“Today Is Your Last Day”

Last month, I was conducting a new teacher observation at a local high school when something terribly scary happened. As I walked out of the classroom to head home after the observation, an announcement came over the intercom system saying “LOCKDOWN.” Everyone outside began calmly walking into the nearest building. To me, there was nothing urgent happening so I assumed it was the normal beginning of the year drill. I continued walking to my car.

Suddenly, an administrator jumped out of the building and grabbed me to rush me to safety. At that exact same time, 6-7 city policemen came rushing onto campus almost running me over. At this point, I was still not processing all that was happening.

As I hid out in the office, I had the luxury of hearing the conversations occurring over the walkie talkie’s and the secretary’s phone. I was able to piece the story together over the 10 minute lock-down:

• A fight broke out in the cafeteria
• That fight spurred 4-5 additional fights spreading out into the quad
• A campus police officer called an administrator to call a “lock down”
• Campus police called for back up from city police
• All students were apprehended
• Minor injuries occurred

I still do not know what the fight was about; however, a few boys happened to be in the front office at the time and speculated it was over a girl.

The principal finally came over the intercom to release the lock down and began to personally thank specific teachers and students by name for getting to safety efficiently and being patient throughout the process. She then went on to say (and I am paraphrasing),

“This building is a place of learning and we intend to keep it that way. If you are not committed to coming every day to learn and be your best, you don’t need to come. We have a lot to achieve this year and I am going to ensure that happens. The decision to cause harm to another student or campus personnel is not going to be tolerated. Today, is your last day at ______ High School.”

As she continued her announcement, I began to smile. She was setting the tone. I asked those in the office a few questions and determined she was a new principal at this school. I can tell she came ready to do her job and make this often chaotic, hard to staff school a productive environment by establishing a culture of learning. If I weren’t so shocked I would have stood up to applaud her in that moment.

The boys sitting next to me began laughing. They could see some of the apprehended students across the hall and began to comment [paraphrasing again]:

“Did you see his face when she said ‘today is your last day’?”

“Dude, his face dropped.”

“I bet he didn’t see that coming.”

“Yea, no detention or suspension. Nothing. Just..you’re out.”

They were right. She bypassed the hierarchy of consequences because the action was so severe it required a severe punishment. She was not going to allow those students to have a moment to make that same choice and used this occasion to teach the other students a lesson about acceptable school behavior.

We were then released to go about our business. As I got into my car, I tried to make sense of everything that had just happened. My initial reaction was that this school had behavior management down. With the campus police present at every turn, rushing to action, calling for backup by the city police and then apprehending students before the fights turned gruesome is quite a feat. The leadership of the new principal still makes me smile. She could have easily told that message to the students that caused the fights in a private meeting, but she decided to let it be known that her expectations are high and the students will be successful while she is reigning over them. I don’t know this woman, but she’s my edu-hero.

I did start thinking about what this meant for those students who were apprehended. Now they are just being passed on to another school to do the same thing. Did we really save them? Did we really teach them a lesson? We absolutely made a decision that was best for the majority of students, but I am unsure the effect this will have on the individual students who caused the trouble. I bet their parents will be fuming, which could cause another set of problems. Or maybe it was such a surprise to these few students that they will be careful when and where they decide to fight at their next school.

As I said, I am not really sure if the decision the principal made that day is going to help change these few students for the better, but she was like a momma bear protecting her cubs and she did it in the most professional, brave way.

“Today is your last day” will be a phrase I never forget and share as often as I can with others. Dare to be better!

What is your reaction to this event?

Do you think the principal made the right decision?

Do you think the apprehended students will change for the better?