Call 911

Posted in Education

Emergency Services contacted the school and reported that a number of kindergarten students had called 911 the previous afternoon. The teachers had done a home safety presentation and, apparently, when some of the students arrived home they were curious. We were asked to do a follow-up with the kids and to emphasize that 911 was to be called ONLY in a real emergency.

The teachers readily did the follow-up. By coincidence, two police officers dropped in the school that afternoon. They were on patrol and knew that they had a standing invitation to stop by when in the area (I liked the idea of have having police in the building when things were right, not just when things were wrong). I explained about the 911 calls and asked if they wouldn’t mind speaking to the children.

It was nearing the end of the day and the kindergarten students were on the playground awaiting bus departure. The duty teacher rang the hand-bell to summon the children and they quickly formed their lines. I introduced the two officers. One of them stepped forward and talked about the seriousness of dialing 911.

When I figured the point had been made and enough had been said, the officer added the following:

“Now, everyone raise your right hand and repeat after me.”

The children raised they right hands; actually, a few had their left hands up. Staring up at the uniformed officer they repeated each word.

“I promise …..

“to only dial ….

“911 ……

“If I or someone I know …

“is hurt or in danger …..

(pause)

‘or if the bad guys are comin’.”

He didn’t define bad guys but apparently our efforts worked. The 911 calls stopped.

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Published by Gary Caines

Gary Caines is a retired teacher. During his 32 year career he taught in Newfoundland and New Brunswick and in private and public schools. He has been a principal, vice-principal, district supervisor and, something of which he is quite proud, has taught at least 1 subject at every grade level – yes, that includes kindergarten. Over the years he has served as Aide-de-Camp for three Lieutenant Governors and retired as a navigator from the Naval Reserve with the rank of Lieutenant-Commander. He directed and produced school musicals and coached rugby at four different high schools (he was still playing the game at 58). He is a recording artist, a past-master of the Masonic Lodge and, for ten years, served as a volunteer ambulance driver. He has climbed mountains in BC and been bitten by mosquitoes in Labrador. He has backpacked in Europe and sung in Irish pubs. Gary has sailed from Halifax to Thunder Bay and return. He once taught a class in Appenzell, Switzerland and twice performed with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. He is a part-president of his curling club and of Imperial Theatre. Currently he is the founder and artistic director of the Fundy Sea Shanty Festival. Oh, and something else of which he is proud, he has two beautiful children and three incredibly beautiful grandchildren. He has a lot of stories to tell.

One thought on “Call 911”

  1. Very cute, especially considering Eric’s in kindergarten now and would do, or not do, anything a police officer told him.

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