A North Carolina preschool teacher has revealed how she carries a backpack around with her containing items to keep her class of young children quiet and distracted should a school shooting occur.
Erica Rogers posted a three-minute-long video to TikTok in the days following the Nashville shooting at a private Christian elementary school in the city earlier this week.
In what is a sad indictment of the times, Rodgers explained how the safety of her pupils in the event of a shooting is at the forefront of her mind at all times. As a consequence, she never goes anywhere without the backpack.
Rogers shared her concerns while also asking fellow educators if they had any advice and tips on how to prepare for such horrific emergency situations.
Rogers teaches at a Baptist church similar to the one targeted in Tennessee, making this latest tragedy strike very close to home.
Erica Rogers, a preschool teacher from North Carolina, posted a video in which she asked other teachers how they prepare for emergencies such shootings
Rogers carries a backpack stocked with supplies including bottled water, candy, a first aid kit and other distractions for kids including crayons and play-doh
‘After learning about Monday’s shooting in Nashville, it just kind of really triggered me,’ she told GMA.
She notes how the school regularly runs active shooter trainings and drills.
Rogers reveals that her backpack remains stocked with supplies including bottled water and even candy which she hopes will keep the youngsters quiet.
She explains that keeping preschoolers aged between three and four quiet for lengthy periods is tough so she has a stash of Dum Dum suckers to keep them occupied.
‘I teach ages three to four so they’re little guys. I can’t necessarily just say “Sit down and be quiet” and expect them to sit down and be quiet for a long period of time. So I have a bag of suckers,’ Rogers said in her video.
‘It is just Dum Dum suckers and my thought is I would give them suckers over and over and over and over and over. I’m not worried about the nutritional value of a snack. It is something in their mouth. It will keep them occupied for a few minutes at least.
She said she made the video posting in the hope she can be helpful to other teachers in light of recent school shootings across the country
Rogers says she feels it’s important to continue discussing the issue, as it affects not just her classroom, but also other areas of the school where she and her students may head.
Rodgers also explained that crayons and other fidget toys are useful at buying additional minutes of time and the ability to distract the class for around 20 minutes.
‘It might sound like a lot that I have in my bag, but each little thing, if it buys me two minutes at a time, I mean, that’s potentially 20 minutes that I can keep a kid entertained, if not longer, to keep them quiet, to keep them safe,’ said Rodgers, who is herself a mom-of-two said.
Some of those commenting on Rodgers post made some of their own suggestions including carrying wasp spray, scissors, and even canned food.
Rogers says she now plans to include a mini first aid kit to her backpack.
‘The thing that’s really surprised me is the number of saves I’ve gotten on the video, people that want to save it, so they can go back and watch it again,’ she said. ‘I hope I’m never ever going to need anything out of that section of my bag but if I do, I feel so much more prepared, the best I can,’ she added.
132 mass shootings have been reported in 2023 so far, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter.
There have been 26 shootings at elementary, middle, or high schools this year alone.
Rogers says she feels it’s important to continue discussing the issue, as it affects not just her classroom, but also other areas of the school where she and her students may head.
Rodgers is a mom-of-two to two children who are of similar ages to those in her class
Rogers teaches at a Baptist church similar to the one targeted in Tennessee this week, meaning the entire shooting tragedy appears to have stuck a little close to home this time
‘We can go anywhere or we could also be walking down a hallway and then it’s, “Oh, we got to go in this closet.”‘ Rodger said.
‘You will hear of another one somewhere and that’s terrifying. That is so scary because you never know where it’s gonna be. Even if it’s not you, it’s gonna happen to someone else. And I don’t know how to be OK with it.
‘I told people at work, this will not be the last shooting before the end of the school year, I guarantee you. We have 12 weeks left. You will hear of another one somewhere and that’s terrifying. That is so scary because you never know where it’s gonna be. Even if it’s not you, it’s gonna happen to someone else. And I don’t know how to be OK with it.’
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