I participated in a lock down drill today

I volunteer in my granddaughter's first grade class on Tuesday mornings, and at 8:25 a.m., the principal announced the drill over the intercom. The teacher locked the door and turned off the light as the children climbed into their coat cubbies and covered themselves with their coats. For about 10 minutes I stood in the darkened room with the teacher while 18 or 20 kids tried their best to be quiet in their little hiding places. They were amazingly quiet for first graders; the teacher had already prepared them for this moment. When it ended, the teacher praised them for being so cooperative and quiet, and then they went back to their school work.

What a crazy time we live in, when little children have to practice what to do if a gun-toting madman enters their school. It reminded me of the duck and cover drills when I was a child, during another crazy time. I hope and pray that these lock down drills eventually become a thing of the past, like the duck and cover drills did.