Mexican teacher calmed primary pupils with song during drug shooting

[Judi Lynn]

Mexican teacher calmed primary pupils with song during drug shooting
Martha Rivera Alanis was honoured for her bravery after mobile phone footage of the ordeal spread around the internet
Adam Gabbatt and agencies guardian.co.uk,
Tuesday 31 May 2011 17.41 BST

http://static.guim.co.uk.nyud.net:8090/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/5/31/1306858356234/School-teacher-Martha-Riv-007.jpg

Martha Rivera Alanis receives a certificate from Nuevo León state governor Rodrigo
Medina. Photograph: Tomas Bravo/Reuters

A Mexican teacher has been honoured after video footage showed her calming pupils as a gun battle raged outside her school.

Martha Rivera Alanis was presented with a certificate on Monday to recognise her bravery in ordering her class of five- and six-year-olds to lie on the floor of their classroom, before attempting to soothe them by leading a chorus of a song from television show Barney & Friends.

Rivera Alanis filmed some of the scenes from inside the classroom in Monterrey – the sound of gunfire can be clearly heard – and posted the resulting video on Twitter. It was picked up and quickly spread around the internet, with the 33-year-old teacher earning the admiration of many.

"Of course, I was afraid, but I tell you, my kids get me through it," Rivera Alanis said after a ceremony hosted by the governor of the northeastern province of Nuevo León.

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/31/teacher-sang-to-children-during-shooting

This is the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZZtyG-Auvc