Thunder rumbled during the school day today, but I didn't give it much thought. The truth is that I love thunderstorms; although, I suppose that's a post for another day. Today, the buses were safely away (at least for the middle and high schools) before the warnings of tornado sightings started to come in.
I was in an after school meeting as the rain began to sheet down. While I love being in a car while rain is pouring down, I don't really care for driving in it, especially considering that it's around an hour to get to home in good weather. The meeting adjourned a little before four and I went to leave. There were two tornado warnings for our area as well as a severe thunderstorm warning and a special weather statement.
I went to the exit closest to where my car was parked and found the hallway full of students. They were all near the windows (no announcement had been given about the warnings) watching the rain and the flooded parking lot. There was my car, water up to the side panels. All I could think of was going home. Like another teacher just ahead of me, I walked into the parking lot towards my car rather than running. The students behind me were cheering in that tone reserved for daredevils. Their cheers turned to comments of astonishment as the water went over my ankles. Their astonishment sounded more like disgust when I got into my car, removed my shoes, and poured the water out from them into the parking lot.
I was not a good role-model. I just wanted to go home. The meeting had taken long enough. Waiting for the tornado warnings to end would have meant another hour. Who knows how long the parking lot would take to drain. Now, I had looked at the weather maps and was willing to take the risk that I did considering the warnings, but I had given an example to all of those students who were watching and cheering that might not serve them well in the future.
Had the school made an announcement, I probably would have stayed. In retrospect, I should have both stayed and escorted the students to a safer location. But all I could think of was getting home and how I didn't want to be stuck in the building for another couple of hours.
I try to teach critical thinking skills to my students, but it turns out that I don't practice what I preach.
I was in an after school meeting as the rain began to sheet down. While I love being in a car while rain is pouring down, I don't really care for driving in it, especially considering that it's around an hour to get to home in good weather. The meeting adjourned a little before four and I went to leave. There were two tornado warnings for our area as well as a severe thunderstorm warning and a special weather statement.
I went to the exit closest to where my car was parked and found the hallway full of students. They were all near the windows (no announcement had been given about the warnings) watching the rain and the flooded parking lot. There was my car, water up to the side panels. All I could think of was going home. Like another teacher just ahead of me, I walked into the parking lot towards my car rather than running. The students behind me were cheering in that tone reserved for daredevils. Their cheers turned to comments of astonishment as the water went over my ankles. Their astonishment sounded more like disgust when I got into my car, removed my shoes, and poured the water out from them into the parking lot.
I was not a good role-model. I just wanted to go home. The meeting had taken long enough. Waiting for the tornado warnings to end would have meant another hour. Who knows how long the parking lot would take to drain. Now, I had looked at the weather maps and was willing to take the risk that I did considering the warnings, but I had given an example to all of those students who were watching and cheering that might not serve them well in the future.
Had the school made an announcement, I probably would have stayed. In retrospect, I should have both stayed and escorted the students to a safer location. But all I could think of was getting home and how I didn't want to be stuck in the building for another couple of hours.
I try to teach critical thinking skills to my students, but it turns out that I don't practice what I preach.
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