Ari Anita Miller: Kindergartener
When I got to school this morning, police cars were everywhere. Policeman walked around the building. Mommy walked me to the front door like she always does, but Mrs. Lockley wouldn’t let Mommy take me to breakfast. Mommy always walks me to breakfast, then we throw my trash away, and we walk to class. Mommy gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek before I go inside my classroom. Then she leaves and I know she will come get me after school and walk me home.
I was scared today. I cried because I didn’t want to stay. I wanted Mommy to take me with her. Policemen only come when bad things happen. I saw Mrs. Lockley pull other kids away from their families. They walked to the cafeteria alone…crying. I had always thought that Mrs. Lockley was nice, but she was so mean today.
“What if something bad happened today? What if scary clowns came to school? What if big kids started hurting people? What if someone shooted me?”
Suddenly, Mrs. Lockley pulled me out of Mommy’s arms. She told Mommy to go home and said that I would be okay. No parents could come into the school today.
“Ari will be okay because she is coming home with me!” Mommy said as she pulled me away from Mrs. Lockley.
John Ricardo Cardenas, 5th Grader
When I shuffled into the cafeteria for breakfast, it was unusually crowded. The strange thing was that there were no parents. Parents always bring the littles in, sit with them, make sure they eat, and walk them to the big room or class. There were no parents here, but no seats, either. All the tables were full of kids.
My friends don’t eat breakfast here. They just walk through, put their card in the basket, and go out to the gym until the bell rings. It’s easier for me to eat at school, and it’s free. I get here just in time to eat and head to class. However, this morning all of my friends were in here, sitting on benches with food trays pretending to eat. Cops stood guard outside and in the hallways. It felt creepy.
Normally after breakfast check-in, all of us wait in the gym with our class until the bell rings. Today, all of us were forced to get food trays and remain in the cafeteria. There was no room for all of us to eat; yet, we just stayed there crowded around tables, standing behind kids who were seated.
Something was wrong. My stomach knotted, and I was uncomfortable. I tried to eat, but my stomach churned. I just wanted to get away from the crowd. I started to go on out to the gym like I always do, but a very large male cop asked what I was doing.
I did not want to get slammed down and tased like my neighbor the other day. I wanted to ask him what was going on, but I was afraid?
Mr. Justin Heathman, Fine Arts Teacher
As I turned the corner to arrive at work, I saw more than ten police cars, lights blazing. Police officers patrolled the school grounds with dogs. “What the hell?” I wondered.
I seriously didn’t feel safe entering the parking lot! I started asking questions the second I caught up with another teacher walking across the lot. “Hey, JoAnn. what the heck is going on?”
“Didn’t you get the phone tree message? The school is on lock-in today because of some incident from yesterday.” Mrs. Kaden whispered. A kid’s dad threatened to shoot a bunch of teachers and kids today. She heard it from Mrs. Blackman, the intermediate science teacher.
“Why are we having school today? And how does Kara Blackman know?” I quizzed.
Shrugging, Mrs. Kaden replied, “I just think if they knew this yesterday, they should have closed school today? This is ridiculous for us to come and risk our lives and the lives of these kids so we can meet some ridiculous number of attendance days!”
I just wish I had called in sick.
Budpha Ibrahim, 4th grade refugee
We sat on the floor by our classrooms. Our teachers came after breakfast. Policemen watched us in the hallway. They told us to read silently, but kids whispered. The teachers did not get mad. They were as scared as us. It was like in my country when we hid under the floor when the soldiers came. I sat still and silent, my heart beating fast.
Mrs. Dodson, my teacher, took us to the classroom. She acted like every day. Kids asked questions. She said not to worry. We will learn as if it is a normal day. My friend, Kate, asked if we were practicing for school shootings. I did not understand. Kate asks strange questions.
We could not go to recess, music class, or PE. The police would not let us outside the main building. It was a long day. After school, they just walked us out and said, “Go home.” Policemen were everywhere. I felt panic. I wanted Mama. She waited by the playground to walk my sisters and me home each day. My throat felt funny, but I was not sick.
There is Mama. She is walking up the sidewalk to get me. She looks scared. I just want to go home and hide under the floor.
I go to my room and sit in the closet. Tabby sits with me. I read an easy book. Today was just like my country when war scares me.
Wanda LaPlount, Real Life Retired Teacher
Does anyone ever stop to think about whether they will die today from a gunshot? I have news for you. Children do. I was a career teacher. I spent 30 years in the classroom in New Mexico and Texas.
An event like the one above actually occurred in one school where I worked. It was terrifying, and I could not help but wonder why those in power did not cancel when they had been made aware of a possible threat the day before. How did it affect the lives of the families who came to school as usual to find a terrifying situation? Something must change. Our children are in danger and so far, we have failed in protecting the school environment.
Eclectra 