IRL

‘Lockdown, Lockdown’: Kindergarten class learns shooting-drill nursery rhyme

‘Go behind the desk and hide, wait until it’s safe inside.’

Photo of Onaje McDowelle

Onaje McDowelle

Kindergarten class has nursery rhyme for lockdown procedures.

A tour of Kindergarten classes quickly turned dark after a Massachusetts mother came across a particularly morbid nursery rhyme that soundtracks lockdown preparations for young students.

Featured Video

Advertisement

“Lockdown lockdown, lock the door, shut the lights off say no more,” read the lyrics on the classroom chalkboard about what to do in case of a school shooting or similar situation. “Go behind the desk and hide, wait until it’s safe inside. Lockdown lockdown, it’s all done. Now it’s time to have some fun.”

Inevitably, the words were of deep horror to Georgy Cohen, who was browsing various schools throughout the Somerville public school system for her 5-year-old daughter to attend in the fall, according to the Boston Globe. The photo of the classroom poster, which Cohen later tweeted, drew the attention of other users who expressed similar sentiments of disgust surrounding the themes of the song and its cutesy treatment.

Advertisement

https://twitter.com/hazelandbay/status/1004549468744757249

Advertisement

Cohen said that although the spectacle of such a song is discomfiting, she realizes that these kinds of measures have to be taken in today’s public schools. “These are the things they, unfortunately, have to do,” she said in an interview with the Globe. “Part of their job is to educate and keep my kids safe, and I feel confident they are going to do both of those things to the best of their ability.” 

She did mention, however, that in light of recent events, she worries the song may be normalizing school shootings and that she wants to people to remain sensitive to the issue.

Administration officials at the Somerville Public School system have yet to comment on the song and the viral response to Cohen’s tweet.

Advertisement

H/T the Cut

 
The Daily Dot