Preschool teacher carries backpack of essentials in case of school shooting l GMA

People really don't realize how hard it is to quiet kids down, even when their life is in danger they won't listen to simple directions sometimes.She is doing exactly what she needs to do.

My middle daughter is 7 years old. At the beginning of the year she told me they had to do a drill in case a big dog got into their building. She said they have to be quiet and hide in the corner of the classroom so the dog doesn’t see them. Of course I knew they weren’t hiding from an actual dog. I had to dismiss myself and cry. This is horrible that our children and teachers have to prepare for something like this.

I really hope that you NEVER have to use that backpack and the kids will always be safe with you.

As an outsider to America I just hate how you guys have to worry about this everyday, it’s not fair and it’s not healthy for everyone’s mental health. I’m glad though that there are teachers like this who care so deeply for their students to always be prepared in such useful and specific ways, every child no matter the age needs a teacher like that in their lives 🥰.

That sad teachers have to think like this.

The elementary school I used to work at had an emergency backpack like this in every classroom. We had a test run with them when we had to evacuate due to an active shooter at a neighboring medical clinic. Another important thing to keep in this kind of backpack is an up-to-date class roster with emergency contact info for each child & bus route info for each child. (We had issues of not knowing which bus kids needed to get on when going home because the bus company had to send different buses & drivers than normal so they didn't have the bus route info & neither did the teachers.)

Remember when a teacher's only concern was how to prepare the next lesson in order to encourage and inspire their students? Now their primary concern is how to survive and protect others from being slaughtered by a crazed person with a gun.

All I feel is shame, seeing the steps teachers take. We have fundamentally failed as a society.

The fact she has to be “prepared “ is ridiculous

To have watched this brings me to tears! (Retired elementary teacher here in Canada!)

For those of us who do not deal with small children, and like me, never have to worry about events like this, I believe that the backpack she has is an excellent start on an emergency kit. Anything that can keep small children calm after big and scary events is going to help a *lot* later in down the line. Well done on the forward thinking!

Add a black permanent sharpie pen to your bag. Write the names of each child on their body (clothing may not work for obvious reasons). In case they get separated from you, you are the only person who may know their names if they can't share it with another person. This will get them quickly back to their parents.

This is beyond sad. Nobody On this earth should be going through this. We have failed as a system.

Please add a door stopper and a door jam lock that would normally be used for a hotel room along with a couple of tampons and a tourniquet

"Greatest country in the world"

Fellow Pre-K teacher here. I have a star projector that I've thankfully only had to use during drills, but it works very well. It keeps their complete attention the first few times and makes it at least less scary every single time. Just make sure you test it first so you know that the light isn't visible from outside

We have something similar that we bring for whenever we leave the classroom with the kiddos. In an emergency, you may be surprised at what the kids may (or may not) do, including following directions. Anyways, our backpack has an attendance sheet with green and red sheets, indicating if we have everyone, or if one is missing. We also keep a few bandaids and tissues, along with a diaper/pull-up or two for any of our non-potty trained kids who may need to be changed. We also keep some books that the kids can look at, maybe a few (originally confiscated) toys.

bless these ladies, and all of our children

It disgusts me that it has to come to this. We need our school system changed for this and other reasons too. We really should've had the choice to stay remote. It would be more complicated to do but at least more people would be safe. The school system is bad for other reasons too, but this by far has to be the worst.

It breaks my heart that teachers need to prepare for that situation, because it happens so often now. I hope she never gets to use her backpack.

Homeschooling is a beautiful thing

Videos like this make me so grateful that I go to school in Britain.

I hope you never need this emergency backpack, I pray NO ONE EVER would need to use an emergency backpack. I work in a daycare with little ones too. We have a similar backpack. We also include a list of parent contacts and a first aid kit as well.

what a great teacher!

Isn’t it sad that teachers have to have a special backpack ready in case of an emergency. Something like a SHOOTING! Bless you. Hopefully, you never have to use it.

so precious ❤

As a Brit this truly saddens me. It shouldn't have to be like this and kids should feel safe to go to school in America. We don't really get school shootings here and I can't imagine how awful and terrifying it must be. My heart goes out to every family/student/teacher having to deal with this, I can't imagine how you must feel. I'm so thankful to this wonderful woman doing the best for her kids and keeping them safe.

School used to be safe.Not anymore .I always have a backpack just like this for my preschoolers they are my babies I am responsible for them till parents pick them up.

That is so lovely,I hope you never have to use them .God help you.❤️🇨🇦

I am a 4th grade teacher and I think about it every day.

Sad has that, so welll thought out

You are amazing

The fact that such a caring professional needs to think on a DAILY basis about this is devastating and incomprehensible. Kudos to her but shame on us for not doing better for our kids and ourselves.

I too am a preschool teacher. I was talking to my co works about the recent shooting in Tennessee at a Christian school and we work at. Christian preschool. One of the biggest concern is that the school is so open there is no where to hide. At that point I told my co works that it might be a good idea to find a lot of old thick phone books and make vests for the kids. This is a conversation I would not have years ago regarding a school.

I think about this all of the time. I am an EHS teacher, and my classroom is 18 months to 3. I work with children of many different cultures and think about what I would do if some crazy individual came in and tried to harm any of my babies in there. I hate that we have to think about this at all. But I KNOW how crazy people can be. When I worked at a public daycare the parent of a child from another classroom had a business falling out with another, whose child was in my classroom. They put a hit out on both their children and the parents. Fortunately, the family was okay and he was arrested after he tried to pay an undercover cop.
The fact that this happened at all was crazy. And I am always alert and worried about active shooters. My heart breaks for the families in the newest one. Children and teachers should NOT have to be worrying about this, but the country is failing us.

wonderful essentials! I would add a portable door lock for extra protection. Super small to carry and can buy time!

This is not news. We all pretty much have these. You would find it difficult to find a teacher who doesn't have an emergency pack.

This should NOT be necessary for any teacher. May God watch over you and all of your little ones and keep all of you safe from now until eternity. ❤

I keep individual mini playdough packages - one for each kid. And yes, I've had to use them before to pass out during a lockdown. The suckers are a great addition.

Sad. And terrifying.

After the shooting in my district Santa Fe High School 2018. All the classrooms have a Organe 5 gallon bucket with a stop the bleed kit and some other things in it they are kept in every classroom.

Our country is broken.

It's so sad that this is what it's like in school these days. Horrible

After these shootings my school has changed procedures. My school is very large and has many security guards that are ex-policemen. Study has shown all hiding in the same corner is the worst thing to do, so now we would just run, and if that isn’t possible we put our backpacks on the front of our body to protect our organ. We’d shove things in front of the door and spread out with stuff in both of our hands to be prepared to throw with. My history teacher actually has multiple baseball bats in his rooms for “aesthetic reasons” but he’s told us what they are actually for. He’s even taken the time out of class to show us how to aim the stuff we’d throw.
It’s really sad that this is what the world has come to, but I’m very grateful to be in a school that takes safety seriously, even if they don’t take other things that seriously.

Good I used to do that as little like snacks and something for me to do something and yes kids get scared easily can't stay quiet I'm with you on this keep coloring books

Do you have anything to stop bleeding?

let’s hope this teacher never ever needs to use this backpack.
how disgraceful it is that this country has gotten to the point where a _preschool_ teacher-or any teacher-has to plan for the potential of such unspeakable and horrific tragedies. school should be safe places, not war zones.

This is so very sad. These babies and teachers deserve much better. Our country needs to do better. Quit banning books and drag shows and protect everyone. Sickening.

This is very sad.

This is just saddening that teachers have to be concerned about this. What an era to be alive.

ABOUT TIME… WE need protection to protect these kids if no one willing to take the risk. MORE LIVES SAVED!!

The USA is a crazy place.

All teachers need to quit. They dont get hazard pay.

Yep we have lockdown/emergency bags in my daycare center it has stuff for medical supplies and emergencies evacuation activities, weather related emergencies, etc. it’s sad that we have to do this. I like in NY state but it’s so scary as I myself have been in multiple real lockdown situations when I was in school and I’m 22. It’s terrifying but it’s our reality.

Lawd 😢

We don't have school shootings in my country because of gun laws so I can't even imagine.

I teach preschool music and have been through several active shooter trainings at the schools I teach at.
Nothing is more scary than having to try to hide 13, 1-2 year olds in a small bathroom and keep them quiet and calm.

What kind of Hell is America becoming?

Its so sad she has to do this

Umm, your "kit" is missing one important item. You can't bring crayons to a gun fight.

This morning a 13 year old boy brought a gun to my middle school. We were on lockdown for probably 30 minutes. I was terrified. I was thinking about how I could protect my friends if a shooter were to go through the door. No 12 year old girl should have to think like this.

I work in daycare with children 6 weeks to 12 months. We were talking about active shooter emergencies during our annual safety meeting. I decided then to see if my rolling fire evacuation crib fit in my closet. I’m happy to say it does. The closest also locks from the outside. So I just have to push the crib in and shut the door while grabbing the keys. It’s our best defense.

The fact parents have to think about such horrific scenarios and if things dont get better kids are gonna have to wear bullet proof vests to school. Sad world to be living in.

I hope hope hope you never have to use that backpack!!! ❤️

When teachers of tiny kids have to carry 'emergency' backpacks, when children aren't safe in schools, you know something's wrong.

😢😢😢

I pray you never ever use those thing

I also did active shooting drill in elementary school and when sandy hook happened (I was in elementary school), I always thought about the drills and wondered if it could happen to us because it could happen inside an elementary. Then a couple years later Parkland happened, I was in highschool and watching the videos on snapchat as it was unfolding. Shit, my teacher had even experienced an active shooter on campus and told us about how he was in his dorm room when he heard gunshots. So when they came up with a new drill after Parkland happened, it really made it feel like our school could end up being a part of a statistic.

This is absolute insanity!! That a teacher has to even consider this. When I was a kid we learned to hide under our desks in case of a “nuclear attack by Russians”. That the danger is now actually internal in this country is sickening!!

I would add some sort of mechanical device to stop a door from being opened.

Is her essential a 9mm or a .45

sad

...not me as a teacher thinking this is a good idea to have in case of emergencies. I don't know if this will work for upper elementary, but it's a good back up plan.

This is so sad to have to prepare for attacks on schools. Praying that your gun laws are changed asap. Sending love and prayers from Canada🇨🇦

Save our children…stop the madness

So sad that our world has reached this state. 😢

The government would see this and be like : "Yeah but TikTok is a bigger issue"

Seriously. This is ridiculous.

I would never send my kids to a "gun free" zone. There will ALWAYS be someone there who can and will protect them.

As a Preschool/Daycare Educator I never thought of having or making my Emergency bag also a active quiet bag too. Thank you for you advice. My thoughts and Prayers to the families in Tennessee.

She doesn't need to worry, shooters are not looking for kind women like this.

Imagine always hoping and praying that it isn't your school that becomes the target each day, but if your school is spared it means another schoolhouse full of children and teachers are or could be victims?

You are a goddess, THANK YOU❤❤❤❤

the best thing to do is to bring a laptop that way you don't have to go to school anymore...

I heard recently that my high school is teaching the kids to throw kick balls (stored in the corner of the classrooms) at an active shooter.

Hawkeye from Mash sure could have used a couple suckers...

I do believe that if adults were exposed to this risk of an active shooter at their workplace every day they went to work, this problem would be fixed by now. What is wrong with America?
Oh yeah adults are exposed it happens a lot in grocery stores and public places.
Beyond belief why the response is so passive and weak to this issue.
☔

I keep gauze in my classroom, just in case I need to treat wounds. I have a bulletproof backpack. This is normal. It shouldn’t be.

They need to train to have designated students who open all the windows in that 1st floor level classroom times however many classrooms. 5 windows for that classroom = 5 designated students. The teacher blocks the door with the desk. All the kids jump out and run to wherever their parents told them to go in that event. They should run to different safe locations. If they’re older kids have them put a plate carrier armor plate in their backpack that they always bring to school. Run away from the sound of gunfire.

Does she take a parachute every time she goes on a flight too? Shame that all this fearmongering in the media has given people such levels of anxiety

I'm sorry. But I don't understand why schools don't have security personnel ...

As an American student about to go to highscool (which is the age level where most school shootings happen) I'm terrified. I'm in a place where alot of people go hu ting and have guns. And I know that 1 bad day for someone could literally kill me. I'm scared, and I hate it. My mom talks about being in highscool in the late 80s and 90s, and she talks of how fun it was. All I can think about is if we're going to have a shooting that day.

For the little ones.... maybe stock something in the classroom in case they have to urinate. If they get scared, they may revert back to peeing on themselves. Pee pads, pull-ups, wipes, or whatever you think is appropriate.
This is so heartbreaking that we have to think about this! So sad!

it might sound a bit weird at first, but what if you asked the parents of every child, if they would be okay with you giving them sleeping pills or something small to keep them very sleepy for atleast 20-30 minutes

Is the preschool in an elementary school?

LEAVE SCHOOLS ALONE, BUT ESPECIALLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS!

After watching this video and reading the comments, I realized why people in the USA cant solve this problem, they accept like normal, what the rest of the world considers insanity.

I don't understand. if it's this dangerous, then why aren't more parents homeschooling? Preschool, in particular, is relatively simple to teach. When they're that youngkids need more time with their parents. I understand that parents have to work, and some of them don't have time, but I think there are more parents that could homeschool if they tried.

She should add a concealed carry to the bag, and hopefully never have to use it except at a shooting range.

"This is America." So. Much. Winning. NOT! Praying for us all. I wish politicians cared as much about citizens as they do their special interests and wallets.