Date: 5/16/2007 9:34:00 AM
From Authorid: 63258
I thought it was completely inappropriate and thoughtless. I couldn't believe it at first.  |
Date: 5/16/2007 9:37:00 AM
From Authorid: 61966
I think that was totally wrong to scare those kids like that, who knows what was going through their heads. If they wanted to let kids know what to do in situations like that, then tell them..do some kind of skit but don't fool them like that. I think they should have told the parents or asked them if they could do that but I'm sure they didnt ask because..what parent would approve of it? *shakes head* Sometimes people don't think.  |
Date: 5/16/2007 9:41:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 28190
I thought the same thing KT. I've read another discussion about this on a news site, and was appalled at some of the comments on there. One was one of the mother's to a kid in this incident. She said that her child told her about how scared they were and that children were so scared that they were soiling themselves. They literally thought they were in danger. It made me, as a parent, very very upset that a chaperones of a trip would pull a stunt like this. If my child was there, they'd have to probably restrain me from trying to knock some sense into these people. *shakes head* Totally disgusted me. *hugs*  |
Date: 5/16/2007 9:43:00 AM
From Authorid: 62998
You know, with today's world, this is something that is long overdue. I don't feel bad for the parents or students, they have a right to know what is hunting them out there. What to do in certain situations, and who is your friend and who isn't. I'm sure this reply will probably anger a lot of people, but stop and think for one second, do I want my kids ready and prepared? or do I want them not ready and dead?  |
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Date: 5/16/2007 9:44:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 28190
BB, exactly. The fact that the parents weren't even aware of what would take place is very disturbing to me. I'd never consent to letting people that are supposed to be taking care of my child, turn around and scare my child almost to death. They surely didn't use their brains on this one. Had they, they would have taken into account as to how this would, in a long-term way, how this is going to affect those kids. We should be able to trust our children's teachers, trust that they'd never do anything to harm our children in ways that could traumatize them, especially. *shakes head with you* It's appalling. *hugs* |
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Date: 5/16/2007 9:44:00 AM
From Authorid: 64475
Hey Amanda, If this had been a class that my daughter was in, heads would have rolled..I can't imagine what would have went through her head, hiding under a table crying her eyes out because she thought she may be shot at any time. She would have wanted her mom for sure, and that would have broke my heart for her to go through something like that. What happens if the real thing should ever happen, and the teachers tell them it is not a drill? Whoever had the idea to do this should be chewed out good....I'm over my mad spell now..........allysmom |
Date: 5/16/2007 9:47:00 AM
From Authorid: 61897
Sheesh, that's prett crazy and stupid. What if one of the kids had a bad heart or something? Or if one of the students was strapped or bashed one of the fake "gunmen" over the head with a chair or something I think it would have been better and a lot smarter to just ask and discuss with the kids what they would do should something like this ever happen. Not actually MAKE something happen, that might not ever happen to them and tramautize the poor kids for no reason for life. What if it ever really happens and then the kids think it is fake again? Very stupid people who thought of this very bad idea and especially in such a sue happy time and country we live in.  |
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Date: 5/16/2007 9:51:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 28190
Demon, Although I do see the need in being prepared, this is not a way to go about it. These kids were out of their comfort zone as well. It's not like this took place at school. They were away on a trip, staying in cabins. Away from their parents and homes. They shouldn't have been scared so badly, that's not right. Not only that, but they were sixth graders, that's like what 11-12 year olds? (Maybe younger?).. Our kids do deserve to be taught what to do in a situation like this, but not in the way these chaperones/teachers did so. Then they call it a prank, not a teaching device. It was intended to scare the kids, not teach them. Can you imagine going through something like this and maybe having nightmares for the rest of your life. Or maybe no longer able to go camping because something like this happened? It's not a good way to be teaching, not at all. *hugs* |
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Date: 5/16/2007 9:54:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 28190
That's exactly how I feel Allysmom. It's outrageous, to say the least. I read about this yesterday on the local forum, and still am upset about it. I feel for those kids, and I hope they are able to recover from it. *hugs* |
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Date: 5/16/2007 9:55:00 AM
From Authorid: 62998
I understand where they were and what they were doing, still that doesn't change my view. How many have you seen Friday the 13th? They had no warnings? They had nothing to tell them there was an evil lurking about, but yes I know, were talking about 9 and 10 or possibly 11 year olds. Still I have to stick by my thoughts and say bravo to the one's who came up with this idea. |
Date: 5/16/2007 9:55:00 AM
From Authorid: 27534
Somebody Goofed.....Not a drill and it is a drill? Without parent notification? yep......somebody goofed.  |
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Date: 5/16/2007 9:58:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 28190
Chi, That's exactly what I thought and was going to mention. What if a kid had health problems that were unknown and literally was scared so bad that they were hurt or worse? You mirror my thoughts well. Not a good teaching tool, if you ask me. *hugs* |
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Date: 5/16/2007 9:58:00 AM
From Authorid: 64475
These kids should have been taught about the danger of a gunman through having drills, just like they do with the tornado drills. They do them all the time and the kids know what to do if they hear the warning for it. This was so uncalled for.....allysmom |
Date: 5/16/2007 9:59:00 AM
From Authorid: 62383
Now if a real thing happens the kids wont know if its real or fake.  |
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Date: 5/16/2007 9:59:00 AM
From Authorid: 62998
I think that would be the only place that they could have done better, alerting the parents to make sure they knew what was gonna happen. |
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Date: 5/16/2007 9:59:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 28190
Wise, yep. Somebody goofed in a really bad way. Not only did they goof, but it also made national media too. *hugs* |
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Date: 5/16/2007 10:03:00 AM
From Authorid: 64475
Demon, as a parent even if I knew they were going to do it, I would not have stood for it, unless my daughter knew it was a "prank" or a drill. These kids can be taught through drills what to do......allysmom |
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Date: 5/16/2007 10:04:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 28190
Demon, Friday the 13th, was a movie though. It's really hard to compare the two. This happened 1 month almost to the day after the Virginia Tech shootings. One of the nation's worst mass shootings, on record to date. These kids were not taught, they were traumatized. Then they find out it was a prank. What happens if they get back to school, and in a year or two, they have the real thing happening (God forbid)? They might take it as a joke, and not take it seriously over some over-zealous bad humored chaperones on a trip. That's what's really sad. My comparison is sort of like Cry Wolf, now that they've been terrorized over nothing, what happens if something did happen? *shakes head* |
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Date: 5/16/2007 10:06:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 28190
Exactly Allysmom, Kids can be taught without scaring them. There were kids crying, and praying, and wanting their moms or dads. There were a few that soiled themselves they were scared so bad. The teachers allowed this thing to go on for 5 minutes before telling them it was all a prank. Now to us adults, 5 minutes may not be that long, but remember back to when you were a kid and 5 minutes seemed to drag on. That's terrorizing right there, even in the event of a bad idea. |
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Date: 5/16/2007 10:12:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 28190
Mike, you and I are on the same wavelength. I think that's why this upset me so bad, besides the fact that the kids were scared out of their minds. Was that what if something were to happen and these kids wouldn't take it for real? That makes it even more upsetting. It's almost like backward logic, if you look at it. Instead of preparing them through drills, and with knowledge, scare them while joking, to teach them. It doesn't teach them anything but fear, fear that is real in this world, but fear in a joke way can be very bad. It can traumatize, cause nightmares, and all sorts of ailments, including if the real thing were to happen, they might think it's another "Prank drill". *shakes head* |
Date: 5/16/2007 10:13:00 AM
From Authorid: 64414
I agree with you AllysMom, the parents of these children should have been notified. I, personally, would have allowed my son to participate in the drill AFTER explaining to him that it was indeed a drill. I would explain t him why the school needed to do this and give him an opportunity to ask questions without the whole PANIC induced arena.  |
Date: 5/16/2007 10:13:00 AM
From Authorid: 63241
I see some lawsuits coming out of this. This was terrible with a strong possibility of traumatizing these kids.  |
Date: 5/16/2007 10:17:00 AM
From Authorid: 63026
It was dumb of them. Totaly Inappropaite. Especially when they said "It's Not A Drill"..Could you imagine what would of happened if the kids got seriously hurt, or if they get a traumatic experience from this. I hope the teachers are fired.  |
Date: 5/16/2007 10:20:00 AM
From Authorid: 3125
WHOA!! I would be one of the parents who would really come down on those staff members!! Such nonsense and so uncalled for! There are better ways to prepare our children for such a thing.  |
Date: 5/16/2007 10:22:00 AM
From Authorid: 16845
I would have been LIVID!!! That is NOT the type of 'drill' you do without proper notification first. I think it's a GOOD idea, yes, but VERY poorly executed.  |
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Date: 5/16/2007 10:23:00 AM
From Authorid: 16845
Ok 'executed' in a article about a shooting (drill or otherwise) Probably poor wording LOL You people know what I mean so no beating me |
Date: 5/16/2007 10:28:00 AM
From Authorid: 25390
I think that there are better ways to prepare children than to go that route. If anything, they should have discussed it with the parents first and handled it similar to how they do fire and storm drills. But NOT in this way, that was completely wrong, and I don't blame the parents for being upset.  |
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Date: 5/16/2007 10:54:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 28190
Reerun, exactly. I think if the parents knew, and the children knew that there was going to be a suprise drill, then they wouldnt have been scared. It would have definitely been better. But instead it was used as a prank, and a bad one. *hugs* |
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Date: 5/16/2007 10:56:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 28190
Wood elf, I wouldn't be suprised at all if some sue over this, but I think that reprimanding the people that participated would bring about a better solution, than suing would. I definitely think that the school should pay though, if any of these kids need counseling over this event. I feel for those kids, even as an adult, a prank like this would scare me, so I can only imagine how badly it scared those kids. *hugs* |
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Date: 5/16/2007 10:57:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 28190
Psy, that was my thoughts on it too. The fact that it was used as a prank and not a drill, is just disgusting to me. *hugs* |
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Date: 5/16/2007 10:59:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 28190
Rusure, I'd be in that same group. If My son, although he's only two right now, was in a situation like that, I think I'd lose my cool real fast. You just don't mess with kids like that. They are 6th graders, for goodness sakes, and are in one of the major developing phases of their lives. They definitely shouldn't have had this happen to them. *shakes head* *hugs* |
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Date: 5/16/2007 11:00:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 28190
Becky, same here. And it's ok about the bad wording, I knew what you meant. *hugs* |
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Date: 5/16/2007 11:03:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 28190
Odd, I agree. One of the things that bugged me so bad about this, is these kids were away from home on a school trip, when this took place. So, I'm sure that added to the fear, knowing that they were in a cabin, long aways from home, and that there was a supposed gunman on the loose. That had to make it all the more terrorizing to these kids. Teaching things like this in drills like they do storm/fire drills would be perfectly ok, but not like this, nope. I definitely agree. *hugs* |
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Date: 5/16/2007 11:37:00 AM
From Authorid: 64414
Amanda, my hubby pulled something like this a couple of years ago when we first moved into our house. Hubby was in the kitchen, I was in the bedroom with both boys (about 5 and 8 at the time) while they were cleaning their room and getting it arranged. Hubby comes running down the hallway screaming FIRE FIRE GET OUT!!! So of course, we all freak out and run out the back door. When we got out there, my youngest was crying cuz he was afraid. Hubby was staring at his stopwatch, he said "Yeah, I guess we would have survived, but the dog would be dead." THAT is when I realized he had a "fire drill" on us. I think it took my son an hour to calm himself down!!!! Kinda mean, but at least I know that my boys can at least run in a panic. They didn't freeze up like some. |
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Date: 5/16/2007 11:38:00 AM
From Authorid: 64414
I told Hubby the next time he gets a bright idea, run it past me first!!! |
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Date: 5/16/2007 12:13:00 PM
From Authorid: 64475
Ree Run...I would have been whipping me a hubby lol...............allysmom |
Date: 5/16/2007 12:25:00 PM
From Authorid: 30051
They should be arrested!!!! That is not ok! It would be one thing to have a drill..but OMG!!! That is tramatizing a child should NEVER NEVER have to feel terror and to go through something like that can cause serious illness..PTSD to say the least!! How can this be..I am praying that this is a hoax..That it didn't really happen! If it would have been my child I would start a war! If they were not charged with a crime I would make them pay..2 wrongs don't make a right but I am a sinner and can be forgiven.  |
Date: 5/16/2007 1:04:00 PM
From Authorid: 62118
Sue them, I mean if people are trying to sue a teacher for showing BrokeBack Mountain (which even the kids could figure out was a movie) a gunman in the class room would be alot more terrifying.  |
Date: 5/16/2007 1:15:00 PM
From Authorid: 15070
*Stupid* *Stupid* *Stupid*, I would be furious if this had happened to my Children! We had "alerts", and "warnings", and "tests" when I was a kid. I cannot even tell you how many times my school was evacuated for "bomb threats" during the late 60's-early 70's...this is totally different. No warning was giving. Totally inapproprate!!  |
Date: 5/16/2007 1:24:00 PM
From Authorid: 63449
OMG!  |
Date: 5/16/2007 1:31:00 PM
From Authorid: 21839
I think it went to far... I wouldn't mind them staging a drill, they have drills in my kids school all the time, but to tell them, its not a drill, what do they expect the kids & parents to say?  |
Date: 5/16/2007 2:59:00 PM
From Authorid: 27046
Perhaps I'm missing the big deal. It lasted a whole five minutes and actually had some benefit in the end. I'm sure if they told some scary ghost story about some murderer on the loose and scared the crap out them by scratching on the windows and rattling the doors it would have been considered all fun and games for a camping trip.  |
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Date: 5/16/2007 3:09:00 PM
From Authorid: 62998
That's probably why I can't have kids Cory, but that's beside the point. The fact the VT shootings has just taken place was out of my mind, so yes, I was mistaken on the timing of this "fake" shooting. Further, I was also mistaken when I said I don't care about the kids, that was a HUGE mistake. I do care about the kids. |
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Date: 5/16/2007 3:12:00 PM
From Authorid: 62998
Oh and it's highly unlikely to ask a being I don't believe in to "strike me down". I don't believe in god nor shall I ever. |
Date: 5/16/2007 4:59:00 PM
From Authorid: 63192
I'm so livid about this that I'm speechless.  |
Date: 5/16/2007 5:28:00 PM
From Authorid: 63575
OH I WOULD JUST FLIP IF I WAS A PARRENT! That is completely insane what they did. First, if your going to do that, tell the students, "This is only a drill." Thats what we did in my middle high school, long before Columbine and it seemed to work very well. How to have a bunch of scared little kids!!!! SHEESH!!!!!!  |
Date: 5/16/2007 5:48:00 PM
From Authorid: 64365
It is totally inappropriate. Getting the class together and talking to them about it is one thing, but to actually frighten them as if it were real goes way beyond the line. I'm sure no one discussed what emotional affect this would have on the children.  |
Date: 5/16/2007 5:49:00 PM
From Authorid: 14780
This terrified me just reading this.....the emotions those kids went through is unthinkable its made me very upset. I would have every caretakers job, ISD Board and take it to the state even. >.<  |
Date: 5/16/2007 7:44:00 PM
From Authorid: 8243
They practice drills like this at my kids schools, the only difference is, there is no fake gunman. They discuss what to do in situations like this and they pretend it is happening, so they have ideas of how it will work. The kids are told ahead of time and letters are sent home informing parents that this will be taking place. It is all fake and the kids know that, so they are not traumatized.  |
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Date: 5/17/2007 2:01:00 AM
From Authorid: 30051
It doesn't matter if you believe or not..I didn't even have to ask..That was my anger talking. He knows his job. Your going down. Believe it or not.. |
Date: 5/17/2007 7:59:00 AM
From Authorid: 12072
ReeRun, was your hubby watching the Royal Tennenbaums at the time? lol! Back to subject at hand, however, I think there are other ways to teach our children how to handle a situation safely. In a strange new place to be convinced someone wants to gun them down! The drill should have been done at the school with the children aware that it was a drill--perhaps they could have showed the footage of previous shootings and give some facts to let the kids know this is a real danger.  |
Date: 5/19/2007 8:08:00 AM
From Authorid: 30229
DemonRage, perhaps you are NOT getting this entire picture... Kids on a FUN outing, just ONE MONTH after the tragic shooting at a COLLEGE, and these teachers and principals do this to them???? And Az... sit down, stare into space, do absolutely NOTHING but look at your clock and just SEE how very long five minutes can be... and then think of that same scenario with a spider crawling over your face, or a snake wrapped around you, ... TERROR, HORROR, CANNOT MOVE... back to scene, kids were crying, they were praying, they were begging for their lives for FIVE MINUTES!!! Some even peed in their pants, and after it was over got laughted at, even by the teachers... you can read what you want to read, but watching it on our local television it was one of the most horrible things that anyone could do to a child!!!! IF a PARENT were to pull that FAKE SHOOTER thing with their kids, and make them THAT scared for THAT long, they would have been hauled in for child abuse... oh yeah, they sure would have been!!!!! We STILL have laws that PROTECT our kids... Thank God!!!  |
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Date: 5/19/2007 8:16:00 AM
From Authorid: 30229
Another thing here... I would just LOVE to hear from ANY of you on just HOW one makes a drill to protect the young and innocent from a violent lunatic shooter????? HOW???? Where do they go???? UNDER A DESK? Bullets go through desks... ANOTHER ROOM???? Maybe, but WHERE is the shooter going??? .................... I want to know what yall think a CORRECT DRILL would be for a SHOOTER situation????? I know you all have opinions and ideas, but as yet, no one has one that can actually withstand a lunatic with a gun!!! So there is no drill, there cant be ... We adults cannot know what to do, where to go, how to get out of the line of fire, or even where the fire will be going, as proven so many times in the past, but yet, we expect CHILDREN to know????? What arrogance some of us have when it concerns our children and what OTHER people are allowed to do to them!!! When in fact, they haven't gotten to the point of KNOWING what makes a Shooter a Shooter, much less know what path they will take, how much ammo, what sort of weaponry, how powerful, who they are targetting, if anyone in particular, ... the ONLY DRILL available is for someone to keep a level head and DIAL 911 ASAP and get someone with real fire power to aid in a shooting situation... If we think that schools can teach our children HOW to avoid gunman, then we are sadly mistaken. And if we think that this event didn't traumatize some of the students we are wrong again... it did. Adults, faced with the SAME situation don't even know what to do ... .. and if they don't know, then how can they teach children??? And how can we expect any of this to be good for those poor children who had to go through this???? And here I thought that PARENTS wanted to protect our kids and not allow others to abuse them... dang, wrong again! |
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Date: 5/19/2007 8:19:00 AM
From Authorid: 30229
Oh, did I forget the part about some of the teachers turning OFF the lights, and others putting on HOODED shirts/masks and with mock guns banging on doors, just moments after a teacher PRETENDED that there had been shooting in the area???? Now tell me how many ADULTS can handle what to do about a REAL shooter coming in to shoot, and you are in the DARK and don't know what to do, where to go, and you are horribly disoriented...... If anyone had of done that to one of MY kids, there would be trouble, BIG trouble... I would fight to MY death over MY kids and grandkids... and protect them with my very life. |
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Date: 5/19/2007 8:51:00 AM
From Authorid: 30229
Sorry to keep coming back, but I am AMAZED at reading these replies... just amazed... |
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Date: 5/19/2007 3:42:00 PM
From Authorid: 27046
I'm sorry that is distresses you so much Gail that I'm not outraged or up in arms over what they did. |
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Date: 5/21/2007 1:15:00 PM
From Authorid: 30229
It doesn't distress me, ... but you being a mother AND an adult, it does surprise me.. .. wonder if the ADULT killed in Idaho KNEW how to handle it so they wouldn't end up in a situation like that... ooops, NOPE, they died!... There just is NOT a way to know, to drill, to try to get ANYONE ready for a situation like this... But for anyone to think it is OK for Principals and teachers to terrorize and horrify kids, then there is something wrong with that picture... ... NO ONE walking the face of this earth would have EVER done that to one of mine or they would have had Heck to pay!!!! School or no school... NO ONE would have gotten away with abusing, terrorizing or horrifying MY kids on a fun outing.. NO ONE!!!! |
