I was in elementary school in Chicago 1957-1962 and Washington DC 1962-1964, when I graduated 6th grade. We had to do “air raid drills”, which I viewed as a variant of the traditional fire drill. In 1958, just as Gil was upsettting Tech to conclude his first coaching season, Chicago had a horrible elementary school fire (the “Lady of the Angels fire”) that killed 92 students and 3 nuns. After that, drills and other safety measures were greatly heightened.
This might be a rough week to give the strip the Mopped Up Thorp treatment, but today’s strip is done. Also, yesterday I posted a new episode of Sign Man and Fistpump Man, you’ll find it just below today’s posting.
I was afraid this was going to happen. https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/health-teacher-killed-in-south-st-louis-school-shooting-loved-her-students/article_b035a1e1-2595-51c2-8d45-0d9a42ea676d.html
seismic-2 Premium Member over 1 year ago
How common were duck-and-cover drills? I was in elementary school in the 1950s, and I never heard of them.
kdizzle over 1 year ago
Now wave them like you just don’t care!
Charks over 1 year ago
I was in elementary school in Chicago 1957-1962 and Washington DC 1962-1964, when I graduated 6th grade. We had to do “air raid drills”, which I viewed as a variant of the traditional fire drill. In 1958, just as Gil was upsettting Tech to conclude his first coaching season, Chicago had a horrible elementary school fire (the “Lady of the Angels fire”) that killed 92 students and 3 nuns. After that, drills and other safety measures were greatly heightened.
Monster Hesh over 1 year ago
How old ARE you, Gil? Also, good job leaving the classroom door open
Gil-doh! over 1 year ago
P4 “There can only be one!”
Gil-doh! over 1 year ago
Bon Jovi. Is that French?
Gil-doh! over 1 year ago
Way to go Gil, tuck into the corner and use the kids as a human shield – who’s laughing now, you funny little b*stards!
jslabotnik over 1 year ago
Gil-y don’t be a hero, don’t be a fool with your life
bearwku82 over 1 year ago
P3- William Cutting’s great great grandson storm troopers the classroom. Loin or shank?
Ignatz Premium Member over 1 year ago
I’m 64, and too young to remember “Duck and Cover” drills. How old is Gil?
artegal over 1 year ago
While school shootings are horrific, how are they worse than total world wide nuclear annihilation?
Mopman over 1 year ago
This might be a rough week to give the strip the Mopped Up Thorp treatment, but today’s strip is done. Also, yesterday I posted a new episode of Sign Man and Fistpump Man, you’ll find it just below today’s posting.
https://moppedupthorp.wordpress.com/Irish53 over 1 year ago
P 4: “…I said HANDS IN THE AIR, M**********!..” (hits Gil with rifle butt) …(other cop) “…uh, Mike…that’s a little too realistic…”
James St. John Smythe over 1 year ago
P3: The shooter was tipped off by the chant of “Nyet! Nyet! So-vi-et!” that was coming from the French room.
Jusbcuz over 1 year ago
Let’s just throw another current issue up against the wall and see if it sticks. Good lord.
chiphilton over 1 year ago
Gil, stop teaching those kids to shoot craps.
dadjo over 1 year ago
Duck and Cover is an option Vito from Goshen offers.
Irish53 over 1 year ago
Gil is confusing the Cold War with dodgeball.
lms1231 Premium Member over 1 year ago
And having tactical force in the building without giving teachers a heads-up is not okay. IMHO.
metals24 over 1 year ago
P2.5- “We used to do that at Neverland Ranch but Michael didn’t call it a drill.”
jslabotnik over 1 year ago
P2: We have Young Sheldon and Young Rock, how about a new strip Young Gil?
Johnny Q Premium Member over 1 year ago
Of course, Uncle Sam had already nuked two Japanese cities! (But it only became a problem when the Reds got the Bomb too, see?)
braindead Premium Member over 1 year ago
What’s the big deal?
More guns make us safer, right?
Especially assault weapons. Er, excuse me, assault STYLE weapons. (They are never used for actual assaults.)
Gil-doh! over 1 year ago
Where are all those Yankee fans today? Must be hiding, but it’s no drill.
tcayer over 1 year ago
“No. When I was a kid, e only had TWO genders! Oh… wait, you mean the shooter drill?”
tcayer over 1 year ago
If this is present day, then Gil would have bee born in the 80s.
mgbbobby over 1 year ago
Had them all the time in the 50’s also had fire drills
oldiesfan over 1 year ago
They were pretty common in the 1950s, or so my older sister tells me. But if Gil Thorp experienced them, that would mean he’s about 70 years old.
Snarker formerly known as Rube Whigham over 1 year ago
Looks as though we are going to have to wait a few days for Gil’s lecture on how the French worship Bon Jovi!
Gil-doh! over 1 year ago
Thoughts and prayers for today’s school shooting victims, their families and entire community.
henryjbarajas over 1 year ago