Brockton Teachers Given Bucket Of Tools To Protect Students From Active Shooter
BROCKTON (CBS) – Teachers in Brockton are being given more than school supplies as the new year gets underway.
The district is providing educators with 5-gallon buckets that have a wooden doorstop, a hammer, 50 feet of rope, and a roll of duct tape. The kit is aimed to help teachers protect students in the case of an active shooter situation or other emergency.
Brockton Deputy Superintendent of Schools Mike Thomas told WBZ-TV that in the event of an emergency, teachers need to be able to think quickly on their feet.
"The hammer can also be used, for example, if the teacher is on the first floor (and) the windows don't open, we can smash out the window," Thomas said.
Students say they're fine with the added buckets in the classroom.
"It's kind of weird, but it's for safety, so I'd do anything for safety," one student said.
"Having the bucket is very safe," another student said.
Lowe's supplied buckets to the district at a wholesale cost to the city. About 1,080 kits were assembled for Brockton classrooms.
"When I started teaching, this was the last thing you had to think about, and now, it's the first thing you have to think about," Thomas said.