Dear Parents,

No matter your opinion of our president-elect, I would like to share some thoughts that I expressed to the class this morning during a discussion of these current events. My goal was to comfort those who were worried about where this election leaves us. Several times I emphasized the point that our country has strong institutions that prevent a single person, no matter how mean or disrespectful his words are, from making sweeping changes that affect the way we live. Making your own choice about treating others with love and compassion, and doing and saying things that you know are kind and respectful is still the way we expect students to behave, despite this perhaps being a greater challenge with some of the role models children see in sports, entertainment, and yes, politics.

Working in a traditionally politically conservative community, I find that it is challenging to see diversity on the surface, necessitating a closer examination of and relationship with students to notice those particular characteristics that make them unique. While it's easy to stay right in town and conduct all one's business without leaving Williamston, I have come to know children who have friends of a more racially and ethnically diverse background, perhaps through church groups, sports teams, and scouts. Maybe your child knows someone whose skin is not the same color as his/her own, whose ancestors did not originally hail from Europe, or whose way of worshiping seems so very different. Such may be the case for your child, growing up in the shadow of the state capital and a major university with thousands of international students.

It was clear to me from the start of the day that a few of the children were deeply disturbed by yesterday's election, so I finished our morning talk by quoting Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds." "Don't worry about a thing 'cause every little thing gonna be alright."

Most Sincerely,
Brett Meteyer