School Days

Many people think back upon their school days with nostalgia, especially those who grew up in the "Leave it to Beaver" world that emerged after the world wars. The 1950s brought forth a kinder, gentler national image. Beaver ran home to his mom who cleaned their middle class house wearing a pretty dress and a string of pearls. She calmed her world. Father knew best in those days and Donna Reed managed to feed and nurture her family through any storm.

Children's books of that era displayed innocence and peace. "Sammy the Seal," written by the acclaimed Syd Hoff, pictures Sammy in a schoolroom. Girls are wearing pretty little dresses and all the boys play baseball. Sammy is very good at recess sports but when singing in the chorus, his bark alerts the teacher that a seal has joined her class. It is all good fun.

Classrooms were pictured idyllic, everyone in their place with the teacher in total control. Those who stepped out of line stood in the corner to contemplate the seriousness of their misdemeanor. "Morris the Moose" by B. Wiseman introduced us to a moose who really wanted to learn his ABCs and 123s. It didn't seem at all strange that a moose sat learning diligently, proud of his accomplishments. Morris followed all the rules and kids loved him.

The world did not stay gentle. The 60s and 70s ushered in bell bottom pants worn by both girls and boys and mini skirts that would make grandmas blush. Schools changed, too and have continued to change over the years. Fire and earthquake drills were eventually accompanied by Active Shooter drills after school shootings became a common occurrence across the nation.

Since late last century September has been the time where many readers turn their attention to the Hogwarts Express and the epic story of Harry Potter. An orphan boy found family, security and safety within the walls of his school. He was "the boy who lived." The boy who lived! Imagine that! The boy who had to fight the greatest evil on earth. The boy who survived and saved all others with him. Of course, the story is fantasy.

In the real world it is not as easy to save one's self or others when schools are attacked. There are 97 young adult books listed on Goodreads that deal with the subject of school shootings. Shootings have become a horrific but common occurrence, and no longer can a child that is at risk at home find comforting security and nurturing within school walls. Schools are now surrounded by extra fencing and cameras and in some, school guards that carry guns. Shutdowns happen often because of bomb threats or the sighting of a gun in a backpack. Bullies have been emboldened and teachers attacked by their students. This is reality not fantasy.

While parents, teachers and city and state officials work toward providing safer schools, authors continue to document the world where our students actually endure terrorism in order to get an education. Adults can see into their world by picking up a book like "nineteen minutes" by Jodi Picoult. Things have seriously changed from the 1950s and this is the reality of America's children. While kids can have information at their fingertips with a laptop or phone, it has come at a price. The price of innocence.

Author Ellie Peterson reminds us in her picture book "School is Wherever I Am" that learning is not just found within the walls of classrooms or in libraries full of books but also in homes where a mother takes time to teach kitchen safety while instructing on how to bake a pie or loaf of bread. Learning is found on the soccer field where the coach teaches his team all the skills of the game while instilling the values of good sportsmanship. Walking on a city sidewalk can be a lesson in humanity. All life is precious and nothing is more precious than our children. Let's not leave it to fantasy or a Harry Potter character to save them. Adults need to be the heroes in their children's lives and exact real changes to make schools safe. And that means safe not safer. We owe our children much more than their innocence back. We owe them their lives.

Good Books.

Good reading.

*Midge Lyn'dee is a fictional character used for the purpose of entertainment though the reviews are real and sincere.