Dumb Idea Of The Week
Two years ago we had an emergency at my school. A disturbed man with a gun was shot by the police outside the school building.
In my room, all we knew was that there was a “code red,” which meant a weapon on school property. For all I knew, a shooter was in the hallways.
I turned out the light, locked the door, got my students in the corner behind my desk as best I could, and stacked desks in front of the door. I was ready to throw books at anyone who tried to come through that door--it would have distracted him until I could tackle him.
Although we found out afterwards that no one was actually in the building, the story of my barricading the room is now a legend at the school.
Posted by goddessoftheclassroom
10/21/2006 at 12:15 PM
GOTC: GOOD FOR YOU! At least you had the presence of mind and courage to think fast and do what you had to do to protect yourself and the kids. You’re my kind of teacher. We need more like you.
Good work, GOTCR
(blushing modestly)
Thank you very much.
As a matter of fact, I now keep a cricket bat by my desk. Our school has excellent security, nut I’m ready to defend my kids and myself if necessary.
My students tease me saying if I were ever taken hostage, I’d still correct the terrorist’s grammar and insist he say “please.”
Posted by goddessoftheclassroom
10/21/2006 at 02:18 PM
GOTC, you are a practical and reasoned woman. Consider getting a bit of training to effectively disarm an armed person, as we do in my Krav Maga (IDF training) class for civilians.
This would have two effects - 1) you can, as the motto of Krav Maga says, walk in peace, and 2) if you know it, you will probably never have a need to use it.
All this article shows is that the 9mm is a p.o.s. round and that this Crozier guy is an idjit. Far better to throw all the rat shit, bat shit and cat shit you can at an intruder than to stand there with “Earth In The Balance” hoping that Gore’s hot air will protect you.
Anyone’s natural reaction to a dozen objects hurdling at him will be to, usually for women, raise hands to protect the face as they duck away, or, more for men, to try to catch some of them. Either way, that’s when you rush the bastard and pummel him with said shit.
When the cops arrive, EVERYONE stands with hands UP, except the person(s) sitting on the intruder who raise their hands while sitting. One person, the teacher, talks for all, everyone else STFU. OBEY THE ORDERS OF THE COPS! They do not know who is a bad guy and who is a hero, so just shut up and do as you are told. They might even cuff everyone, but everything will be sorted out.
Finally, when the cops ask why the intruder is so beaten up, just tell them, “He fell down. A lot!”
Hurray for GOTC! Can we have 100,000 more teachers like her please?
Croziers idea has only small merit; Lt. Norwood is correct. One standard penetration test for bullets is to shoot them through stacks of damp newspaper and magazines. Bullets often penetrate 8” or more, some can go through 40” and still have enough power to break bricks. That’s what a real “high powered rifle” can do. A safe thickness of dry paper books is probably more than most kids can lift. Better to use the books as offensive weapons.
Interestingly, 8" of sand in a bag will stop just about anything. Maybe we should build sandbags around each desk, or equip each student with a thick sandbag bodysuit? Hey, that would stop them from running around in the classroom, that’s for sure.
I was going to say that utter lack of firearms knowledge is a lefty trademark, but that’s not the case here. People, if all you know about guns is what you see on the news and on TV shows, you don’t know a thing. Here’s a link to Varmint Al, a real expert in the field. This page tests a teensy little cartridge called the .17HMR. Warning, this site contains pictures of small dead animals, but not in a gratuitous way.
Another detail y’all will find amusing: I never shout at my students (well, maybe once a year when they’ve yanked on my last nerve), but when that code red came over the PA, I was barking orders like a drill sergeant.
Girl Scouts, my friend, builds leadership skills. Rickoid, your advice is excellent, and I will look into it. I do know one thing, especially after what happened to the Amish girls: I will always fight if possible.
Posted by goddessoftheclassroom
10/21/2006 at 05:32 PM
"Never go down without a fight” these are words to live and die by. How often have we seen whether at Columbine, Lancaster, Scotland, Russia, etc etc...these people that commit these acts are bent on killing people, period. Take a page out of flight 93 ...it won’t stop a bullet but your actions may just save you and or others.
Personally, I thought the school book thing was interesting. I saw the video on Fox and they were shooting it down, almost making fun of the idea.
I thought the premise was actually pretty good.
Make them step back. Toss desks, WHATEVER at ‘em!
DO NOT just lie down like sheep prepared for slaughter!
We need to teach our children to be pro-active! After Columbine, my daughter’s high school had drills about intruders in the school. They would shut off the lights, pile desks in front of the door as a barricade, everyone flat on the floor.
If they entered, they were to immediately start throwing things at the attackers AND windows, make as much noise as possible to throw the attacker(s) off guard.
They were to work toward the windows as an escape route.
A self defense class is invaluable.
My daughter and I took a class together.
We still beat up on each other on occasion. She may be bigger than me, but I can still take her down.
We do it outside, where we will not wreck the house. My neighbors think we are killing each other, which cracks me up. I am confident that we both could handle ourselves in a situation that required either escape, or the element of surprise, by going on the offensive.
God help an intruder if it occurs at my house! I am a damn good shot.
This fact frightens my hubby!
In Texas, if they are in my home, I can shoot ‘em dead.
I would do it in a heartbeat to protect myself and my family!Thats what i like to hear, cricket bat, the sound of ash on willow or what ever wood it is on a sunny sunday, good choice of weapon GOTCR, just make sure you knock em for 6 if they start, fucking hell im starting to sound like a right toffie nosed barstard, HIP HIP Horay.
Thanks, Bulldog. Not to worry: if I have to hit anyone with the cricket bat, he’s not getting up again without assistance.
And with all do respect, I beieve the expression is “the sound of leather on willow,” at least according to my cricket-mad brother-in-law.
Posted by goddessoftheclassroom
10/22/2006 at 07:06 PM
I talked to my students about this. We all agreed not to be executed like sheep.
Should, God forbid, this ever happen, I hope I’ll go down with blood from the throat of my attacker in my teeth.
If you’re going to die, take some of the bastards with you.
Posted by MAJ Mike
10/22/2006 at 08:08 PM
10/21/2006 at 01:56 PM
