Last school year my grandson experienced a terror that is plaguing our schools. On what had seemed to be a normal day, a sudden announcement changed everything. The word was that an armed man was on campus. Students and teachers were commanded to go into lockdown mode.

Unfortunately the students were in the middle of a passing period when the notification occurred. They had to scurry quickly to their classes while the teachers took a head count of who was present and who was missing. My grandson had already arrived at his science class so the teacher instructed him and other students to move from the lecture area into the far reaches of the laboratory. Meanwhile she herded any stray students she was able to find into the safety of her protection. Soon the doors to the classroom as well as the door to the lab were locked and the students helped move heavy furniture to shore up the strength of the door. Then they all gathered in a windowless area and sat in silence while wondering what was happening outside. 

My grandson, like most of his classmates, was quietly sending texts to his parents alerting them to what was happening. He told them that he loved them and admitted to being terrified that he might never see them again. It was a tense time when minutes felt like hours. Eventually the danger passed. An announcement proclaimed that it had all been a hoax from a phone call. Later the school would determine that a student who had created the furor would be expelled and arrested for his dangerous prank. 

After the event the students and teachers received updated training. They may no longer hold open doors for others, even if they know that person. Backpacks are now banned. Doors have to be closed and locked except during passing periods. There is an unspoken tension that lurks over the once happy days of being young. Many students are feeling anxious and depressed that their world feels so dangerous. 

It was with a kind of personal interest that I recently read an article in the Washington Post reporting that hundreds of active shooter calls have been made to schools and police departments in literally every state in the nation. Only later do the officials learn that the calls were sent as a hoax. In the most egregious cases the calls are untraceable and often come from someone with the same voice. Technology has allowed this kind of thing to happen more and more often leaving law enforcement frazzled and schools feeling ever more vulnerable. While much work and coordination is being done to determine who is behind these fake emergencies, little progress has been made. In the meantime every one of them has to be taken seriously lest the one that is ignored proves to be the one that is real. 

It breaks my heart to think of the fear that lurks in the back of the minds of everyone involved with our nation’s schools. Students most assuredly are watching for signs of trouble. Teachers are no doubt having nightmares and anxiety attacks as they consider what they should do in the event a real shooting event. Administrators and police want to make our schools safe places where everyone knows that they are protected. Sadly hoax shooter calls only increase the concerns that now stalk our schools. 

I don’t think that the dysfunction of our government is helping. When young people observe that the supposed adults in the room are unwilling to set aside their differences to find solutions to the many problems that we face they become disillusioned and sad. Right now it feels as though we are undergoing a national divorce between two political philosophies that seem unable to do the right thing for the citizens rather than proving points and advocating vindictive retaliation. Honesty and cooperation have taken a back seat to stubborn allegiance to platforms and that will get them reelected. Our nation feels broken and it is our young people who are bearing the brunt of our divisions. 

I have known people who reached a point of no return in their marriages. Divorce was the best way to move forward. In the best of these situations the children were spared the bickering. With great concern for the children the estranged adults were willing to share and compromise. They did not spread vile stories about each other to their children. They encouraged the kids to be happy with both of them but in different settings. The youngsters felt save and loved. They were able to adjust to the new reality.

In the worst cases the parents vie for the affection of the children. They reveal deeply disturbing stories about one another to little ones who can’t quite understand the issues. They force children to choose between the two of them. They plant vile ideas in their minds. Those children are victims. They are harmed psychologically in ways from which they may never recover without intense therapy. This is how I see the political landscape in out country today. This is why our young men and woman have lost faith in us. It is a tragedy of epic proportions because it never had to happen. 

I have said it before and I will continue saying it. Being tribal is destructive. Our government was designed to only function smoothly when opposing points of view found ways to compromise for the good of all, not a particular segment of the populace. The tragic split in our nation during the Civil War pitted brother against brother in the most horrific clash. I fear that we are close to that when we have a presidential candidate swearing retribution and refusing to accept the results of an election. In fact those same people are already setting up a scenario for the next presidential election that will be lose/lose for every American citizen. We have to stop voting for people who stoke anger and violence. We have to become civil again. Our children want us to stop fighting. They want to feel safe again and we have much to do to accomplish that. Think of this before you give someone your vote. It counts more than ever.