Search
The Lockdown Drill
It all started with Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999. Since then it's been spreading across America -- from Heritage High School in Georgia to Buell Elementary School in MIchigan to Santana High School and Granite Hills High School in California to Pine Middle School in Nevada -- and on and on.
Without explanation, suddenly, tragedy in what used to be a safe place -- the classroom. And since Columbine there have been countless meetings in school districts around the country. Steps have been taken to make our schools safer and to protect those who work and study there.
My old school, Stafford Middle School, is not unlike all the rest. In the past five years several changes have taken place. School doors are locked during the day, requiring a visitor, even a substitute teacher, to buzz the office for admittance. Teachers and other school personnel wear identification cards. Cameras have been placed in certain areas of the school with monitors in the main office.
A few days ago while I was the substitute teacher for eighth grade Spanish, Stafford Middle School held a lockdown drill. With the announcement at 1:34pm all lights were turned off, window shades pulled down and classroom doors were locked. All students and teachers went to a corner of the classroom and sat on the floor quietly.
During the time of the lockdown drill there was complete silence. The only sound I heard was when someone suddenly moved the doorknob of my classroom. For over ten minutes we sat in the darkness. The quiet time gave me the opportunity to recall further how times have changed.
When I was in eighth grade we weren't having lockdown drills. But we were having air raid drills. I remember that during our air raid drills we would get under our school desk, an easy feat in those days. On other days, the nuns would lead us down the stairs to the school's basement, a place we seldom roamed. We would crouch along the walls, and cover our head with our arms.
There would be complete silence. Except for the clattering of rosary beads as the nuns walked by, making sure we were protecting ourselves properly from the Russians who might be dropping bombs overhead.
As the sisters clattered by us, we could see their black shoes. It was easy to forget that they wore shoes, since their black habits reached nearly to the floor. We took our air raid drills seriously. Some of us had seen Rod Serling's episode of The Twilight Zone called "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street." If it weren't Russians then it might be martians who were out to get us.
My Dad took it seriously. We had a fallout shelter in our basement. It was actually my Dad's photography darkroom, but it doubled as a place of refuge in case of an attack on the city of Plattsburgh. It was well-stocked with canned goods and other supplies that we would need in case we had to isolate ourselves for weeks. He even had a can opener so that we would be able to get into those cans of creamed corn, peas and carrots.
The five Gagnons could barely fit into the little room, but my Dad felt good that he was prepared and protecting our family in case of some sort of invasion. We used to practice walking down the basement stairs single-file and going into the fallout shelter. My Dad would be the last one in and he would lock the door and turn off the lights. Somehow we survived such experiences without too many nightmares.
From air raid drills to lockdown drills -- we have always tried to be prepared for the unexpected. We have been fortunate in the North Country. Here's hoping that our lucky streak continues for a long long time.
Comments
If you are ever with me after a couple of Grace's pickled eggs and beers you would know why the nuclear shelter sign is still at OLVA.
Posted by: jim carr | February 5, 2008 1:25 PM
Kern, after" further review" you and Craig are in...The Donald and Sal are ooout! I figure we'll need you for some law enforcement,
and Mathews, he can kinda be our "Al Billups", with his expertise in barbering ... the way I see it we've already heard most of Sal's stories , (several times) and "The Donald" better hang back and protect the Federal Building!
Hey did you know the old OLVA school still has the NUCLEAR SHELTER signs up !!! It's true - ask Carr!
Posted by: The Carver | February 5, 2008 8:02 AM
I remember during the time they were building the missile sites, many people stocked their basements with food, blankets, and other supplies just in case the US was attacked. My children were small at the time and we practiced getting into the basement as fast as their little legs could carry them.
Posted by: June | February 4, 2008 7:28 PM
Mike O'Connor's father was head of civil defense for the City or the County, I don't remember which. "I remember that during our air raid drills we would get under our school desk, an easy feat in those days" ... you got that right, Foxy.
Posted by: Miney Rowlson | February 4, 2008 12:59 PM
Foxy, schools have been joined by other public places in preparing for disasters. I'm on the board of UFirst FCU and, NCUA, our regulatory agency requires all credit unions to have disaster preparation procedures as part of our board policies. I'm sure if you asked Mike Zurlo he'd tell you that there is a protocol in place for the Government Center (especially since they've had their share of bomb threats.)
Foxy, on another note, thanks for your comment on our UFirst board blog, the Boardcast. I think local blogs provide an added dimension to news and information from more traditional sources (no offense Press and WPTZ).
Posted by: Ginny Brady | February 3, 2008 3:16 PM
Kern,
I guess if The Carver doesn't want us we will have to go to the Super Secret bunker under Merons. I hear there is quite a collection of clear liquids that will allow us to withstand any catastrophe.
Craig Mathews
Posted by: Craig Mathews | February 3, 2008 8:59 AM
Craig? Did we say something to make Carver mad at us? He brought everybody else but us. I am hurt.
Hey, Carver!
Can we join you and can I bring my skis? 'Cause I bet when the disaster is over there won't be any lift lines at Whiteface!
It’s amazing to see a school go into a lock down. I remember being at the Plattsburgh Middle School or High School when we had bomb threats and we would all be evacuated into the parking lots. Now, a school just goes into a lockdown. Not because it's inconvenient to evacuate all the kids, but because we have to address the possibility of a secondary threat, a shooter or explosive perhaps, outside the school. Amazing times we live in.
The Governor has proposed removing the State Police's School Resource Officers (SRO's) from their respective assignments to be redeployed back into the general State Police rank and file. The priority is to allow for the strengthening of crime fighting and law enforcement initiatives such as Operation IMPACT. The SRO program has been one of the State Police's finest public relations programs EVER. The positive relationships, attitudes, and life changes that have been directly attributed to State Police SRO's is incredible. I know there are a number of school districts in the North Country that are lobbying to maintain the SRO program and looking for possible alternatives. Your support is appreciated.
The positive relationships forged with police make kids realize that it's not an "us vs. them" attitude when it comes to the police officers relationship with the community. A new found level of respect or admiration is mutually formed between the students and officers. Often times the results will mean kids thinking twice before engaging in risky or criminal behaviors. Ultimately, it's our community that is most effected by the cessation of these programs. Unfortunately, we may never know how much until it's too late.
Kern
(Foxy's note: Thanks for your expertise on this topic, Kern. And thanks for the heads-up about the governor's proposal.)
Posted by: Kern | February 2, 2008 8:58 PM
Lock downs and air raids...wow I too lived in the times when we practiced air raid drills.. if I remember correctly, we walked from St John's grade school into the basement of Hawkins Hall. I think they considered that our class trip for the year... I believe at the time we were led there by Mr O'connor, Mike's father... does anyone remember that ??
The big question today would be where would we go and with whom...
based on past blog info: I'd have to say "the chanting room in the old OLVA building might be one of the safest choices.. probably the best to lead us there because of their past experiences would be the combo of J Carr/ F Gagnon/and Bullet as they know the terrain better than most and from what I gather, they've already prepared the joint.
Others I think would be handy to have on hand in the event we had to go underground for a while would be: "W", "Tom-a hawk, Rubble and Old Timer for their wisdom and experience...
Probably oughta have Mike Brodi with us, as who knows the the workings of the underground layout of the city better than he
.Also included:
Alderman Calnon: what most don't know is he's the closest the city has to "McGyver" (can fix anything with any tool)
Mercurio and The Donald ..just for entertainment
Probably oughta bring "Goose" too for technical support
But most importantly you MUST have Don Woodward with you, nobody's more organized or prepared.. if you'll never traveled with him... he even lines up his snacks in alphabetical order!
Probably oughta have a few women too, but who?
Posted by: The Carver | February 2, 2008 7:19 AM