Schools in our nation seem to be under siege from lone shooters, bullies, disturbing phone calls and emails, and the occasional bomb threat. It’s a sad state of affairs when armed guards and metal detectors become as common as whiteboards and backpacks.

Numerous comments and suggestions have been offered, and it is not my intention to join the crowd in an attempt to remedy the situation. However, I want to reflect on a time when learning and school attendance was not fraught with anguish and distress.

Let’s harken back to the days, at least in my lifetime, when nuns were prevalent in the school system. Classes were cramped with 60 children to a room, yet courtesy and kindness toward each other not only existed, it was demanded. The American flag was revered. Occasionally a spitball was launched, but the culprit was quickly escorted to see the principal. Each day provided a learning experience instead of disorder and havoc.

Those were different times; there were fewer confrontations between students and parents. The nuns were in charge and performed their roles with grace and sensibility. That’s not to say that teachers don’t operate in a similar fashion today.

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