Our Children are Watching

 Our children are watching. 

Our children learn much more than academics when they are in school. Schools provide an opportunity for students to  grow as people, to learn how to get along with others, to show empathy for those who may be struggling, to make new friends, to be responsible for what they say and do, to persevere when things are challenging, to listen to other viewpoints, to learn to lead as well as to follow, and to find the joy in learning together with their classmates. Schools are also important venues for learning life skills such as responsibility, perseverance, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving, skills that students carry with them throughout their lives. 

When I was a principal, our behavioral expectations were simple: Take care of yourself. Take care of others. Take care of our school.  Most schools have similar behavioral expectations. We know that academic success is emphasized in schools, but kids who care about the world they live in and who contribute positively to their community is just as important. 

Which leads me to this: Our children are watching. These are very contentious times. The race for our nation’s leadership is on very public display. What are our children seeing on social media and the news media? Are the discussions, interviews, and debates positive and respectful?  What are the candidates’ plans to make our country and the world a better place? Are the candidates debating the issues and sharing accurate data?  Do they seek to unite us as a nation or to divide us? 

As a society, I believe it is our responsibility to leave this world a better place for the next generation, and that was always my goal as an educator. I constantly remind myself of the Native American proverb: “We do not inherit this world from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children.” I hope you agree that striving for a better world for our children should be the goal of all of us, but most importantly, for the next leader of our country. 

When Will We Learn?

There was another school shooting last week. It was the 45th school shooting this year, and it happened at the start of a new school year. Two students and two teachers were killed at Apalachee High School in Georgia. According to this Washington Post article,  there have been 417 school shootings since 1999 when 15 students died at Columbine High School. I remember the shock and the outrage that such a thing could happen in one of the schools in our country. Today, a school shooting is often relegated to the back pages of the newspaper. 

Back in February 2018, I wrote a blog post after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, killing 17 people and injuring another 17. In the aftermath, those high school students became activists, advocating for sensible changes to the gun laws. They were passionate and articulate and organized March for Our Lives to “demand a world free of gun violence.“ Today, that organization continues to push for sensible gun control laws: 

As a retired school principal, school shootings continue to affect me immensely. I know that all of the practice drills and professional development trainings might not adequately prepare and keep our students and staff safe during an actual school shooting. Parents send their kids to school and expect us to keep them safe. Schools take that responsibility seriously.

Back in 2012, I wrote a blog about a lockdown situation at our school. (A Safe School) The situation was under control, but we could not relax until we got the all-clear from the military. I remember overhearing a parent come in the next day to request a form to homeschool her children. I went over to chat with her about her decision. She shared that when she heard about the lockdown, she experienced a high level of anxiety and stress. It was nothing against the school; she just needed to know that her children were safe. 

Many schools and school districts already face budget deficits. This article by Pew Research shares how schools have adapted to this new normal: “U.S. school security procedures have become more widespread in recent years but are still unevenly adopted.” When funds need to be allocated to changing door locks or installing video cameras or hiring armed security guards, that could mean eliminating staff or having to choose between upgrading technology for student use or providing mental health services for students who are struggling. 

There is no easy solution. But if we can agree that schools should be safe places for our students and staff, perhaps the discussion will be more productive and will lead to sensible solutions. I hope our country can agree on that.