During a tornado drill a few years ago it struck me that the journey to the designated safe area required students to pass through the cafeteria where one wall, the Southwest one facing the direction from which tornadoes come, was all glass. Depending on timing and the seriousness of the students in getting to safety, it was possible that in the event of an actual tornado, students could be in the cafeteria when the tornado smashed the glass causing pieces to fly around injuring many.
On the way to the safe area we passed the boys’ and girls’ restrooms on the first floor in the core of the building that where made of cinder block and had no widows. Since the safe area was a cinder block hall with no windows into which all students had to fit, and I perceived unnecessary exposure to shattering glass in the cafeteria, when my class got to the restrooms I directed them to go inside. Another teacher, seeing the wisdom in this, directed her class to do the same. Our concern was the safety of the students, and it made no difference which restroom the students swiftly entered. We did not divide them according to gender because swift movement was important. Under the circumstances, they were all students in equally potential danger.
Dividing students by gender would have taken up unnecessary time, endangering the ones further in line.
I should mention, only because of the absurdity of it, that after I explained what I did and why I took that action to the principal after I was summoned to the office to be chewed out for not following the desired procedure, he did admit that I had made a good decision, but was issued a verbal reprimand “on principle” anyway.
So, this story stood out for me.
When an active-shooter drill began at a middle school in Stafford County, Virginia, some students who were in a P.E. class took shelter in a restroom/locker room that was near them. But one student was not allowed to enter either the boys’ or girls’ restroom/locker room as the teachers present discussed which one she should enter as she was Transgender and her safety was secondary to their opinions on Transgender people. she had to find shelter in the gym away from her classmates
Apparently, when it comes to seeking safety from someone shooting up the school, adult confusion saw her as a threat to her peers which would have left her exposed in the event it wasn’t a drill.
Sherrie Johnson, a spokeswoman for Stafford County Public Schools, when asked if the student should have been allowed in the girls’ locker room because she identifies as female replied that the school is reviewing protocols and procedures.
The simple procedure is to tell students, anyone in ear shot, to get in the room.
How hard is that?