Reasons I am glad I homeschool: Poor Judgement

by Andrea Hermitt | More from this Blogger

14 May 2007 02:44 PM

I will preface this by saying that everyone has moments of incredibly poor judgment. In most cases however, such poor judgment affects only ourselves and at worst our own families. However, what happens when a teacher, a group of teachers or an administrator uses incredibly poor judgment?

Recently, staff members at Scales Elementary school in Murfreesboro Tennessee, faked a gun attack during an overnight class trip to a state park. One of the teachers pretended to be a gunman (wearing a hooded sweatshirt) and unsuspecting 11-13 year olds were told to hide under tables.

Eventually the students were told it was a drill and there was a discussion as to what to do during a school attack. The trip was led by Assistant Principal Don Bartch. The assistant principal described the event as getting together and discussing "we would have done in a real situation."

Parents are outraged and students are shaken. Kids really thought they were going to die, and reportedly "freaked out" and cried after the "lights went out", which I am assuming to be later that night.

There is no news as to whether or not there will be any disciplinary action, nor is anyone admitting to whose idea the whole incident was.

As a parent with middle school age children, I know that my kids would have been deeply disturbed had this happened to them. Had they been told it was a drill from the beginning, I think they would have handled it better, while still being incredibly bothered by the "drill". Were my kids in that class, I would definitely be one of the parents who are calling for reprimand and firings.

As a homeschooler, I know that my children are not immune from tragedies like school shootings and other acts of terror, especially since they venture into the public on a daily basis and take classes with other kids. However, instead of staging an attack to make my kids aware of the do's and dont's of such situations, instead we just sit down and talk about what happened and how we would or could react in the situation.

Read: Are Homeschooled Children Over Sheltered?

*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.

*Want to know more about homeschooling? Start with the 2006 homeschool blog in review!

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Learn more about Andrea Hermitt

Andrea Hermitt is a native New Yorker currently residing in GA. She has been married for over 16 years and has two teenage children.

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Lyn Newton (3966) 14 May 2007 04:17 PM

I couldn't believe this story when I first heard it! First of all, I don't hink 6th grade students should take overnight trips. Secondly, what were the teachers thinking?!!!

Andrea Hermitt (5512) 14 May 2007 05:07 PM

My neice and nephew have gone to school in GA that start taking overnight trips as early as grade 5. It makes me very uncomfortable. I think the schools are asking for trouble taking overnight responsibility for kids that young.

Pam Connell (2658) 14 May 2007 06:01 PM

Good grief! I was freaked out enough that our school even had "lockdown drills" and all they do is practice locking the door and going to the back of the room away from windows! The younger kids aren't even really told why--just "in case of an unsafe situation outside".

Even for fire and earthquake drills (which are pretty serious business here on the West Coast), the first two per year the students are told what to expect and only after that might there be a surprise refresher drill.

Even if these staff members' action was appropriate--which it isn't--how could "practicing" on a trip help the kids know what to do in their school environment?

Andrea Hermitt (5512) 14 May 2007 06:03 PM

Good point Pam... they weren't even in school!