More Time In The Hood

I spent more time in the hood today.

We had yet another lock.down this morning. This time it was due to a threat on a surrounding street. There's nothing quite like staring at a sea of big-eyed, nervous students just after you hear those words come from the intercom. They'll tell you that your behavior is key to keeping calm in your classroom. You think of that as your body sort of enters automatic. Your voice softens. You become reassuring. And in this case, you continue with the lesson at hand as if nothing is happening. At the same time your mind is racing and you can hardly think. All for the longest forty minutes you can imagine...

We had a sense that all would be okay after about twenty minutes, especially when they asked us to continue teaching. In the end we had been in no danger, but we didn't really know for sure until afterward. Once I knew, it made it a little easier to go on with the rest of the day. The part that stays with me, though, is the realization that whatever just happened in the neighborhood will probably have a profound effect on at least one of the kids at our school--maybe one of the kids I have spent the morning reassuring. That thought lingers. It makes me so sad.

It wasn't the best way to start the day, that's for sure. Bleh.

My day ended with a preview of a presentation that we'll see at our staff development day on Tuesday. (oddly enough, this had been planned several days back. what a coincidence) The sc.hool re.source of.ficers will present about emergency response for stu.dents with wea.pons on ca.mpus. As part of the school leadership team and because I will do staff development training earlier that day, I was among a small group asked to view the presentation ahead of time to ensure that the information presented would not adversely affect the staff. (Seeing how two to three teachers had melt-downs today after this morning's fun, I am not sure you can present anything that would not adversely affect the staff, but that is beside the point.) It is all very heavy and scary stuff. We decided the staff can handle it. The staff wants it.

It is ugly stuff, but it is time for us to hear it.

The hardest part is that it is so needed at my work. The event we experienced this morning hit that message home yet again.

Needless to say, the day has left its mark on me tonight.

I suppose the good news is that it took all the focus off of ttc for me, at least for tonight. Sigh.