earthquake drills: they’re fun AND they make you think

Today we had an earthquake drill mid-way through 3rd period. I knew it was coming, and I was fully prepared, nay, looking forward to it because it would get me out of a healthy chunk of teaching. I was in my cutest 1st grade class (well thats not true, but 2 of my favorite students are in there, so its a pretty wonderful class) and the alarm starts ringing while I am mid-sentence. Every kid starts screaming and books it out of the classroom into the hall, along with my teaching assistant Nichole.

All the students in the school are in the hallways, running to the stairwells. I grab the hand of the nearest kid in my class and start hopping down the stairs. I get a surreal sense all of the sudden. Everything starts seeming very real, like I am in a real earthquake, and my kids are in real danger. My eyes start tearing up unconsciously. Children all around me are screaming and laughing, and I look mortified. I want to pick up the student I am with and hug them until I can no longer. We run to the track field outside and sit on the ground with our hands over our heads. I get down there on my knees in my skirt, thinking maybe if I do it too, it will really stick in their heads. They point at me and laugh and laugh, and I shush them and remind them to be in the correct position.

If an earthquake ever did hit us, I must say I would be worthless. I guess practicing drills of running the hell out of our school are helpful, but in reality, how quickly do buildings collapse? In the end we are at the mercy of these unpredictable natural disasters. Maybe our buildings can be built more earthquake proof, maybe we can have quicker rescue plans, I’m not sure what is feasible and whats not. My heart goes out to the kids killed Monday, and their families, and everyone involved. I wish there was more I could do.

Oh the love.

Coco