Preschool teacher reveals what she carries in her backpack to keep her students quiet and safe
A preschool teacher in North Carolina has revealed how she carries a backpack containing items to keep her class of young children quiet and distracted when a school shooting occurs.
Erica Rogers posted a three-minute 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, Rogers explained how the safety of her students in the event of a shooting always comes first. As a result, she never goes anywhere without the backpack.
Rogers shared her concerns and asked fellow teachers if they had any advice and tips for preparing for such dire emergencies.
Rogers teaches at a Baptist church similar to the one in Tennessee, making this latest tragedy strike very close to home.
North Carolina kindergarten teacher Erica Rogers posted a video asking other teachers how they prepare for emergencies like shootings
Rogers carries a backpack full of supplies, including bottled water, candy, a first aid kit, and other children’s distractions, including crayons and play-doh
“After I heard about Monday’s shooting in Nashville, it really triggered me,” she shared GMA.
She notes that the school regularly hosts target practice and target practice.
Rogers reveals that her backpack is kept stocked with supplies, including bottled water and even candy, which she hopes will keep the youngsters quiet.
She explains that it’s hard to keep preschoolers quiet for ages three to four, so she has a stash of Dum Dum suckers to keep them entertained.
“I teach ages three to four, so they are little boys. I can’t necessarily say “sit down and be quiet” and expect them to sit down and be quiet for a long time. So I’ve got a bag of suckers,” Rogers said in her video.
They’re just Dum Dum suckers and my thinking is I’d give them over and over and over and over. I’m not worried about the nutritional value of a snack. It’s something in their mouth. It will keep them busy for at least a few minutes.
Rogers is a mother of two children who are the same age as those in her class
Rogers says she feels it’s important to continue to discuss the issue because it affects not only her classroom, but other areas of the school where she and her students attend.
Rogers also explained that crayons and other fidget toys are helpful for buying extra minutes of time and the ability to distract the class for about 20 minutes.
“It may sound like a lot I have in my bag, but every little thing, if it gets me two minutes at a time, I mean, that’s potentially 20 minutes I can entertain a kid, if not longer, to keep them to keep them quiet, to keep them safe,” said Rogers, who herself is a mother of two.
Some of those who responded to Roger’s post made suggestions, including carrying wasp spray, scissors, and even canned food.
Rogers says she now plans to add a mini first aid kit to her backpack.
“What’s really surprised me is the number of saves I’ve gotten on the video, people wanting to save it so they can go back and watch it again,” she said. “I hope I never need anything from that part of my bag, but when I do, I feel so much more prepared, as best I can,” she added.
According to the Gun Violence Archiveswhich defines a mass shooting as a shooting in which four or more people are shot or killed, not counting the shooter.
This year alone, there have been 26 shootings in elementary, middle, or high schools.
Rogers says she feels it’s important to continue to discuss the issue because it affects not only her classroom, but other areas of the school where she and her students attend.
Rogers teaches at a Baptist church similar to the one in Tennessee this week, meaning the whole shooting seems to have stayed a little close to home this time around
“We can go anywhere or we can also walk down a hallway and then it’s, ‘Oh, we have to go into this closet.'” Rogers said.
“You’ll hear another one somewhere and it’s terrifying. That’s so scary because you never know where it will be. Even if it’s not you, it will happen to someone else. And I don’t know how to be okay with it.
“I’ve told people at work this won’t be the last shooting before the end of the school year, I guarantee you that. We still have 12 weeks. You’ll hear another one somewhere and it’s terrifying. That’s so scary because you never know where it will be. Even if it’s not you, it will happen to someone else. And I don’t know how to agree.’