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00000177-ba84-d5f4-a5ff-bbfc9ac50000 WCAI is committed to airing local voices and stories. In addition to our news stories and sonic vignettes that air throughout the day, and our weekly features, we occasionally broadcast "slice of life" and "sense of place" essays from members of our community.

Pre-School Code Red Drills: How to Shepherd The Kids?

L. Lerner

JoAnn Nadeau is a retired pre-school teacher who is still wondering about the Code Red Drills being taught in schools. 

Eleven years ago I began teaching preschool in the public school. On a cloudy Monday morning, my kids settled in to our morning play routines. My students were 4 and 5 year old, and at that age, kids have vivid imaginations and believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and scary things under the bed. So when I gathered them together at circle time to talk to them about the school’s  code red drill, I didn’t talk about strangers coming into the school to hurt us, instead I talked about what we would do if there was danger, like a strange dog in our school.

I told them I would lock the door. I would turn out the lights, pull the shades and quietly, we all would hide behind the bookshelf. We would sit and wait until someone found the danger and took it away.

Suddenly we heard “code red” over the sound system. I locked the door. I turned out the lights and pulled the shades as my assistant hurried the kids to the corner behind the bookshelf. I sat down and a child crawled on my lap. Another child had his thumb in his mouth. “Shh! I whispered” no sounds.”  I looked around my room: glass windows lined the back wall. A flimsy lock held the door. I looked at the children and smiled to reassure them that everything was ok. When the Code Red was over, I handed out stickers and we headed out to the playground.

In the last few years, new proactive strategies for danger from intruders are being introduced in many schools across the country. While hiding and lockdowns are still in place, other techniques like making noise or throwing things to startle an intruder that gains entry to a classroom are also being taught. And running.  If possible, run as fast as you can to get to a safe place. Run Fast. I think about this, picturing little legs, running, little legs running fast. How would I protect them? Would I shepherd them in front of me? It’s a question I always asked.

A few months ago, I watched the kids from Parkland High rush out of their buildings, hands above their heads after an intruder with a gun got into their school. They looked scared and shocked. Some cried as they ran to safety. Parkland kids died that day. Parkland teachers died that day. But then the Parkland kids spoke out. They spoke in front of cameras. They talked about spending years hiding in their classes, preparing for danger. And then the danger happened. They spoke to the media. At rallies. They organized marches around the country. They said: No More. They said: find a solution or we will. We will vote for change.

The kids I taught in my first year are in high school this year. I told them it would be ok. I gave them stickers. In March, students around the country spoke up. I saw pictures of the rally in my town. I saw one of my students in the newspaper.  Once a fearless little girl, now a fearless young woman who helped to organize the rally in my town. “No More!” her poster read. I want to tell her to keep shouting, keep fighting. Don’t be quiet and don’t hide.