Jen Coleman, a teacher in Alabama, explains why she keeps a sharpie in her emergency bag.
I’m thinking about one Sharpie pen in particular. It’s black, medium thickness. And it stays in the blue emergency bag that I keep on the filing cabinet closest to my classroom door. Our school’s emergency bags are remarkably sparse. No band-aids, no first aid materials. We have one flashlight, one sign with my name to help my students find our class if they get separated during a mass exodus, one copy of my class rosters, and one Sharpie marker. Why a marker? Someone asked that very question at a staff meeting. The nurse explained, in a completely emotionless tone, that the Sharpie was so we could identify students and write their names on their bodies in the event of an incident.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Years ago when an earthquake was predicted along the New Madrid fault by a scientist who has since passed my school district had us prepare via in service to deal with the aftermath of an earthquake in our rural two story school. It was explained by our schools nurse that in event of casualties and deaths we teachers would be first responders. We were told to create our own emergency bags and have indelible markers to write the names of the deceased children on their FOREHEADS! Years later when there was supposed threat of muslims attacking our tiny rural farm town with anthrax we again had in serve to prepare for aftermath. We were again directed by a member of law enforcement to write names of ALL in our classrooms, even the living, and ourselves so that when our poisoned bodies were discovered could identify. It was said that using right arm for one gender and left arm for the other. This is not really new idea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A startling though, crazy to say, all too familiar feeling reading this post.
The United States of America, circa August 2020
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sadly appropriate to reprint the words on a sign posted in May, 2018 on Facebook:
LET’S TAKE A MOMENT
TO HONOR THE SACRIFICE OF
OUR BRAVE SCHOOL CHILDREN
WHO LAY DOWN THEIR
LIVES TO PROTECT OUR
RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS
LikeLiked by 2 people
Before all of these morbid examples, there were the rehearsals for what students and teachers were supposed to do if we were hit with an atomic or hydrogen bomb. Heads down, eyes covered, body under your desk.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel very sorry for those that are teaching, particularly in the South where there is such a large right wing presence. Teachers are on their own to cope with the virus. The only positive thing I can think to say about Alabama is that at least you have a mask order. Also, Doug Jones seems like a good fellow that wants to make life better for working families. I hope Jones defeats Tubberville, who from all accounts, really lives in Florida. With an 8.2% rate of positivity you may be able to open relatively safely. Try to do your best to keep yourself and your charges as safe as possible, and hopefully you won’t need the sharpie.
LikeLiked by 1 person