MR

If my kid was in that school.... there'd be one HELL of a lawsuit going on Think of the trauma these kids may be facing now and well into their future!


Teachers stage fake gunman attack on sixth-graders


From CNN: 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.

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 a 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 a teacher, I found this whole thing offensive. Every time something like this happens, the credibility for the honest and good teachers goes down the crapper. Here is another example of poor teacher (substitute) judgment:

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wir ... id=3170491

I agree the sub was wrong, but suing for $500K is just nuts.

Those of us who ARE honest and good are beginning to think other teachers are on crack right now. If I was, I'd be feeling much better....

What area these people thinking???? Good lord bring back the good ole days.

On the flip side, just think of one of those unsuspecting students were to actually have a gun and tried to play hero?

what does this teach the children? where is the point? i was too young to go through the "bomb" drills of the 60's.. but there was a point to getting under desks and the school had a plan at least.. folks think its successful to terrorize people that are already stressed, to get them to either calm down or to think rational .. it doesnt work... there is no Greater understanding with a drill like this,, only a year or 2 of counseling..

but why is this clear to us,, they , the teachers, didnt see it like this,, i wonder who else thinks this was a good idea?...

T-Bone wrote:On the flip side, just think of one of those unsuspecting students were to actually have a gun and tried to play hero?

Well that would teach the teachers a good lesson in not playing cruel tricks on little kids, wouldn't it?

LarryFromNextDoor wrote:what does this teach the children? where is the point? i was too young to go through the "bomb" drills of the 60's.. but there was a point to getting under desks and the school had a plan at least.. folks think its successful to terrorize people that are already stressed, to get them to either calm down or to think rational .. it doesnt work... there is no Greater understanding with a drill like this,, only a year or 2 of counseling..

but why is this clear to us,, they , the teachers, didnt see it like this,, i wonder who else thinks this was a good idea?...

That is what I don't get. As a teacher it would NEVER occur to me to do a drill of anything LET ALONE something so violent. When we do our "lockdown" drills at school, and the kids KNOW it's a drill, they get a little amped until we get the all clear. I can't imagine what it would be like if they thought it was real.

I agree with you, Carl... That lawsuit over showing a movie was just absolutely insane. I agree the sub was in the wrong. I subbed before I started teaching full time and I can assure you it never occured to me show a movie (teachers always had something for them to do), LET ALONE an R-rated one.

To quote T-Bone - WTF were these teachers thinking?!?!?!

I'll take the mud slings on here...........

Though I would be offended in the on set if
this took play in either of my kids classrooms, I ain't
so sure that I would be so heated as most.
Times have changed in our lives folks and more so
for our children's school life.
Hay-low folks, can any of you remember being scanned
for metal before you entered class?, I think not.
Maybe this is what needs to be lit up and educated on
in scare tactic form.
I can see sense in either argument.

Moon Beam wrote:I'll take the mud slings on here...........

Though I would be offended in the on set if
this took play in either of my kids classrooms, I ain't
so sure that I would be so heated as most.
Times have changed in our lives folks and more so
for our children's school life.
Hay-low folks, can any of you remember being scanned
for metal before you entered class?, I think not.
Maybe this is what needs to be lit up and educated on
in scare tactic form.
I can see sense in either argument.

yea , im big time out of the loop.. its a different world for sure,,may have to react to
things differently to get a realistic response,, but it would be one i dont get .. shoot , im too old.. i still believe and yes ma'm ect...

Moon Beam wrote:I'll take the mud slings on here...........

Though I would be offended in the on set if
this took play in either of my kids classrooms, I ain't
so sure that I would be so heated as most.
Times have changed in our lives folks and more so
for our children's school life.
Hay-low folks, can any of you remember being scanned
for metal before you entered class?, I think not.
Maybe this is what needs to be lit up and educated on
in scare tactic form.
I can see sense in either argument.

I think you are right that kids, and even some parents, need to realize that their are scary things out there that can happen. Honestly, that is a good portion of the trouble I have with parents, they do not want their kids to experience anything bad (real or not) - i.e., no consequences for behavior, but I digress. If the teachers thought a drill that was more "realistic" was appropriate, I don't think a school trip was the place to do it. I realize that something like that COULD happen while they were there, but to work this thing up away their parents was not good judgment. In this sue-happy world (read the story on Brokeback Mountain), teachers have to think all the way through things.

Ms_M wrote:If the teachers thought a drill that was more "realistic" was appropriate, I don't think a school trip was the place to do it.

I agree fully Ms M, the tactic seems real like
but there should have been knowledge of it.
I can see why the need for intense attention
given our insanely violent and unpredictable society.
However the kids should be somewhat sheltered from
what violence can ensue in the days we live in.
I have huge mixed tingles here.

Moon Beam wrote:

Ms_M wrote:If the teachers thought a drill that was more "realistic" was appropriate, I don't think a school trip was the place to do it.

I agree fully Ms M, the tactic seems real like but there should have been knowledge of it. I can see why the need for intense attention given our insanely violent and unpredictable society. However the kids should be somewhat sheltered from
what violence can ensue in the days we live in. I have huge mixed tingles here.

Do you mean the kids need knowledge that these bad things can happen or the parents should have been aware of it beforehand? If they were going to do something like this at school, parental notification would have been wise. Of course, some parents would spill the beans when it would be easier to just refuse to let their kids participate. You get into logistics, etc. It would be a pain in the butt.

I so agree with you - kids should definitely be sheltered from some things - I have kids that know and have seen too much. On the other hand, I have a student (about to go to 4th grade) that cannot tie his own shoes or wear regular pants because he doesn't know how to dress himself. Swear to God. So, as with all things, protecting kids can be taken to an extreme.

My ideas on this would have been to make light of this
early in the year then do it at the school on any given day.
Not sure if that shit flies where you folks are but here we get a general note
at the start of school year for the big stuff and the day before it
happens we get a note sent home.

Moon Beam wrote:My ideas on this would have been to make light of this
early in the year then do it at the school on any given day.
Not sure if that shit flies where you folks are but here we get a general note
at the start of school year for the big stuff and the day before it
happens we get a note sent home.

Y'all get warnings about drills? Amazing. The teachers barely get warnings on the drills. They want us to be doing our normal routine so we can react as we would if something were really happening.

It should have been told to the kids that this was a drill, sort of like a fire drill. In todays world, I see a need for this but to scare the kids was uncalled for.

Ms_M wrote:

Moon Beam wrote:

Ms_M wrote:If the teachers thought a drill that was more "realistic" was appropriate, I don't think a school trip was the place to do it.

I agree fully Ms M, the tactic seems real like but there should have been knowledge of it. I can see why the need for intense attention given our insanely violent and unpredictable society. However the kids should be somewhat sheltered from
what violence can ensue in the days we live in. I have huge mixed tingles here.

Do you mean the kids need knowledge that these bad things can happen or the parents should have been aware of it beforehand? If they were going to do something like this at school, parental notification would have been wise. Of course, some parents would spill the beans when it would be easier to just refuse to let their kids participate. You get into logistics, etc. It would be a pain in the butt.

I so agree with you - kids should definitely be sheltered from some things - I have kids that know and have seen too much. On the other hand, I have a student (about to go to 4th grade) that cannot tie his own shoes or wear regular pants because he doesn't know how to dress himself. Swear to God. So, as with all things, protecting kids can be taken to an extreme.

Oh I sure hope you don't see me as a big soft like protector type.
I be the green goblin with mine and neighbour kids round here.
I was just opposed to the tactic being outside school grounds.

I am certain you are a great Mom, Moonie! Wish we had more parents like you who were tough on the kids and spook them a little. It is healthy for the kids to have some fear. Unfortunately, many in my neck of the woods do not. They fear almost nothing.

You are so right - off school grounds - BAD IDEA. I would love to know what those folks were thinking when they decided it would be a "good idea". Or what they were smoking....

Here come the judge, here come the judge.... Ok, it's not quite a judgment, but some punishment has been handed down.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3174331

Ms_M wrote:Here come the judge, here come the judge.... Ok, it's not quite a judgment, but some punishment has been handed down.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3174331

stop eatin' that fudge!! wow ,, aint thought of that in years..

LarryFromNextDoor wrote:

Ms_M wrote:Here come the judge, here come the judge.... Ok, it's not quite a judgment, but some punishment has been handed down.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3174331

stop eatin' that fudge!! wow ,, aint thought of that in years..

NO FUDGE EATING HERE. This ain't San Francisco. j/k

Escape79 wrote:

LarryFromNextDoor wrote:

Ms_M wrote:Here come the judge, here come the judge.... Ok, it's not quite a judgment, but some punishment has been handed down.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3174331

stop eatin' that fudge!! wow ,, aint thought of that in years..

NO FUDGE EATING HERE. This ain't San Francisco. j/k

Yes, we had to get under our desks in the 50's in case the Russians attacked. It went over our heads . I never felt scared. TV is different today. There are 20 times the TV stations on cable and kids may take them literally. Todays agenda driven, ratings driven networks while understood by adults may cause fear in children. These teachers are soooo overboard that I just have to find out in which state this happened .

LarryFromNextDoor wrote:

Escape79 wrote:

LarryFromNextDoor wrote:

Ms_M wrote:Here come the judge, here come the judge.... Ok, it's not quite a judgment, but some punishment has been handed down.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3174331

stop eatin' that fudge!! wow ,, aint thought of that in years..

NO FUDGE EATING HERE. This ain't San Francisco. j/k

What happened to the good old days when hot teachers would just have affairs with their students?

Awww Niggy.... and that would be none other than Ms Deborah LeFavre of Tampa, FL. We see her all the time....she is, indeed, a very attractive young woman...but extremely sick in the head. Acts like a teenager. Shame, that.

Liz22562 wrote:Awww Niggy.... and that would be none other than Ms Deborah LeFavre of Tampa, FL. We see her all the time....she is, indeed, a very attractive young woman...but extremely sick in the head. Acts like a teenager. Shame, that.

Sounds like you're describing most of us.

NealIsGod wrote:

Liz22562 wrote:Awww Niggy.... and that would be none other than Ms Deborah LeFavre of Tampa, FL. We see her all the time....she is, indeed, a very attractive young woman...but extremely sick in the head. Acts like a teenager. Shame, that.

Sounds like you're describing most of us.

squirt1 wrote:Yes, we had to get under our desks in the 50's in case the Russians attacked. It went over our heads . I never felt scared. TV is different today. There are 20 times the TV stations on cable and kids may take them literally. Todays agenda driven, ratings driven networks while understood by adults may cause fear in children. These teachers are soooo overboard that I just have to find out in which state this happened .

The "real" drill was in Tennessee. I don't remember where the movie thing happened.

I think we can act like teenagers without having sex them. I saw LeFave's interview on MSNBC - even if she is faking her illness - she is sick, sick, sick.

This whole thing scares the hell out me - my kids are still in preschool. I agree that some notice would be called for, the thought of a gunman is scary enough, pretending for there to be one would be terrifying. However, it's a perfect opportunity to talk to your kids about crazy people and violence and how to handle it all. Suing? Give me a fucking break. Everyone is so sue happy - like money makes everything all better.