School was on lock down yesterday and DD

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I'm seeing a lot of assumptions that there was no drill, and I'm wondering where that was stated? Did I miss it?

I feel for your daughter, I truly do. I guess I look at it from the perspective that if missing recess or whatever the detention entailed could prevent her from being hurt or killed, it's worth it.

I know how scary these can be, but again, it is imperative that everybody remain quiet. We had a lockdown drill at the beginning of the school year that my mentor teacher forgot to warn me about. They came over the intercom and announced the lockdown and I swear my heart went into fifth gear. They do not call it a drill, the kids need to be able to do the real thing. We go over all safety procedure at the beginning of the school year and we are extremely clear in our expectations. I don't know what happened to the kids that were sent to the Vice Principal for not taking the drill seriously, but I'm sure there was a lunch detention or something similar involved. Whatever it takes to keep them safe. That is our priority.

 

[Piecey]

I agree. My wife is a teacher and that is exactly how lockdowns work. There is to be absolute silence.

I've been in several lockdowns and we were never told to be silent?

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I, too, after reading a few replies, can see both sides. My initial thought is what a crappy thing to do to issue detention... but as some have said, sometimes, life delivers hard lessons... and she had to know what COMPLETE silence means...

I, too am a nervous giggler. In 5th grade, a girl went into seizures after falling on the slip and slide at our 5th grade party...I was sent to get the nurse, and I honestly think I laughed when telling the nurse what happened. I still smile on occassion when there is bad news....just how I handle it I guess...

I am so sorry for your daughter... I feel the teacher did what she felt was right, and may be kind to her during detention explaining things to her.....and she's not mad, she' just wants her to know the importance of rules.....

 

[Keli]

I'm afraid both you and your dd were in the wrong IMHO.
Honesty, had there been an intruder in the school intent on harming children the consequences could have been horrible if her nervous giggle had drawn the intruder to their room. It's just a very important lesson that your dd should learn and I guess I feel like one detention during a recess isn't too severe and might help her learn that lesson.
Having said that I will say that I feel badly for your dd, that she was scared and upset. It's a dangerous world that we have to raise our children in nowdays and I feel like things like this rob them of their innocence.

 

[chager]

I understand your frustration, but the children really need to be extra quiet. It could be life or death. A giggle could be all it takes for the kids to become hostages or worse. Maybe you should work with her at home on how to be really quiet even in stressful situations. It may save her life someday.
(For instance the little girl that hid in her bed recently when people broke into her house. Had she made a sound she may not have survived the breakin.) A few years ago several schools in our area went into lockdown. A social worker went to a house for her visit during the school day. The father stabbed her to death and left for one of the kid's schools. Thankfully the Police had been notified of a disturbance and although they arrived too late to save the case worker they were able to call the school district and all schools went into lockdown. When the father arrived at one school he couldn't get in. It is my understanding he started around the school looking for a window that was open. If I recall right he went to the school of his 2nd grade son, but my memory could be wrong. It was imperative thst the kids in the school remain silent for their safety. The dad was arrested nearby and finally students could go home. The schools remained on high alert for several days though.

I am not discounting your DD was terrified. I am sure I would have been too. She does need to learn to control her reactions though. When my son was young we played "quiet game" to help him develope the skill to be very quiet when need be. My aunt was dating a psycho and although I didn't think he would ever come after us, he was also extremely mentally unstable so his movements could be hard to predict. He is also my DH's step uncle. (They met initially at our wedding. I tried to warn her!) Thankfully this person never came after us, but I made sure our son knew HOW to be absolutely stealthlike. Now that he is a teen he uses his skill to snaek up on me!! It also helped in that he was not nervous during any drills at school.
Give your DD some extra hugs.