NationStates Jolt Archive

LINK (http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070513/COUNTY07/705130406)

Teachers' phony attack upsets Murfreesboro students, parents
Prank during trip had 6th-graders taking cover

By NATALIA MIELCZAREK
Staff Writer

MURFREESBORO — Parents of students at a Murfreesboro elementary school are outraged that teachers and an assistant principal staged a phony gun attack on their children, telling them repeatedly it was not a drill, while the children cried and took shelter under tables.

Sixty-nine sixth-grade students from Scales Elementary school were on a weeklong trip at Fall Creek Falls, a state park about 130 miles southeast of Nashville. On Thursday, the last night of the outing, the staff played a prank on the kids, convincing them there was a gunman on the loose.

A teacher wearing a hooded sweatshirt pulled on a locked door, pretending to be a suspicious subject in the area.

The students were told to lie on the floor or crawl underneath tables and keep quiet. The lights went out, and about 20 kids started to cry, 11-year-old Shay Naylor said. Some held hands and shook.

"I was like, 'Oh my God,' " Shay said Saturday afternoon as she recounted the incident. "At first I thought I was going to die. We flipped out. (A teacher) told us, 'We just got a call that there's been a random shooting.' I was freaked out. I thought it was serious."

Some parents said Saturday they were outraged, especially in light of the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech that left 33 students and professors dead, including the gunman.

Scales Elementary Principal Catherine Stephens held a meeting Saturday afternoon at the school to discuss the matter with a handful of concerned parents who contacted school officials Friday night.

She said she was saddened by the situation and that the school was handling it, though she declined to elaborate on whether the teachers involved would face disciplinary action.

'Poor judgment' blamed

Assistant Principal Don Bartch, who led the trip, said the entire scenario lasted about five minutes, after which the teachers gathered the students and explained it was a prank.

"We got together and discussed what we would have done in a real situation," he said.

Several parents said they were troubled by the staff's poor judgment.

"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.

"This was not a good experience," said Alisha Graves, whose son attended. "Those kids were crying, and they were terrified."

Brandy Cole said she found out about the incident shortly after her son returned home from the trip Friday afternoon.

"I was shocked," said Cole, whose husband, Jimmy, immediately sent an e-mail requesting a meeting with Bartch.

Barbara Corbetta, whose child also went to Fall Creek Falls with the group, said she spoke to several different parents and kept hearing the same details — kids on the floor crying and begging for their lives.

"The circumstance that occurred involved poor judgment," Stephens said. "My hope is that we can learn from this, and in the end, it will have a positive result of growth for all of us."

Shay and her mother, Niki Morris, said they forgave the teachers and wanted to move on. It "went too far because it was too gruesome," Shay said. "You'd think a teacher wouldn't do it, but they did. But they're great teachers. If (the assistant principal) loses his job, I will break into tears. He's the best assistant principal I've ever had."

Kathryn Sherrod, a Midstate psychologist who works with children, said she can see how kids could be traumatized by this, especially in light of the Virginia Tech shootings.

"That's too close to real," she said. "It's important for teachers and school administrators to realize they have a degree of trust with children. When you play a prank of that nature, you run the risk of losing that trust."

____________________________

...

Poor judgment?

This is fucking INSANITY! :eek:

How the hell could these people still have their jobs? If a kid did these, he'd be expelled, charged with criminal mischief (or worse), and sent to a psychologist... or prison.

Where is "Zero Tolerance" when it's bloody useful!?!

That's pretty funny.

No wonder more and more people are choosing home schooling.

Whats worse, if it happens for real, the children and/or some of the staff might not believe it.

I thought you were talking about Murfreesboro, NC...

Location aside, thsi is stupid. This is as stupid as the bomb threats my school and other schools in surrounding counties got immediately after Virginia Tech. Seriously, what the hell!

That's pretty funny.

No wonder more and more people are choosing home schooling.

Funny you should say that, I WAS home schooled. Started going to college at 16 and never felt even the least bit bad about missing out on "real" school.

One more reason...

While there should be drills that teach children to deal with these types of things, it was badly handled. The intention was good but the method was poorly chosen.

It could be worse. In a high school the teachers could've wound up seriously injured from kids attacking.

While I don't condone their methods - think about it this way:

They've learned a lesson that they won't forget any time soon.

If they had staged it like a firedrill (and we all know how well they work :rolleyes: ) then nobody would've reacted how they should?

If they had staged it like a firedrill (and we all know how well they work :rolleyes: ) then nobody would've reacted how they should?

Are you implying that the correct way to have a fire drill is to set the building on fire?

Funny you should say that, I WAS home schooled. Started going to college at 16 and never felt even the least bit bad about missing out on "real" school.

One more reason...

The only argument I can see for common schooling is the socialization skills that are developed there. Provided that a home schooler has plenty of extra-curricular activities - sports teams and such - I don't think there is any reason not to consider it.

Of course, you miss out on the good stuff like shoplifting porn and learning how to steal cars, but I doubt lacking those skills will really hinder one in later life.

LINK (http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070513/COUNTY07/705130406)

Teachers' phony attack upsets Murfreesboro students, parents
Prank during trip had 6th-graders taking cover

By NATALIA MIELCZAREK
Staff Writer

MURFREESBORO — Parents of students at a Murfreesboro elementary school are outraged that teachers and an assistant principal staged a phony gun attack on their children, telling them repeatedly it was not a drill, while the children cried and took shelter under tables.

Sixty-nine sixth-grade students from Scales Elementary school were on a weeklong trip at Fall Creek Falls, a state park about 130 miles southeast of Nashville. On Thursday, the last night of the outing, the staff played a prank on the kids, convincing them there was a gunman on the loose.

A teacher wearing a hooded sweatshirt pulled on a locked door, pretending to be a suspicious subject in the area.

The students were told to lie on the floor or crawl underneath tables and keep quiet. The lights went out, and about 20 kids started to cry, 11-year-old Shay Naylor said. Some held hands and shook.

"I was like, 'Oh my God,' " Shay said Saturday afternoon as she recounted the incident. "At first I thought I was going to die. We flipped out. (A teacher) told us, 'We just got a call that there's been a random shooting.' I was freaked out. I thought it was serious."

Some parents said Saturday they were outraged, especially in light of the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech that left 33 students and professors dead, including the gunman.

Scales Elementary Principal Catherine Stephens held a meeting Saturday afternoon at the school to discuss the matter with a handful of concerned parents who contacted school officials Friday night.

She said she was saddened by the situation and that the school was handling it, though she declined to elaborate on whether the teachers involved would face disciplinary action.

'Poor judgment' blamed

Assistant Principal Don Bartch, who led the trip, said the entire scenario lasted about five minutes, after which the teachers gathered the students and explained it was a prank.

"We got together and discussed what we would have done in a real situation," he said.

Several parents said they were troubled by the staff's poor judgment.

"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.

"This was not a good experience," said Alisha Graves, whose son attended. "Those kids were crying, and they were terrified."

Brandy Cole said she found out about the incident shortly after her son returned home from the trip Friday afternoon.

"I was shocked," said Cole, whose husband, Jimmy, immediately sent an e-mail requesting a meeting with Bartch.

Barbara Corbetta, whose child also went to Fall Creek Falls with the group, said she spoke to several different parents and kept hearing the same details — kids on the floor crying and begging for their lives.

"The circumstance that occurred involved poor judgment," Stephens said. "My hope is that we can learn from this, and in the end, it will have a positive result of growth for all of us."

Shay and her mother, Niki Morris, said they forgave the teachers and wanted to move on. It "went too far because it was too gruesome," Shay said. "You'd think a teacher wouldn't do it, but they did. But they're great teachers. If (the assistant principal) loses his job, I will break into tears. He's the best assistant principal I've ever had."

Kathryn Sherrod, a Midstate psychologist who works with children, said she can see how kids could be traumatized by this, especially in light of the Virginia Tech shootings.

"That's too close to real," she said. "It's important for teachers and school administrators to realize they have a degree of trust with children. When you play a prank of that nature, you run the risk of losing that trust."

____________________________

...

Poor judgment?

This is fucking INSANITY! :eek:

How the hell could these people still have their jobs? If a kid did these, he'd be expelled, charged with criminal mischief (or worse), and sent to a psychologist... or prison.

Where is "Zero Tolerance" when it's bloody useful!?!

Holy crap.

Holy crap.

I was expecting a "Lolz" to be honest.

But yeah, that's about the right reaction.

Haha, that's awesome.

I was expecting a "Lolz" to be honest.
Fine, then, I'll be the one to say it:
"lolz"

It was just a few minutes of panic, what are you all complaining about? The teached didn't even come in the building, just jiggled the handles and looked suspicious, if anyone should be censured it is the idiots who started crying just because the lights were cut out.
Pshah, I say! Pshah!

The only argument I can see for common schooling is the socialization skills that are developed there. Provided that a home schooler has plenty of extra-curricular activities - sports teams and such - I don't think there is any reason not to consider it.

Of course, you miss out on the good stuff like shoplifting porn and learning how to steal cars, but I doubt lacking those skills will really hinder one in later life.

I've never really seen any credibility in that argument - especially not from personal experience. My eldest brother has basically running his own business doing computer maintenances work from age 14, went to college and ended up the President of an Honors Society0. My other brother is dyslexic, painfully shy, and an absolutely brilliant engineer and thus would likely have been abused horribly in public school... As for me, most of my friends and acquaintances are 5+ years older then me, I get along with virtually everyone at school, and I run a community service organization on campus... Not exactly what you would call socially lacking.

Maybe we just got lucky (which I know isn't true); but frankly, I've encountered countless emotionally unstable kids with absolutely nothing good to say about the socialization aspect of high school. So yeah, I don't buy it.

Are you implying that the correct way to have a fire drill is to set the building on fire?
While that would be quite something - no!

Fire drills as I got to know them don't make sense because people usually know that it's only a drill.

Now, if I were to smell smoke or see flames... :D

While that would be quite something - no!

Fire drills as I got to know them don't make sense because people usually know that it's only a drill.

Now, if I were to smell smoke or see flames... :D

Well, we don't always know it's a drill, because usually at least once a year someone pulls the fire alarm as a prank, or else smoke in the cafeteria sets it off. And last week there was one that wasn't a drill, and we knew it couldn't have been a drill because AP tests were going on, and those aren't supposed to be interrupted. We stood outside for about 45 minutes and rumor spread that there was a fire. In actuality a power strip or something had fried and caused a lot of smoke, setting off the alarm.

Watch them get paid suspension while an investigation finds them not guilty.

Well, we don't always know it's a drill, because usually at least once a year someone pulls the fire alarm as a prank, or else smoke in the cafeteria sets it off. And last week there was one that wasn't a drill, and we knew it couldn't have been a drill because AP tests were going on, and those aren't supposed to be interrupted. We stood outside for about 45 minutes and rumor spread that there was a fire. In actuality a power strip or something had fried and caused a lot of smoke, setting off the alarm.

At my school if there's a huge fire drill it turns out to be a drug bust. My friends told me that last year they were outside for a very long time on a very cold day, and it was a fire drill and even the fire truck came. But it was a cover, because it was actually a drug bust. The freshmen last year though were fooled.

Also we had a lockdown drill a week after Virginia Tech, turns out that was a drug bust too.

Well, we don't always know it's a drill, because usually at least once a year someone pulls the fire alarm as a prank, or else smoke in the cafeteria sets it off. And last week there was one that wasn't a drill, and we knew it couldn't have been a drill because AP tests were going on, and those aren't supposed to be interrupted. We stood outside for about 45 minutes and rumor spread that there was a fire. In actuality a power strip or something had fried and caused a lot of smoke, setting off the alarm.
Mmh. Better safe than sorry?

Good for them. Those kids clearly need to stop being so scared of living, or of dying. The teachers showed them more life than they've probably had until that point.

Good for them. Those kids clearly need to stop being so scared of living, or of dying. The teachers showed them more life than they've probably had until that point.

I pray to God that you're joking.

LINK (http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070513/COUNTY07/705130406)

Teachers' phony attack upsets Murfreesboro students, parents
Prank during trip had 6th-graders taking cover

By NATALIA MIELCZAREK
Staff Writer

MURFREESBORO — Parents of students at a Murfreesboro elementary school are outraged that teachers and an assistant principal staged a phony gun attack on their children, telling them repeatedly it was not a drill, while the children cried and took shelter under tables.

Sixty-nine sixth-grade students from Scales Elementary school were on a weeklong trip at Fall Creek Falls, a state park about 130 miles southeast of Nashville. On Thursday, the last night of the outing, the staff played a prank on the kids, convincing them there was a gunman on the loose.

A teacher wearing a hooded sweatshirt pulled on a locked door, pretending to be a suspicious subject in the area.

The students were told to lie on the floor or crawl underneath tables and keep quiet. The lights went out, and about 20 kids started to cry, 11-year-old Shay Naylor said. Some held hands and shook.

"I was like, 'Oh my God,' " Shay said Saturday afternoon as she recounted the incident. "At first I thought I was going to die. We flipped out. (A teacher) told us, 'We just got a call that there's been a random shooting.' I was freaked out. I thought it was serious."

Some parents said Saturday they were outraged, especially in light of the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech that left 33 students and professors dead, including the gunman.

Scales Elementary Principal Catherine Stephens held a meeting Saturday afternoon at the school to discuss the matter with a handful of concerned parents who contacted school officials Friday night.

She said she was saddened by the situation and that the school was handling it, though she declined to elaborate on whether the teachers involved would face disciplinary action.

'Poor judgment' blamed

Assistant Principal Don Bartch, who led the trip, said the entire scenario lasted about five minutes, after which the teachers gathered the students and explained it was a prank.

"We got together and discussed what we would have done in a real situation," he said.

Several parents said they were troubled by the staff's poor judgment.

"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.

"This was not a good experience," said Alisha Graves, whose son attended. "Those kids were crying, and they were terrified."

Brandy Cole said she found out about the incident shortly after her son returned home from the trip Friday afternoon.

"I was shocked," said Cole, whose husband, Jimmy, immediately sent an e-mail requesting a meeting with Bartch.

Barbara Corbetta, whose child also went to Fall Creek Falls with the group, said she spoke to several different parents and kept hearing the same details — kids on the floor crying and begging for their lives.

"The circumstance that occurred involved poor judgment," Stephens said. "My hope is that we can learn from this, and in the end, it will have a positive result of growth for all of us."

Shay and her mother, Niki Morris, said they forgave the teachers and wanted to move on. It "went too far because it was too gruesome," Shay said. "You'd think a teacher wouldn't do it, but they did. But they're great teachers. If (the assistant principal) loses his job, I will break into tears. He's the best assistant principal I've ever had."

Kathryn Sherrod, a Midstate psychologist who works with children, said she can see how kids could be traumatized by this, especially in light of the Virginia Tech shootings.

"That's too close to real," she said. "It's important for teachers and school administrators to realize they have a degree of trust with children. When you play a prank of that nature, you run the risk of losing that trust."

____________________________

...

Poor judgment?

This is fucking INSANITY! :eek:

How the hell could these people still have their jobs? If a kid did these, he'd be expelled, charged with criminal mischief (or worse), and sent to a psychologist... or prison.

Where is "Zero Tolerance" when it's bloody useful!?!


What is wrong with people today? Honestly, when did all the Idiots and degenerates take over? From 'Creationism' being taught in Kansas to incident in which the teachers showed 'Poor Judgement'... I mean really, what is wrong with people today? The teacher's who were involved in this should be fired, and never allowed to teach again...

Good for them. Those kids clearly need to stop being so scared of living, or of dying. The teachers showed them more life than they've probably had until that point.

What is wrong with you? Can you honestly tell me that if some guy came to your school or where you work, you wouldn't panic? What makes you so hard? And furthermore, these were kids in junior highschool. And it was after the Virginia Tech shootings. You and these teachers make me sick.

Are you implying that the correct way to have a fire drill is to set the building on fire?
You know, it would have been nice if I'd thought to try that excuse in 4th grade.

What is wrong with you? Can you honestly tell me that if some guy came to your school or where you work, you wouldn't panic? What makes you so hard? And furthermore, these were kids in junior highschool. And it was after the Virginia Tech shootings. You and these teachers make me sick.

Of course I'd panic. But I'd laugh once I knew it was a prank.

I lol'd

Of course I'd panic. But I'd laugh once I knew it was a prank.

Sure you'd laugh after the fact...but still...It shouldn't have been done in the first place. But teacher's aren't supposed to act like this. This is something I'd expect out of a couple of guys back at school. Not out of grown adults charged with the responsibility of watching over someones kids.

Of course I'd panic. But I'd laugh once I knew it was a prank.

Would you if you were 11?

Good for them. Those kids clearly need to stop being so scared of living, or of dying. The teachers showed them more life than they've probably had until that point.

Pretty much...

I lol'd

I admit to a few as well ;)

Would you if you were 11?

Not I.

I probably would have pissed my pants, causing some health violation and the school would probably have sued my parents.

Would you if you were 11?

Probably. Though I'll concede my parents had no issues with censorship of violence etc. I turned out perfectly fine. Finer than those who're averse to this kind of thing, in any case. It was a joke. Take it as such or grow a humour bone.

EDIT: Attempting to shelter kids simply insults their intelligence.

I agree with shouldn't censor kids and hide reality from them but putting them through that isn't censorship. It's just mean.

It could be worse. In a high school the teachers could've wound up seriously injured from kids attacking.

Especially after they realize it's just Mr. Runnells the gay science teacher.

Especially after they realize it's just Mr. Runnells the gay science teacher.

:eek:

You see!!? Teh science devils and homozygous libralz have joint forceps!!

:mp5:

That's right parents! Your children are being forced to commit homosexual acts in science classes that teach evolution and deride Christianity by liberal communist homosexual atheist intellectual teachers!

Are YOU going to stand by and let this happen?!?

Especially after they realize it's just Mr. Runnells the gay science teacher.

That would probably increase the likelihood of injury, especially in the south...

Not funny. If anyone I knew was one of those kids, these teachers can spend the rest of their lives sharing fond memories of the time back in the day when they actually had legs.

Funny you should say that, I WAS home schooled. Started going to college at 16 and never felt even the least bit bad about missing out on "real" school.

One more reason...

why would you ever want to be a 16 year old in college?

Insanity? Thats taking it a bit far.
Not very smart perhaps, but not insane.

Not funny. If anyone I knew was one of those kids, these teachers can spend the rest of their lives sharing fond memories of the time back in the day when they actually had legs.

The best way to react! Awesome idea. Even though you don't know them you should do it anyway. Totally fix the situation!
Violence FTW.

why would you ever want to be a 16 year old in college?

Better late than never?:)

The best way to react! Awesome idea. Even though you don't know them you should do it anyway. Totally fix the situation!
Violence FTW.
Spoken like a true man.

*chest bumps, chugs beer, gnaws on slab of raw meat*
Better late than never?:)
Clearly.

Probably. Though I'll concede my parents had no issues with censorship of violence etc. I turned out perfectly fine. Finer than those who're averse to this kind of thing, in any case. It was a joke. Take it as such or grow a humour bone.

EDIT: Attempting to shelter kids simply insults their intelligence.
It's one thing to teach kids about the sort of violence that goes on in the real world, but it's quite another to make them think they might be killed at any moment.

The teachers should lose their jobs, though I doubt that they will. Teachers will always look out for teachers, regardless of what they've done.

The best way to react! Awesome idea. Even though you don't know them you should do it anyway. Totally fix the situation!
Violence FTW.

Exactly! I'm glad we're on the same page.

But in all seriousness, I'd still be pretty pissed. This is "poor judgment" to a pretty extreme degree. Those teachers should not retain their jobs.

It's one thing to teach kids about the sort of violence that goes on in the real world, but it's quite another to make them think they might be killed at any moment.

The teachers should lose their jobs, though I doubt that they will. Teachers will always look out for teachers, regardless of what they've done.

Not true. Teacher UNIONS will look out for other teachers. Teachers alone are no different than any other profession (unless you think your doctor watches out for other doctors regardless of what they do)

It's one thing to teach kids about the sort of violence that goes on in the real world, but it's quite another to make them think they might be killed at any moment.

The teachers should lose their jobs, though I doubt that they will. Teachers will always look out for teachers, regardless of what they've done.

How is this teaching them that they might be killed at any minute?! I completely fail to see how you can make the leap. It was a joke. The teachers explained it as such! The kids should've laughed it off and enjoyed the adrenaline buzz for a while then told fond stories of their exciting day to anyone who'd listen. They might've thought they were going to die during the event, but afterwards, they knew they were never in any danger. At the very worst they could become pissed and say it was a bad joke to pull, but even then, it in no way relates to teaching them that they might die at any moment.

How is this teaching them that they might be killed at any minute?! I completely fail to see how you can make the leap. It was a joke. The teachers explained it as such! The kids should've laughed it off and enjoyed the adrenaline buzz for a while then told fond stories of their exciting day to anyone who'd listen. They might've thought they were going to die during the event, but afterwards, they knew they were never in any danger. At the very worst they could become pissed and say it was a bad joke to pull, but even then, it in no way relates to teaching them that they might die at any moment.

I think he meant during the event, not afterward.

As in, they think they might be killed at any minute, when the event was going on. Not in life in general (though it is true *cough*)

I think he meant during the event, not afterward.

As in, they think they might be killed at any minute, when the event was going on. Not in life in general (though it is true *cough*)

Well in that case it was no different from a scary film except in terms of intensity. I'd kill to have an experience like that.

Well in that case it was no different from a scary film except in terms of intensity. I'd kill to have an experience like that.

That scares me.
In more ways than one.

You would kill to have an experience where you think you are going to be killed?

Actually, that might work.. assassinate a popular political leader, then wait in fear of the secret police. :)

Well in that case it was no different from a scary film except in terms of intensity. I'd kill to have an experience like that.
Actually it is a bit different, because in the scary film you already know it's not real. Anyway, you say how you'd love to have the experience, but you may end up feeling differently if it actually happened. You always get these people who watch hollywood action films, looking at the gunfights thinking "Wow, I'd love to do that", when in reality they'd be pissing themselves.

If a teacher did that to one of my kid, he better hope I don't run into him....with a baseball bat....a metal one.

Actually it is a bit different, because in the scary film you already know it's not real. Anyway, you say how you'd love to have the experience, but you may end up feeling differently if it actually happened. You always get these people who watch hollywood action films, looking at the gunfights thinking "Wow, I'd love to do that", when in reality they'd be pissing themselves.

Pffttt...amatures/amateurs(sp?)




I piss myself even watching those gunfights.

Actually it is a bit different, because in the scary film you already know it's not real. Anyway, you say how you'd love to have the experience, but you may end up feeling differently if it actually happened. You always get these people who watch hollywood action films, looking at the gunfights thinking "Wow, I'd love to do that", when in reality they'd be pissing themselves.

Of course I'd piss myself. But the revelation afterwards that it was all an elaborate hoax and I was never in any danger alleviates the fear and replaces it with relief. Relief + adrenaline = euphoria.

Of course I'd piss myself. But the revelation afterwards that it was all an elaborate hoax and I was never in any danger alleviates the fear and replaces it with relief. Relief + adrenaline = euphoria.

Either that or they'd think it was a horrible prank and the trust between student and teacher is lost forever.

I thought you were talking about Murfreesboro, NC...

Location aside, thsi is stupid. This is as stupid as the bomb threats my school and other schools in surrounding counties got immediately after Virginia Tech. Seriously, what the hell!

Not so much. Consider it: Had they known this were a "practice"(As the article seems to allude to) scenario, the children wouldn't have taken it seriously, and would react rather poorly to the situation. By not allowing the children to know that it wasn't real, they could more accurately gage student reactions to a real situation.

So... meh.

Either that or they'd think it was a horrible prank and the trust between student and teacher is lost forever.

Yes, either or. Neither should result in this level of outrage.

Of course I'd piss myself. But the revelation afterwards that it was all an elaborate hoax and I was never in any danger alleviates the fear and replaces it with relief. Relief + adrenaline = euphoria.
It's easy to say that now but it might not work like that in reality. I doubt that the average person would just be able to laugh something like this off as a harmless prank.

Yes, either or. Neither should result in this level of outrage.
I think it should. I don't think schools are just playgrounds for teachers to pull sadistic pranks for their own amusement.

It's easy to say that now but it might not work like that in reality. I doubt that the average person would just be able to laugh something like this off as a harmless prank.

Perhaps not. What I'm saying is that they should do.

Perhaps not. What I'm saying is that they should do.
Well I don't see why they should, as far as I'm concerned a prank like this goes way beyond the boundaries for acceptable behaviour.

Yes, either or. Neither should result in this level of outrage.

Children have the right to feel safe at school. The teacher violated that, they should have known better. I think it's fair for parents to demand better, and fair for us to voice our support fot that.

The teachers should not only be fired, but be punished by the law. They were trusted by the kids, the families, and the goverment. They were PAID for their trust. They broke it FOR FUN. They should pay dearly.

Oh, and not only that, but I would call what the teachers did "mental assualt", for the amount of emotional pain they inflicted upon their students.

The teachers should not only be fired, but be punished by the law. They were trusted by the kids, the families, and the goverment. They were PAID for their trust. They broke it FOR FUN. They should pay dearly.

Why shouldn't they lose their jobs?

Why shouldn't they lose their jobs?

Um, I just said they should...

Um, I just said they should...

Oh, sorry, didn't see that lol. I'm kinda out of it right now....

Oh, sorry, didn't see that lol. I'm kinda out of it right now....

Ah-so.

The teachers should defend themselves by saying 'I did it for the lulz'

The teachers should defend themselves by saying 'I did it for the lulz'

and the parents will use the same defense when the badly beaten teacher sues them.

and the parents will use the same defense when the badly beaten teacher sues them.

lulz

How is this teaching them that they might be killed at any minute?! I completely fail to see how you can make the leap. It was a joke.
Right, a prank. I might point out that if the kids had played this prank they'd probably all be excluded from school right now. I'd also point out that if a parent terrorised their child (unnecessarily led them to believe their life was in immediate danger just for kicks and giggles while their child lay terrified and crying under a table in the dark), for this kind of reason and with this kind of disregard, they could expect a visit from child protection services when word got out.
Children are not tvs, video games or joke books, they dont exist for the entertainment of adults. Adults dont have a right to exploit their authority in order to terrorise and traumatise children for their own perverse kicks and giggles.
Frankly, the behaviour described isnt merely unacceptable, in my opinion, it's criminal.

The teachers explained it as such!
After the event.

The kids should've laughed it off and enjoyed the adrenaline buzz for a while then told fond stories of their exciting day to anyone who'd listen.
You dont seem to understand that knowledge after the event cannot travel backwards in time to be of any help in preventing trauma occuring at the time of the terrorisation.

They might've thought they were going to die during the event, but afterwards, they knew they were never in any danger.
And so?

At the very worst they could become pissed and say it was a bad joke to pull, but even then, it in no way relates to teaching them that they might die at any moment.
No, at the very worst some of the children could suffer long-lasting negative impacts on their well-being. The incident in no way relates to anything the school ought to have been teaching the children, that much is clear.



Not so much. Consider it: Had they known this were a "practice"(As the article seems to allude to) scenario, the children wouldn't have taken it seriously, and would react rather poorly to the situation.
You mean unlike the very constructive way in which they shivered in with fear-wrecked sobs while they hid on the floor under tables in the dark?
By not allowing the children to know that it wasn't real, they could more accurately gage student reactions to a real situation.
I'm sorry but that is ludicrous. First the article makes it very clear that no one is claiming a drill, training exercise or simulation for the sake of annalysis. The consistent description of the event is of a joke, a prank.
In fact a claim of some higher training/information gathering goal is so silly I doubt those involved thought it would fly for a moment. Acceptable simulations of emergencies occur for two reasons. To gather information and to train.
Information - absolutely nothing could be learned from the incident that was not both intuitive (kids hide sobbing under tables) and already known or knowable.
Train - think about what the word means. It doesnt mean 'practise what you would have done if no one decided to teach you better', it means to teach information/skills/proceedures/what-have-you that were otherwise unknown. We dont do drills to find out what people would do, or to teach them to be better at doing it. On the contrary, the purpose of drills is to teach people to not do what they would (in the absence of training) have done, and to replace those behaviours with other more helpful behaviours.

Even though it may seem counter-intuitive, realistic emotional responses are counter-productive in a drill. The whole point is to get people to follow a proceedure at a time of stress/panic, but this is done by making the proceedure so familiar and emboddied, it is easy to repeat at will, regardless of one's emotional/mental state. To achieve this the proceedure needs to be methodically and correctly enacted numerous times. People are most able to to follow and learn a proceedure methodically and correctly when they are calm.

It's no surprise the teachers involved are not trying to pass their prank off as having some higher goal than a joke, because any claim of 'training/drill/to see what the kids would do' is just not believable.

"Children have a right to feel safe in school"

How can we make such a claim? Neither I nor you nor any of our children (if any) have a "right" to feel safe walking down the street! What the state offers is to make some effort to punish anyone who molests me -- it doesn't even guarantee to punish another who harms me. Let alone prevent it. Let alone prevent me fearing it.

Imposing a requirement like this "right to feel safe" which is unachievable simply puts schools in a position where they can only be wrong and never be right. Then they get sued out of existence.

Staging a crime is a crime in itself, I understand.

I was expecting a "Lolz" to be honest.

But yeah, that's about the right reaction.

I only lolz about DCD and Christian-fundie stories.

Not so much. Consider it: Had they known this were a "practice"(As the article seems to allude to) scenario, the children wouldn't have taken it seriously, and would react rather poorly to the situation. By not allowing the children to know that it wasn't real, they could more accurately gage student reactions to a real situation.

So... meh.

We had like one or two such drills when I was in high school following the Columbine shootings. We knew they were drills so we didn't feel like we had to be any different. We just went along with it.

If it had been real, we would have been ill-prepared given that you know a drill is just a drill and nothing real will happen.

I thought you were talking about Murfreesboro, NC...

Location aside, thsi is stupid. This is as stupid as the bomb threats my school and other schools in surrounding counties got immediately after Virginia Tech. Seriously, what the hell!

I didn't know there WAS a Murfreesboro, North Carolina. The only Murfreesboros I had ever heard of were in Tennessee and Arkansas.

I can understand a lockdown drill, but they didn't need to have the scary figure at the door.

Heck I went through a real lockdown when some idiot decided to do some target pratice within earshot of the school. Wasn't fun, but we got through it.

It could be worse. In a high school the teachers could've wound up seriously injured from kids attacking. In the above situation, I swear half the class went and grabbed whatever blunt object they could get.