In America today, it’s the very sad reality that school shootings have become a common occurrence. Over the last several years, we’ve had to heartbreakingly witness mass shootings around the country that have taken the lives of young, innocent children–from Sandy Hook to Parkland. Recently, after the Parkland, Florida mass shooting, many parents have had to speak to their young children about school shootings and the scary possibility that it can happen anywhere, at any time. One mother, Tanai Benard, had to speak to her 10-year-old son Dezmond about active shooter drills in schools. Benard is also a teacher, so she understands the reality of conducting them. The conversation, however, left Benard in shock. She posted it on Facebook and since has gained over 300,000 likes and 150,000 shares.
My 5th grader and I were conversing on the way to work/school this morning. As an educator, I wanted to be sure he and his classmates were taking the school safety drills seriously and not using it as a time to socialize and goof off.
Me: Have you guys praticed a lockdown drill in class yet?
Dez: Are you talking about an active shooter drill?
Me: Yes
Dez: Yes, we practiced it
Me: So tell me what you are suppose to do.
Dez: The teacher is suppose to shut and lock the door, put the black paper over the window on the door.
Then myself and three other boys are suppose to push the table against the door.After that all the class is going to stand behind us on the back wall.
Me: The class is suppose to stand behind who?
Dez: Me and the other 3 boys. We stand at the front and they get behind us.
*I internally went from 0 to 100 real quick. My child is one of only 2 black children in a class of 23. Being transparent, I immediately went to the “why is my black son being put on the front line?” (Just being real) So I asked before I verbally stated my thoughts*
Me: Why did you get picked to stand in front of everyone else if a shooter came in your school?
Dez: I didn’t get picked. I volunteered to push the table and protect my friends
Me:
?*immediate nausea * Dez why would you volunteer to do that?
Dez: If it came down to it I would rather be the one that died protecting my friends then have an entire class die and I be the only one that lived
Father God, it took everything out of me not to breakdown. I still have a lump in my throat. 10 damn years old and this has to be our babies thought process in America.
https://www.facebook.com/tanai.benard/posts/10213919492435100
Clearly, Benard is raising her son the right way and instilling bravery and courage in his heart. However, it is a horrifying and sad reality that a 10-year-old should even think about these things. No one in the 5th grade should be worrying about protecting their friends from a school shooting. People have been leaving heartwarming comments on Benard’s Facebook post, praising her parenting and her son.
terrible that he has to have that as a plan of action, but what a brave amazing boy.
I want to hug this brave and amazing young man. I also want to cry that this is his normal school day in America.
You have an awesome young man. You have raised a great young man. Some high school boys would not even think this way.
As parents our most important task is to raise our children to be independent and prepared for the day we are no longer here. We don’t get to choose when that trait begins to kick in. You know you have done a good job, you may not be ready for the eventuality just so soon.