip, staff members convinced the 69 students that there was a gunman on the loose. They were told to lie on the floor or hide underneath tables and stay quiet. A teacher, disguised in a hooded sweat shirt, even pulled on locked door.

After the lights went out, about 20 kids started to cry, 11-year-old Shay Naylor said. "I was like, 'Oh My God,' " she said. "At first I thought I was going to die. We flipped out."

Principal Catherine Stephens declined to say whether the staff members involved would face disciplinary action, but said the situation "involved poor judgment."

As Orrin sez, just what does a public school teacher have to do to get canned?

"A dead girl or a live boy..."

Posted by:Steve White

#6 I like the idea of the teachers having more in depth drills.
While I agree with most here that it was wrong to have a drill that the kids thought was real, I think it would be a good idea for the kids to have mock drills, but ones that they know are mock. We have fire drills, it would be good to have these drills for the kids to keep ever vigilant. To know how to best respond as far as what a lock down means for a school etc.

Posted by: Jan 2007-05-14 22:22

#5 The teacher was prepping the kids to be future anti-gun lobbyists and Democrats. What a Asshat!

Will the school be covering the cost of the psychiatric help these kids will probably need for the next 5 years?

It sounds like the parents were not likely told in advanced. I'm sure they would have put a stop to this.

I smell lawsuit.

Posted by: Delphi2005 2007-05-14 16:04

#4 This simulation might have been useful if perpetrated on the teachers, not 10-11 year olds. Many these cheese brains would begin to understand the merits of being armed and prepared. One teacher who can shoot straight and remain cool under the tension can eliminate a lot of pain and suffering for the kids. Normally just takes one or two well placed shots.

Posted by: Woozle Elmeter2970 2007-05-14 11:34

#3 Concealed carry for 10 year olds would nip this crap in the bud.

Posted by: ed 2007-05-14 07:39

#2 O'REILLY [paraphrased]> ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS ARE WORKING FOR DE FACTO US DEFEAT IN IRAQ + WOT.
DRUDGEREPORT > State of INDIANA recently conducted local response drills vv NUCLEAR-WMD TERROR.

IONews, FOX NEWS > Christopher Hitchens - All together now, wid feelings, GOD [ONCE AGAIN] DOES NOT EXIST.

Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-05-14 03:46

#1 Learning experience?

"So children, besides being scared out of your frickin' minds by your seriously deranged teachers, what have we learned today?"

Posted by: PBMcL 2007-05-14 01:22

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