This is not a drill, ALICE

'No Way To Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens.

- The Onion

Alert yourselves to the fact that children’s
Lives are dispensable. How
Else can you explain
Refusal to limit access
To guns?

Let’s review.
On April 20, 1999, two teens in
Columbine killed 13 students and 1 teacher,
Kicking off a school-shooting epidemic,
Death stalking the halls of Sandy Hook, Parkland, Uvalde, forcing
Our children to cower in corners during lockdowns,
Wondering, will I be
Next?

I used to teach high school English to
Nonnative speakers new to our country.
First, we covered grammar—subject, verb,
Object, enough words to explain the
Reality of an active shooter drill. Welcome to
‘Merica, where you might get shot in homeroom.

Can’t take away
Our sacred right to own military assault rifles in One Nation,
Under God. Instead, we look into children’s eyes & say
No, we won’t protect you. We
Teach them the acronym ALICE, teach them to lock then barricade the door,
Educate them in the use of classroom objects as weapons,
Ready them to counter an attacker with an AR-15. Tell them

Evacuation gives you the best chance at survival, a
Verifiable fact derived from data compiled after hundreds of school shootings.
Always, always try to escape—hiding & remaining silent
Can cost you your life. Please raise your hand if you
Understand how we got to this moment, preventing our children from knowing
Alice as a lost little girl in Wonderland, sipping
Tea with the Mad Hatter, wondering & wondering if she will
Ever wake up.

Lori Litchman is a Philadelphia-based writer and poet. She’s a former high school teacher who is grateful she no longer has to practice ALICE drills. She’s the author of 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Day Trips.