A US mother has shared a confronting image from her daughter’s prospective kindergarten classroom, showing the instructions for a lockdown drill put to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Georgy Cohen, a Boston creative director, shared the image on Twitter this morning. It shows a multi-coloured lyric poster outlining the drill protocol:
Lockdown, lockdown
Lock the doorShut the lights off
Say no moreGo behind the desk and hide
Wait until it’s safe insideLockdown, lockdown
It’s all doneNow it’s time to have some fun!
This should not be hanging in my soon-to-be-kindergartener’s classroom. pic.twitter.com/mWiJVdddpH
— Georgy Cohen (@radiofreegeorgy) June 6, 2018
In a follow-up message, Cohen said her child “was excited about [a drill] as a game to see if you can stay quiet for “one whole minute.””
The post has drawn a considerable amount of attention from those saddened by the apparent necessity of teaching toddlers how to navigate a potential school shooting scenario.
Unfortunately, Cohen is not the first person to draw attention to the issue of very young children ‘playing’ out their shooting drills.
Kelda Roys, who is currently campaigning for governor of Wisconsin on a gun control platform, recently shared a story about her 3-year-old daughter playing a “game” involving hiding in a corner and remaining quiet.
A year ago, Kelda’s 3-year-old daughter described a new game she learned at daycare. It wasn’t a game though, it was proof that politicians are failing our children. pic.twitter.com/18QN1rrcfY
— Kelda Roys 😷💉 (@keldahelenroys) June 4, 2018
In recent days alone, many other teachers and parents have taken to the platform to discuss the harrowing reality facing many young Americans.
get in. The other teachers cheered and told me good job. But the bruises and strained muscles don’t make me feel good. I kept foam balls from hitting people because I forgot we were faking. We shouldn’t live like this. Teachers shouldn’t have to do this on top of everything else.
— Alyssa (@alyssa_z630) June 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/joshdobbin/status/1002343129880694784
My 5-year old came home from a lockdown drill & explained to me in so many words that his baby sister (15 months at the time) would be a liability in an active shooter situation, because she can’t be silent on command. That’s why I @MomsDemand
— Colleen (@dalgal412) May 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/kelliibeee/status/1002367795223461888
https://twitter.com/littlekatiehar/status/1004393392137228289
So far in 2018, the US has experienced 23 school shootings resulting in at least one injury or death.
