09.06.06
God Bless You, Teachers: Jon’s Story
by Greg EnglandTo honor the many teachers at our church recently, we showed a 20-minute video clip of an event that happened in Moses Lake, Washington, 10 years ago. During math class at the local junior high, a student entered a classroom with a high-powered rifle, shot and killed two students and their teacher, as well as wounding other students. Jon Lane, teaching math in a nearby classroom, heard the noise and went to check it out. He entered a killing field and quickly took cover behind the teacher’s desk … just next to her dead body.
The gunman, by the name of Barry, asked who had come into the room. Mr. Lane identified himself and Barry told him to stand up. Lane said he was too afraid to stand. Barry replied, “Do I have to shoot more students?” At that, Jon stood with his hands in the air. One girl was critically wounded and Jon asked if he could take her out of the room. The gunman allowed him to leave, carrying her in his arms. He could have stayed outside the room and allowed the police to handle the situation, but he returned to the classroom. After all, he said, “I was still the teacher.” He asked for and received permission to release one other student who was frantic due to low blood sugar. Jon returned a second time into this extremely dangerous and unpredictable situation.
In the meantime, the gunman told the rest of the students to line up against the back wall. No doubt, he planned on shooting more of them when Jon re-entered the room. At that point, the gunman wrapped a plastic bag around the end of the barrel and told Jon he was going to place the barrel in Jon’s mouth. Jon protested: “Barry, the gun might go off again.” The gunman was making no more allowances for Mr. Lane. It was at this moment that Jon, a former high school wrestler, used his skill to take the gunman off-guard and pin him against a wall while students rushed to safety and police officers stormed the room. What would have been a much worse tragdy ended with no more deaths because of the bravery of this math teacher.
Ten years later, the town gathered to honor Jon Lane, by presenting a newly refurbished Boy’s and Girl’s Club that Jon had started years before. It was completely rennovated and dedicated in Jon’s honor. The students whose lives he’d saved were present, along with their families. The most tear-filled moment (and there were others) was when the 3 or 4 year-old daughter of the girl who’d been critically wounded came on stage and told Jon, “Thank you for saving my mommy’s life.” If you can imagine that statement from the sweet, innocent voice of a child, then you’re probably experiencing some tear-filled eyes right now.
What made this story even more meaningful to our church is the fact one of our members (a teacher), Tom D., also grew up in Moses Lake where he and Jon Lane were best of friends from childhood through high school and remain close friends to this day.
In accepting the honor given by the town, Jon Lane made the comment that teachers do more than just teach. Being married to a teacher and having many close friends who are teachers (I actually taught in junior college for two years, but I defer to the real teachers on this one), I know for a fact they do more than just teach. As worn out as the phrases have become, they literally touch lives as well as touch the future.
So to all the teachers out there who might read this, may God’s blessings and grace be on you as you enter a new school year! You are loved and respected. Under-appreciated and under-paid!