How sad for our students. What an educational loss for our students. Every four years I look forward to watching one of the greatest spectacles that we Americans see with our own eyes. We watch as our democracy unfolds in front of us in a peacefully orchestrated transfer of power.
Watching and witnessing every inauguration since fifth grade, my spirit never fails to soar and I count my blessings that my immigrant grandparents fled from despotism, made the dangerous trek over here, so I and generations to come can live in a free society.
We have a responsibility to share this moment with our children and to explain just how “miraculous and yet so ordinary” — to paraphrase President Reagan — it truly is. It is never about WHO, it is always about US.
Regretfully, as an educator, Superintendent Barrow did not focus on the bigger picture; instead he surrendered to political correctness and fostered divisiveness.
Kids do not know enough to opt out of this incredible event. They are developing, learning and have not yet come to appreciate fully what an amazing blessing we Americans have every single day.
To opt out of witnessing history was a political statement made by their parents at the expense of their children and supported by Fayette County. How incredibly sad.
Vicki M. Leopold
Fayetteville, Ga.
[Ms. Leopold said she is a psychotherapist and served on Half Hollow Hills School Board, N.Y., from 1996-2002.]
