Video: Kids taught to shut out gun violence by ‘stop, drop and sing’
Dec 21, 2012, 6:42 AM | Updated: 7:15 am
The violence in Newtown, Connecticut, is not just an American phenomenon. There is violence at or near schools around the world. Don’t forget: There were 22 children stabbed in a Chinese school a week ago Friday too.
But looking at how each country tries to keep their kids safe in school can be eye-opening.
While people bursting into schools and opening fire is quite rare in Mexico, gun violence outside the walls is quite common, considering all the of drug and gang violence that permeates the country.
A few years ago, a two hour gun battle between the Army and cartel members played out right next to a school. A thousand kids were put on the floor as teachers boarded windows with desks and chairs.
Kindergarten teacher Martha Rivera found herself in a similar situation recently with a gun battle right outside her window. She calmly got her 16 students on the floor as rifles were unloading just outside her class. She captured it all on her cell phone.
She leads the children in a song, and as they sing, five men are murdered just feet away.
These shootings outside schools are so common in Mexico they actually prepare for them.
Our kids practice getting under desks during earthquake drills. Mexican children practice stop, drop and sing.
