Stupidity: When birds gather in the schoolyard, Melanie runs in to warn Annie. Rather than call the police or fire department for help and shelter in place until aid arrives (which would take about ten minutes), they make a run for it with the children, out in the open, attacked by the birds. As it's the 1960s, the schoolhouse must have a working phone. Even if it didn't or wasn't working, one adults could have driven in Melanie's car to get help.