Sad times as we wrestle with a new normal for our schools and children

Sad times. Will this be the way it is from now on? A loud noise sets off the nerves of a teacher (why wouldn’t it?). Thinking it could be a gun, the school goes on lockdown and calls in the incident as “shots fired” and, thankfully, deputies are there in a couple minutes, and go through the building, clearing each classroom ...

Live Oak residents dealt with all that week before last.

We just want that teacher, all the rest of the staff, the law enforcement personnel and the kids to know that we appreciate their response. It was the right thing to do; much, much better safe than sorry.

Still ... we’re saddened by the fact that this is probably going to be a new reality. We really doubt it will be the last time it happens. We don’t think things will ever be the way they used to be ... And it’s best if communities have frank and open discussions about how to handle alarms and false alarms.

(We heard some discussion about whether parents should pick their kids up when it turns out to be a false alarm ... our point of view: of course they should if they want to ... but communities should discuss it.)

There was some pleasant irony in the March 10 edition, by the way. At the top of the front page was a report on that false alarm and the lockdown and drama at a Live Oak elementary school. Below it was a feature story about Live Oak High School students getting ready to showcase their artwork.

We have always worried about the world ruining our children. Let’s remember to support them and appreciate the good things they do in equal or greater proportions to the worrying.