teachers are not faster than a speeding bullet

in steemiteducation •  7 years ago  (edited)

As you know, I'm a teacher. How pompous of me to think I am a superhero, yet there are many references to teachers being labeled as such. "I teach. What's your superpower?" I have that t-shirt. I also have a mug that states, "Teachers are as strong as the Hulk, as quick as Spiderman, as smart as Ironman, and as brave as Batman." Hell, even I have referred to myself as Dumbledore, Master Yoda, and The Professor Xavier himself. Yes, I'm plugging my own work here, too. The gall. The audacity. But hey, I'm a teacher. I can do anything. I'm amazing. I'm a superhero. Right?


How about the shirt that says, "Teachers are as FAST as Superman" because my ass needs to be faster than a speeding bullet if we're looking at that little fact: In America, we've had EIGHTEEN school shootings this year. It's February. And another fact I hate to admit is this: Teachers ARE NOT superheroes. We're just human. Let's talk preschool, shall we?

My co-teacher frantically enters the classroom. She says, "Get Adam. It's his dad. He's here. Hide!" Then she says, "I'm calling the police," and gets on our classroom phone.

Adam's dad does not have custody of his child for reasons relating to domestic violence. The father is lying to the front desk clerk, saying he is an uncle and he wants to pick up his nephew. My co-teacher was there and recognized him. The clerk knew as well, and began to stall him. It is late afternoon, and Adam is the last child in our room. He is three and napping. I grab him from his cot. He does not wake, and snuggles in against me. I hide in the bathroom, quiet as a mouse, holding the sleeping baby.

Holy Guacamole! WHAT? Yes, I am hiding in a bathroom with a 3-year old baby waiting for ... for ... what? My mind races. If that dad comes in, and finds me with his son, what are my options? I can't protect the child from a man clearly larger and stronger than me. Do I just give the child up? If I hand him his son, will I be unscathed? He's going to get his son from me anyway. Should I take a fist in the face for this child? Am I horrible for thinking this? Then my mind goes further. Does the man have a gun? Should I take a bullet for this child? Then the most important question: Why did I choose this profession!?!

Long story short, my co-teacher went back out of the classroom to help the clerk and stall the father. They were successful. The police showed up in a few minutes. The father became violent and was cuffed and taken to the squad car. Adam's mother and grandparents arrived a few minutes after that. I went out a back door onto our playground area where the grandfather met me to take Adam safely home. He slept through the entire ordeal, which maybe lasted 20 minutes.

Fast forward to now. With the 18 shootings, including the recent tragedy in Florida, debates about the safety of American schools have flourished. Today, I read an article from PBS entitled When did it become a teacher’s job to stop a bullet for your child? This takes me back to holding that child in the bathroom. I felt helpless against that man. The teachers who gave their lives protecting those high school students were helpless against bullets.

Something has to be done, but I'm no expert. The article states that teachers "...will be the kind of people who on a bad day will throw themselves in front of our children to protect them." And this is true. But is throwing myself in front of a shooter the answer? In the case of the Florida shooting at a very large high school, it was about 3,000 people against ONE. Those are very good odds. And I can't help but think if teachers were armed and trained, they would be able to stop the offender. Then I quickly slap my American face and scream that guns in school is not the answer. Let's remove the word "armed" and just say trained. Maybe we train teachers to take down a shooter instead of being trained to hide and shield? Like how to tackle from behind? Maybe keeping vests handy to grab before going in for the attack? Again, I am no expert. I'm just thinking, and I wish I had an answer to stop these horrific tragedies.

But it is important to remember I am not a superhero. I am not faster than a speeding bullet. I am not as strong as the Hulk, as quick as Spiderman, as smart as Ironman, and as brave as Batman ...

I'm just a simple, human teacher who wishes I were as rich as Batman.

pbs article
superteacher
superman
batman

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My daughter saw the news here in Australia the other day about the shootings in America and she was just horrified. She asked me why? I had no answer. Then she asked me why it doesn’t happen here in Australia. Again I had no answer. Yes our gun control laws are very different than America’s but still, if someone wanted to get their hands on a gun they will most likely find a way.
As for you poor teachers I have no idea what you go through. It must be always play on your minds that it is a possibility. I absolutely think that there needs to be more training provided or armed security at every school. Something definitely needs to happen. As you said, it’s only February and already 18 shootings. It’s just crazy.

It does play on my mind that's a good way to put it. I'm lucky at my school the cops are very close. Hope it is solved soon!

Dang. Dang dang dang. Thank you for writing this but also, dang.
I had a conversation with my students about the school shootings the other day.
I told them about the 18 that have happened since the beginning of 2018.
They were horrified and confused. Because we live in Canada. There is violence in schools, and shootings, but it’s just not part of our reality to consider 18 school shootings in 2 months.
Dang.

Right!? Dang is spot on, man. It's crazytown over here for sure. Unbelievable. Take care!

You have a very great fact.
Teachers ain't superheroes which people think, but I see them as heroes for the knowledge that they have impacted in me.

About the shootings I pray God put an end to it. About being a super heroes as rich as superman is very funny.

Great content

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Thanks you for sharing that moment with us. As a teacher I have had parental situations where we were aware of the what if but it never happened. Just the other day we did a practice lock down at our school. I never thought about it until reading your post but I now realize that I always position myself between where the students are crouched down hiding and the door. I always door a quick hall check before locking the door and as if to keep them better hidden I stand in front of them.
Teaching in Canada I have not had to live with the fear of gun violence on the same scale. There certainly have been incidents, just not on as big a scale. It is terrifying to think that that is becoming a hazard of the job.
Great story!

Thanks!

Every single day I think the "what if it's us today?" I rehearse the scenario in my mind. Where will we be safest? How long will I stay in the hallway looking for kids who need shelter? Can I protect them with my son's old baseball bat that stays beside my desk? Can I get them safely out a 2nd story window if it comes to that? Every. Single. Day. I'm a teacher, I think. Why am I thinking like warrior? Because I have to. And that's sad.

Yes, warriors are we. Maybe some self defense training? My mind races as well. Thanks, fellow teacher!

This is a wonderful written piece and at the same time it's sad about all the shootings going on. I hope that such tragedies will get people thinking and coming up with solutions, esp. those in positions to do something about it. In my books, good teachers are superheroes because they make a difference.

  ·  7 years ago Reveal Comment

Thanks! I'm new so this is very helpful.