The nation is mourning in the wake of the deadly mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, in which 19-year-old gunman Nikolas Cruz killed at least 17 people with a AR-15 semiautomatic rifle on Wednesday.
In the wake of yet another school shooting, teachers are coming forward on social media and are joined by other public educators who are fearful for the lives of their students, as well as their own, in the classroom.
Math teacher Jim Gard recounts the moment the shooting began to CBS News.
"After 10 minutes you kind of knew that something -- that this was for real," says Jim Gard, a math teacher at Marj… https://t.co/9J9YBqKSSU— CBS News (@CBS News)1518696561.0
Geography teacher Scott Beigel was slain while ushering his students back into the classroom. Athletic coach Aaron Feis shielded students from oncoming bullets. He died after being rushed into surgery from a gunshot wound.
"He died the same way he lived -- he put himself second," said football program spokeswoman Denis Lehtio. "He was a very kind soul, a very nice man. He died a hero."
It is with Great sadness that our Football Family has learned about the death of Aaron Feis. He was our Assistant F… https://t.co/f8TjvMlqdh— MS Douglas Football (@MS Douglas Football)1518683689.0
Unfortunately, teachers putting their lives on the line whenever they enter a classroom is becoming part of the job description. Being available to inspire, to educate, and to enrich the lives of students is as crucial as protecting them from immediate danger.
Twitter user @kaitstee said, "As a teacher we're taught to throw anything close to us at the attacker as part of ALICE training as if that's going to stop an active shooter. I'm terrified for my children."
As a teacher we’re taught to throw anything close to us at the attacker as part of ALICE training as if that’s goin… https://t.co/QQzILBmVsh— K (@K)1518664578.0
Greg Crane, the founder of Alice, talked about the school safety program.
LISTEN LIVE: Following Wednesday's shooting at a high school in south Florida, @NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Greg C… https://t.co/VA7ecZt50q— KUT Austin (@KUT Austin)1518699604.0
@pernilleripp We are ALICE trained and part of that is to use whatever you can to disrupt. Then get everyone out. S… https://t.co/irFf0ZwPs2— Kyle Bielfeldt 🇺🇸 (@Kyle Bielfeldt 🇺🇸)1518662401.0
Even those not against gun control voiced their fears on gun violence.
I’m not anti-gun, I appreciate that we can own them, but for the love of God, something has to change in this count… https://t.co/oUrBeVwiYa— Phily D, M.Ed (@Phily D, M.Ed)1518659062.0
Teachers are given two options on how to respond to a school shooting.
I was told in our school's active shooter trianing that I can choose to hide the kids or fight back, whatever we de… https://t.co/tZX903TDzq— Pernille Ripp (@Pernille Ripp)1518657037.0
Some teachers are forced to view the classroom as a potential battleground and survey the room for potential tools that can be used in self-defense.
I wonder how many teachers have glanced around their classroom and tried to figure out which items they could use a… https://t.co/tWJKWAjscb— Pernille Ripp (@Pernille Ripp)1518657967.0
@pernilleripp I have ... and have thought about bringing in wasp spray so that I can blind anyone who tried to come… https://t.co/uIFi3qWabn— MaryAnna Fox (@MaryAnna Fox)1518662417.0
Survival skills have become an essential part of the curriculum.
@pernilleripp Instead of worrying about engagement, equity, and day to day lesson plans, I’m sitting here today thi… https://t.co/ZiCNZMNIEm— MaryAnna Fox (@MaryAnna Fox)1518710265.0
The frustrations keep mounting. Will there ever be a resolve?
@pernilleripp Where to hide, how to get across the room to shut the always-open library door, how to keep kids quie… https://t.co/orbHuzRidT— Megan Frazer Blakemore (@Megan Frazer Blakemore)1518659265.0
@SaraCBuller I am a teacher too, and to be honest I am terrified. It feels like this could happen at any moment. So sad 😞— Vivi Silva-Gil (@Vivi Silva-Gil)1518739096.0
When windows are seen as a threat.
@pernilleripp Moreso how I'd keep my kids safe when we have a large bank of windows. How would we create effective… https://t.co/pondCidmVC— Mari Venturino (@Mari Venturino)1518664780.0
In addition to hoping for their students' bright futures, teachers now must think about how they'll cope with clear and present dangers.
@pernilleripp I remember spending sleepless hours imagining how to block the door with tables and bookcases after S… https://t.co/nbqrEaJLc9— Emily VanNoy Arico (@Emily VanNoy Arico)1518660448.0
Days of solely thinking about text books are long gone.
@pernilleripp I’ve thought about weapons, I’ve thought about escape plans, I’ve thought about who might be disturbe… https://t.co/6YX47pFbxc— Paula Bourque 📚✍️ (@Paula Bourque 📚✍️)1518661223.0
This has been the new reality for campuses across the country.
@pernilleripp As a special education teacher, I live every day with the reality that I may need to take a bullet to… https://t.co/GGs8FrfoSX— Karla Akins (@Karla Akins)1518698795.0
What do we do when we run out of words?
I"m a Teacher. At this point in my 13th year I no longer know what to say. I can comment on guns, mental health iss… https://t.co/grMBwh5nmW— Sara C. Buller (@Sara C. Buller)1518703975.0
Check in on your teacher friends today. They are asked to do these drills and are tasked with caring for kids. They… https://t.co/soytUSBTNO— Kelly Wickham Hurst (@Kelly Wickham Hurst)1518703413.0