There was a time when the school safety drill gave students a nice escape from the monotony of class and a chance to have a smoke with the shop teacher. Now, if recent events at the Godfrey-Lee Middle and High School are to be accepted, modern drills are all tears and soiled trousers. Good thing the parents and students of the Wyoming, Michigan, institution aren’t accepting of rifle-toting lawmen clad in full tactical gear raining terror on its hallways as part of a school safety drill.

Though none of the officers had live ammo, students had no clue what was going on when they were pulled from class by heavily armed police, patted down, and forced to stand facing the wall while being grilled about the contents of their pockets.

“Some of these kids were so scared they just about wet their pants,” said the mother of four Godfrey-Lee students.

Principal David Britten insists telling students would have ruined the drill’s effectiveness. Police didn’t know students weren’t made aware of the drill and, in the future, will mandate that all parties be forewarned.

» Scott Saxon