School Stress Today

My school is kind of a stressful one. It's not any one particular thing, just everything. Not only did we have a lockdown recently, but the same day as the lockdown, someone drove their car off the highway. They landed a helicopter in the athletic field to airlift the person to the hospital.

The cops are always at the school and it makes alot of us feel safer--students included--knowing that we have someone there all the time. A girl told me that her ex-boyfriend was threatening her and her friends with bodily harm. I told her to make a report with the campus police officer. It helps, I think, that the kids already know him. Not only that, he teaches a law enforcement class that several of my students are a part of.

But when we see lights or hear sirens, the stress level goes up astronomically. Today there were lights by the side of the road as I got to school in the morning. I was really glad when I drove by that it wasn't anything to do with our students. But it ws the third time someone this year drove their car off the road and hit a tree in front of the school. Not a pretty sight for students to see first thing in the morning. Ouch, that must really hurt and he must really be hurting today. It reminded me of one of my students who got hit by a car last year in front of the school and was in a coma for several days. He still has a hard time concentrating and is no longer allowed to skateboard or play sports.

But Friday still turned out to be a good day. Things went smoothly with my high school kids. And the junior high kids finally got to have the Valentine's dance. See, it was cancelled because there was a threat on the internet that someone was going to shoot African American kids at the dance. It was probably smaller than it would have been without the threat and having to move it to a different day. But actually having it was a moment of healing. I let them give me extra stamps at the gate for fun--on both hands, then my arm and two on my face. I put my arm around the principal when I asked her how she was feeling after being sick. I felt really happy.

Stressful Times

Children and education has changed. Violence colors the way we look at things. Accidents happen. And one day this week, it all happened on my campus!!

I was testing a student on the piano when the principal came to the room and asked to speak with me. I thought I had done something wrong. I had just sent an email about a legal issue. But it wasn't that. My principal is a fair and forthright guy. He's always at an even keel, but he was clearly distressed as he informed me of some bad news. "The captain of the football team from last year was shot and killed visiting his uncle in the neighboring town." I covered my mouth because it was hanging open. How could this be? Two Mexican girls had been shot by some Black guys in another neighboring town just last week. Gangs seem to be everywhere.

"The news leaked this morning around nine. I don't even care about finals. Give everyone an incomplete. Counselors are available and if anyone needs to go, you can send them." I made a quick descision. "Dr. M, I don't think any of these students know, so I'm just going to keep it quiet. They can find out later." I looked on my students and thought, let them enjoy their innocence and sense of safety for just a little bit longer. This time its someone they all knew.

I was glad I had told my next class that I was not going to be having a final and that I would count it as a regular absence if they could get it excused with their parents. Wink, wink. It was easier for me if they weren't there because I have so much to do. Several students went home early anyway because they were in shock. I let any of them who wanted to use my phone to call home to be picked up do so. They needed to feel safe.

So much for feeling safe. The high school students left for lunch with a warning announcement to go straight home and not hang out at any other high schools. Meanwhile, junior high kids were stuck there for the duration of a regular school day. An accident on the highway had us keeping the PE field clear so they could land a helicopter to airlift the injured driver to the hospital.

If that weren't enough for one day, I discovered we were in lockdown when I sent a student to the bathroom. I stayed calm and called the office to find out exactly what that meant for us (I don't hear any announcements in my room) and if we would be changing classes. It just meant that nobody could go to the bathroom, something that many of these students wait until my class to do. The students, freaked out, of course. PE was cancelled for the afternoon, the gates were locked, and the students did their best to remain calm. I tried to make it business as usual so they would have no idea how scared I was.

Then I found out WHY we were in lockdown.
"Did you hear about the letter?"
"What letter?"
"Someone dropped off a letter in the office threatening to do a driveby on the school in revenge for what happened the other night."

One of my students said, "I hate this, it makes our town seem so ghetto."

I couldn't agree with her more. I just want an end to this senseless violence. Whereever people move to get away from gangs, the gangs follow anyway. When will it stop?