Earthquake Drill
We just had an announcement that there has been an earthquake. I was sitting at my desk when a calm voice came over the loudspeaker and explained that there has just been an earthquake and that everyone should get under their desks.
We've known this drill was coming, so nobody really did anything, but just kept on working in the staff room (although I would assume it'd be different if our chairs started rolling from side to side... they did during one small quake!).
Minutes later, we heard another announcement: Kaji desu, kaji desu! Now there is a fire... and the funniest alarm I have ever heard (like a plastic elephant toy). The teachers all jumped out and headed to the doors, where we stood in a line and escorted the students past, outside to the dirt-covered baseball grounds. They got in line with their classes (by class number, classes in number order and in order by grade) as the principal gave announcements and directions. A few loud boys were forced to sit on the side of the student formation as punishment for not sitting still.
After a little while, the fire chief (who looked like he could have been dressed for the civil army - sans hat, but with the white gloves) gave a speech through the megaphone as the student council president learned how to use the water hose. All of this action was positioned next to the smallest, cutest firetruck I have ever seen (although people looked alarmed that I was so surprised by the size); the rest of the students watched on. Up until 5 years ago, the students would apparently run outside and immediately form lines next to the school swimming pool to pass buckets of water (from the pool) down the line until the last student in the relay portion of this line could throw it on the fire. I am told this was also very effective.... but I would take my changes with the hose before the bucket approach.
After a few minutes of this practice, another senior teacher assumed his spot in front of the 1,000-strong student body and scolded them for innapropriate hair, dress, bike manners, etc before they were released by grade. They always take the opportunity to remind the students of staying in line when they have them all together (have heard that my school is one of the most strict in the Prefecture from multiple sources... might not be so true now, but the students all had army haircuts until 15 years ago and girls still can't have hair touching their back during school functions).
I snuck back in a side door, still wearing my inside shoes (everyone was) and then met some teachers outside for lunch. I am really happy we do these drills, because there is a realistic possibility of experiencing a large(r) earthquake in Japan and most damage is usually done by fire, anyways. I am also glad our grand plan is not to throw buckets of water from the swimming pool on the fire until it dies down... yikes.
We've known this drill was coming, so nobody really did anything, but just kept on working in the staff room (although I would assume it'd be different if our chairs started rolling from side to side... they did during one small quake!).
Minutes later, we heard another announcement: Kaji desu, kaji desu! Now there is a fire... and the funniest alarm I have ever heard (like a plastic elephant toy). The teachers all jumped out and headed to the doors, where we stood in a line and escorted the students past, outside to the dirt-covered baseball grounds. They got in line with their classes (by class number, classes in number order and in order by grade) as the principal gave announcements and directions. A few loud boys were forced to sit on the side of the student formation as punishment for not sitting still.
After a little while, the fire chief (who looked like he could have been dressed for the civil army - sans hat, but with the white gloves) gave a speech through the megaphone as the student council president learned how to use the water hose. All of this action was positioned next to the smallest, cutest firetruck I have ever seen (although people looked alarmed that I was so surprised by the size); the rest of the students watched on. Up until 5 years ago, the students would apparently run outside and immediately form lines next to the school swimming pool to pass buckets of water (from the pool) down the line until the last student in the relay portion of this line could throw it on the fire. I am told this was also very effective.... but I would take my changes with the hose before the bucket approach.
After a few minutes of this practice, another senior teacher assumed his spot in front of the 1,000-strong student body and scolded them for innapropriate hair, dress, bike manners, etc before they were released by grade. They always take the opportunity to remind the students of staying in line when they have them all together (have heard that my school is one of the most strict in the Prefecture from multiple sources... might not be so true now, but the students all had army haircuts until 15 years ago and girls still can't have hair touching their back during school functions).
I snuck back in a side door, still wearing my inside shoes (everyone was) and then met some teachers outside for lunch. I am really happy we do these drills, because there is a realistic possibility of experiencing a large(r) earthquake in Japan and most damage is usually done by fire, anyways. I am also glad our grand plan is not to throw buckets of water from the swimming pool on the fire until it dies down... yikes.
posted by Brenda Ann Elizabeth McKinney @ 5:30 PM
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