Every year at Duncan Middle School, students and staff must participate in drills. These drills are to practice if there were ever an emergency at the school, as well as ensure the safety of the staff and students.
8th grade English teacher, Brenda Hurley, said, “The school does drills at least every nine weeks to keep them fresh in everyone’s minds.” Hurley said, “These drills are beneficial in case of an emergency because they prepare the staff and students.” She said, “ Tornado drills are my least favorite drills to do because there are too many kids in one classroom and it can get hot and sweaty.” She went on to say, “Drills are set to ensure students and staff know the procedures to follow during an emergency.”
8th grade student, Sam Lipscomb, said, “ My least favorite drill to do is the intruder drill because we have to be quiet.” Lipscomb said that the fire drill is his favorite drill to do because he gets to get out of class. He said, “ I think the most important and useful drill at school is the tornado drill because in Oklahoma there are a lot of tornados.” If a tornado happens students go into the safe rooms in every hallway. These saferooms are the science classrooms or the English classrooms that have re-enforced walls, and no windows.
In 1999 the first-ever intruder drill took place in America. At DMS during an intruder drill teachers have to lock their doors, turn off the lights, cover their windows, and keep the class as quiet as possible.
The fire drill is the most common drill practiced at schools across the country. During a fire drill at DMS, students are taken across the street and participate in a head count. This is to ensure that no students are left in the building. Once the drill is over students are taken back to the school to continue with class.
