Crash Test
A crash test is held on the fly as Carol Harrison’s husband takes a dive off a desk and quick-wittedly turns it into a teachable moment, much to Carol’s chagrin.
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Teaching Experiences
For a number of years, my husband Brian and I taught in Northern Saskatchewan. This puzzle piece of our lives looked different than teaching elsewhere might have looked and gave me many stories to share. As a new school year has begun, I thought it might be fun to share some of these stories with you, the listeners. This one is called, “The Crash Test”.
Unique, teachable moments happen when you work in a one or two room school. When you are teaching in a small, Northern Community with your husband as the other teacher, you never know what might happen on any given school day.
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A Loud Crash
One morning, a loud crash, from the other classroom, interrupted the lesson I was teaching. An eerie, but brief, silence followed as the students and I listened for more unusual noises. Hearing no further crashes, screams, or other mayhem emanating from the grades five to eight classroom, a murmur started spreading throughout my class, as they speculated on the cause of the noise. I shrugged while I tried to decide what crazy idea my husband, the other teacher, had instigated to capture the attention of his students.
Just as I resumed teaching, our door burst open, and two grade seven kids rushed towards me. . Their words tumbled out simultaneously, “Mrs. Harrison! Mrs. Harrison! You’ve got to come quickly. Mr. Harrison fell off the desk. He’s not moving. Help! Come quickly!” They exited the room even as these last words escaped their lips.
He’s Still Not Moving
Leaving the teacher assistant in charge of my students, I hurried from my classroom, wondering what my husband had done now. Entering the next room I could not see him for the crush of his students surrounding him. Their loud whispers carried to the back of the classroom, “He’s still not moving! Is he dead?”
I froze. My feet refused to move closer to investigate as I listened to them voice their fears. Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes. I shuddered and drew in a couple deep breaths. With more bravado than bravery I began to move forward, knowing the responsibility to check out their teacher, and to keep the students calm, rested on me.
Assessing the Situation
I urged everyone to move back and give me room to assess the situation. Chaos erupted as everyone attempted to get my attention.
“I can’t understand anything when you all talk at once. Slow down. Now one at a time tell me what happened.” I said in a sharper tone than I meant to.
“Mr. Harrison climbed on the desk right over there.” one of the boys said as he pointed to one of the student desks now standing close to the front wall. “He was putting up some of our pictures. All of a sudden he fell. Crashed right there on the floor just like that. Hasn’t moved since.”
A grade eight student continued the story, “Some of us were going to try waking him up, see if he could sit up. Then we remembered what the nurse said yesterday in health. You know that first aid stuff we’re supposed to be learning.”
One of the girls took up the story “Yah, we’re not supposed to move a person who’s hurt.” She rushed the next words, “We didn’t move him Mrs. Harrison. Honest!”
“We checked his breathing. Seemed to be okay. Couldn’t see any blood. That’s when we sent for help. You came. Now you’ll know what to do, right?” one of the other grade seven students said.
“Okay. You’ve told me the details so move back and let me check.” I said. “Please.”
The Crash Test Wink
Once everyone had moved back towards their desks, but not into them, I knelt beside the prone form of my husband. He lay on his back with his eyes closed, not moving at all. I leaned closer. He opened his eyes ever so slightly, just enough for me to see. Then, he winked! I did not know whether to smack him for scaring us all or play along. I played along.
“I agree. He’s breathing nicely.” I assured the children. “You’re right. There isn’t any blood. What else should we check for? Do you remember?”
They began to move closer. I had one of the oldest students check his pulse. He fumbled a bit but once he found it he listened intently for a few seconds.
“Sounds strong and regular I think,” he said.
“Good! Now does anyone have ideas on checking for broken bones?
After a few good answers some students checked his arms and legs for obvious breaks. “Can’t find anything sticking out and they aren’t all bent funny. Does that mean no broken bones teacher?”
“Yes it doesn’t look like any major broken bones to worry about. Now, can you think of anything else the nurse told us to check when administering first aid?
Crash Test Over
They shook their heads. At that moment Mr. Harrison slowly opened his eyes, playing the part of a dazed patient perfectly. I allowed several students to help him sit up. They enjoyed holding up fingers, “How many do you see teacher?”
“What day is it? Where are you? Do you remember what happened? Do you have a headache? ” they asked in rapid succession.
After he answered each question to their satisfaction they helped him to his feet and eased him into a chair. He smiled at his students, “Thanks for looking after me so well. I feel fine now. You did well.”
Acing the First Aid Health Exam
After school Mr. Harrison and I chatted about the events of the morning.
“What were you thinking, climbing up on a sloped student desk like that?” I asked him. “You could have killed yourself or really been injured, not just play acting!”
“It’s okay. I didn’t get hurt, just had the wind knocked out of me. When I heard the kids talking, trying to figure out what to do, I decided to see what they remembered from yesterday’s lesson. I figured you’d play along.”
“But you scared the daylights out of me, not to mention your students. Not much fun for us!” I responded.
“All’s well. I didn’t really get hurt and besides now I know my class aced their first aid portion of the health exam without giving them a pen and paper test.” he said and grinned.
Crash Test Passed
His grade five to eight students all passed their spur of the moment “Crash Test” that day. Will they ever forget the steps of first aid? We both figured the lessons they had put into practice would last longer than anything they might have memorized for a regular style exam. Maybe a traditional paper and pencil test would have been quieter and safer but definitely not as unique a teachable moment as we had all experienced that morning.
Teachable moments come when we least expect them. Are we ready for them?
Carol Harrison
Listen to Carol’s program Puzzle Pieces Of Life.
Carol Harrison B.Ed is a speaker and published author with one book, Amee’s Story and stories in twelve anthologies. She is passionate about helping people of all ages and ability levels find their voice and reach their fullest potential.
She knows, through personal experience that some of life’s experiences are tougher than others. She encourages people that even in the twists and turns of life God’s amazing grace provides hope. She lives in Saskatoon, SK with her husband Brian. They have four adult children and a dozen grandchildren.
Visit Carol’s website carolscorner.ca
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Images Credits
Crash Test Dummies – Marcin Cieślak
Classroom – bairli1
Teenagers – moffi12
Kermit – Alexas_fotos
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