These catastrophes and wars are starting to pile up for us 50-year-olds.  More violence in the world this weekend.  More anger.  More hate.  For this one, I know someone with family there – relatives who their country will call upon to take up arms, risk their lives, and fight.  I remember when my mother bought the World Book of Encyclopedia in 1980, and I’d spend my time reading about wars and riots.  The last 43 years would add at least a few books to that collection – with chapters on the events that shaped our lives – and now shaping our kids’ lives. 

The alarming instances of hate, prejudice, and ignorance showcase the importance of education in hopes of a harmonious future.  We live in the shadows of Rodney King (1991), 9/11, The Marathon Bombing (2013), the invasion of Ukraine, the war that kicked off this weekend, and mass shootings in schools and malls.  Let us not forget John Lennon, Robin Willams, Jeffrey Epstein, or #MeToo.  Billy Joel’s song, We Didn’t Start the Fire, would have some added verses if he ever gets around to it. 

The other day, I got this picture in the mail from a friend.  It was a boost.  When I opened it, a little bit of life blew in.  A thoughtful, unexpected gift that will be framed and hung in a place of honor.  I’ve written about this story many times and keep returning to it.  But it is so important because it emphasizes the theme of the power of love and acceptance.  If you’ve gone a day without seeing ugliness, you were either lucky or you were off the grid. 

By contrasting this tale with the events above, we see a contrast between our world and the world we could shape. In the book, the Rabbit learns that becoming "real" often involves experiencing pain and loss, much like the world's scars from hate. However, healing begins through genuine love, understanding, and acceptance. Education plays a pivotal role in shaping our worldviews. By integrating stories like "The Velveteen Rabbit" and by having a comprehensive model for behavioral health and social-emotional learning, we can do some amazing stuff.

For my friend who texted me – in anger that his family would be directly involved in a war – I really did not know what to say.  The only thing I could think of was to remind him that when we go to work, we can take all our fear, anger, worry, and frustration and try to make the world better through our work with our students, staff, and families.  There is so much awful out there that we cannot do much about it.  So, when I see ignorance in social media posts – I go to work and look for programs that teach our kids how social media can be a tool for acceptance and belonging. 

By promoting empathy and understanding, encouraging critical thinking, and teaching our children quality conflict-resolution skills, we might be able to craft a less troubling world for their future.  The scars of hate remain a testament to the challenges humanity has faced. Yet, like the worn-out Velveteen Rabbit, these scars can also symbolize growth, understanding, and the potential for transformation.

Prioritizing behavioral health and social-emotional learning that instills empathy, understanding, and critical thinking, we can mold a generation that, faced with conflict, chooses to love and accept over hate. The narrative of the past need not dictate our future.