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Saturday, September 27, 2008

What is wrong with this world?

I went to pick Aurea up from school on Thursday as usual. No big deal, until I pulled into the parking lot and saw several police cruisers and five or so policemen standing at the front of the building.

Aurea got in the car and told me the school was on lockdown because the police were "chasing the bad boy." She is 6-years-old, so that is really all I got from her. The note home from the school explained it a little better, but here is the newspaper article on it (I've taken out the names of the schools and stuff though).





Posted on Thu, Sep. 25, 2008

Two (local) schools sent letters home with students Thursday following separate incidents: a brief lockdown after fourth-graders allegedly saw a man with a weapon and a high school student's "personal medical emergency."


______ Elementary School was placed on lockdown for about 45 minutes Thursday after some fourth-grade students reported seeing a man with a weapon as they were going inside after afternoon recess, according to a news release.


School district officials and (local) police determined the facility was safe after a search of the building and surrounding grounds. An investigation continues.


"We are very proud of the students who did the right thing by alerting adults to the situation and we want to remind our kids that anytime they have any safety concerns they should tell an adult immediately," said a news release from the school district.


Meanwhile, at ____________ High School, an ambulance was called after a student experienced a "personal medical emergency" Thursday morning.


The district said privacy laws prevent them from sharing more details, but said rumors that the students was a victim of violence or criminal activity are untrue.


Okay, the kids did the right thing by reporting the adult with the weapon. I'm also glad the school was put on lockdown so they could check for danger. However, the police stayed the rest of the day, well past 45 minutes to ensure safety. I'm also glad they were being cautious. What bothers me is that a man with a weapon would even be near an elementary school in the first place! It also bothers me that the school didn't call parents.

Some of my friends think I'm overreacting and can't expect the school to call every single parent in this type of situation, especially when no danger was found. That might be true, but it doesn't make me feel any better. Especially the parts about no danger found yet the investigation continues. What does that mean? Does that mean the man existed but left before being apprehended and could come back? The kids were out Friday for records day so should I worry about a repeat incident on Monday? Should I be freaking out or am I overreacting?

A similiar incident happened at an elementary school in Pensecola, FL on Wed. A high school boy was arrested in Oklahoma City on Tues. for bringing a gun to school.

Nobody seems to have these answers. I just know I don't like the situation and it scares me to pull up to my daughter's school and find cops everywhere!

The world is insane and it is extremely scary. Sorry if I'm overprotective, but I think I have reason to be. Something is seriously wrong with the world today.

3 comments:

Valarie said...

This gave me goosebumps. At the school my children go to, they have this phone system where they can record a message and then parents automatically get a phone call with the recorded message in case of an emergency.
It sure is scary sending them off eeryday. I hope things went alright today.

Unknown said...

WOW! That is scary!! We had 2 robbers running through our local high school with guns a few months back. That is just not a call you want to get (our district auto calls everyone when the schools in the area go on lockdown).

Damama T said...

Sending our children out into the world where we can't keep the safe is the scarriest thing we parents must do. The key is to make sure we don't pass those fears on to our children. As long as you aren't making them feel unsafe it's OK for you to freak out in private. Remember, that whatever they see in you will be magnified 10X in their minds. Teach them to be aware but not afraid.

I'm sorry you all had to go through all that. Hopefully it will never be repeated. xoxo