Pubdate: Fri, 23 Dec 2005
Source: Barrhaven Independent (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 Barrhaven Independent
Contact:  http://www.barrhavenindependent.on.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3715
Note: Published 2nd and 4th Saturday of month
Author: Anne Benyon
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

LOCKDOWNS NOT AS SCARY AS THEY SOUND

Barrhaven Youth Beat

"And then they tie you to the wall and the dogs sniff you out until 
they find the drugs".

These were the words used to describe to me what a lockdown was when 
I was a fresh-faced seventh grader.

The word lockdown provokes different images in people's minds. Do you 
think of a jail? Correctional facility? School? School is rarely 
mentioned in the same sentence as a jail or correctional facility, 
but the fact is students are subjected to lockdowns as well. A 
lockdown involves the locking of all classroom doors and the emptying 
of hallways of students. Police officers come in, usually with 
canines, and inspect students' lockers. Inspect not for neatness or 
order, but drugs and weapons.

Lockdowns have become more and more common in schools nowadays than 
ever before but nearly half the readers of this column have probably 
never even experienced a lockdown. In all honesty, it isn't quite as 
terrifying as it is made out to be.

While it is somewhat unnerving, most students drone because they may 
be stuck doing classwork even longer since lockdowns can last up to 
two class periods.

A teacher will close the door, lock it, and move the class away from 
all windows. As seen with the student who went on a rampage at John 
McCrae Secondary School recently, this is a safety precaution.

This is the cue for students in the windowless classrooms to moan. 
Why would they moan? Because as long as you're locked in class and 
not near a window, everything returns to normal.

For the first few minutes students may be asked to sit against the 
classroom wall, but after about fifteen minutes, students resume their work.

At the end of all the lockdown, an announcement comes on to let 
students know the lockdown is over.

Some students may even be taken away for questioning by the 
authorities. As long as you're not in possession of any illegal 
substances or firearms, then just sit back and get back to working on 
that essay!
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom