Principal allows students to use canned food as weapons

A middle school in Valley, Alabama wants to start stockpiling cans of corn and peas in classrooms for students to lob at possible intruders. W.F. Burns Middle School Principal Priscella Holley wrote a letter Friday explaining to parents that the school needs to have each individual student donate an 8-ounce canned item. She stated that the cans would be makeshift weapons to catch intruders off guard. The school staff had been working with Auburn University’s Department of Public Safety on special training to respond to such emergencies. Teachers are being taught to barricade their classroom doors if an intruder somehow gets in. If all else fails, the cans and other heavy items such as textbooks can be used. School officials have also talked about recruiting the services of Alabama Law Enforcement Agency for active shooter training. Principal Holley further commented that they sincerely hope the canned food items will never be used or needed, but preparation is the mother of success. The cans will be donated to a local food pantry at the end of the year if they are not needed for security.