Skip to main content

WHY EMPTY SEATS?

By January 28, 2025Culture, Humility

Undocumented immigrants. Mass deportations. Raids. Family separations. Living in constant fear. Students being removed from classrooms. Tragic. … The Golden Rule. The Statue of Liberty. Geography. Rights. Privilege. Possibilities. “America First?”

Sympathy. A particularly upsetting, reoccurring rememory from first grade haunts me — as traumatic childhood experiences tend to do. More so this week, though. There was an empty desk in my row, two seats in front. Harry wasn’t sick or on vacation. His family didn’t move. There seemingly was no reason for his absence. Until, standing solemnly at the front of the classroom, Teacher told us of the tragedy — our classmate and his family died when their station wagon was hit by a train. Incomprehensible. … The following day the seats and rows were mercifully rearranged.

Collateral damage. Fast forward 65 years and I can only imagine the confusion of children when they experience multiple permanently vacated desks in their classroom. Don’t expect them to wrap their naïve little minds around the complexities of partisan politics or immigration policies; or President Trump’s unconstitutional executive order reversing birthright citizenship, or his administration’s unfair and inhumane deportation policies. Or, for that matter, the hypocrisy of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance when confronted by such blatant prejudice and xenophobia.

Yet, somehow, in some age-appropriate manner, educators and parents will be obliged to explain to heartbroken young children why their classmates are missing, why their friends are gone. Something must be said to satisfy their curiosity and concern. But no one should expect or want adults to challenge the fragile mind of little kids to comprehend the idea of their friends hiding for fear of being deported. Or actually being deported to countries they’ve never known to attend a different school (if they’re fortunate), to have their same dreams and “possibilities” taken from them. Nor should we expect our children to be grateful for the life of privilege that most Americans take for granted.

Same as with the madness of active shooter drills, this situation is incomprehensible to today’s children. Their future, however, is more predictable. These nativist, “America First” policies will create enduring, albeit unintended consequences. We should prepare for a generation saddled with lifelong childhood rememories of lost friends and classmates … and empty seats.

* Illustration by Geoffrey Moss, 1988, NSSC’s School Safety archives


FOR CONSIDERATION BY CONCERNED PARENTS: Blueprint a response to immigration enforcement actions at schools. 1) Notify school district and site administrators of concerns. Determine their positions and prospective support/involvement. Confirm campus regulations regarding visitor access and lawful, peaceful protests. 2) Select a project champion and spokesperson. 3) Outline relevant immigration laws, rights, civil enforcement actions. 4) Draft a brief position statement. 5) Print and disseminate an outline of intentions to enlist parents. 6) Communicate plans to local advocacy groups and other likely supporters. 7) Organize an Active Deportation Drill: a) Create a basic text alert system to mobilize concerned parents and volunteers. b) Design apparel, buttons, and/or posters and hand-held signs with dramatic messages, such as “This Campus is an Island of Safety” and “We Pledge Allegiance for All” and “Trump is a Schoolyard Bully.” c) Stage a practice Drill to train volunteers. Notify school administrators in advance. Station participants outside classrooms and around agent vehicles. d) Advise local and regional news media on specifics and encourage their coverage. 8) If there is an official civil enforcement raid or action, implement response, including immediately alerting news media by phone and text.

4 Comments

  • ed witts says:

    This administration has a lot of people stressed out and feeling powerless to stop our return to the 1940’s.
    Thanks for not only illustrating the problems but giving a plan of action.

  • Stuart Greenbaum says:

    Thanks Ed. Sadly, but almost certainly the Bay area is going to be Trump’s testing grounds for this horribleness.

  • Lesley K says:

    Your essay is deeply moving, especially the way you connect personal childhood confusion and grief with the pain that children experience when families are separated. That feeling of absence without explanation is heartbreaking. It’s powerful and thought-provoking—thank you for sharing it.

  • greenbaumgpr says:

    Thank you Lesley. I genuinely appreciate your astute and empathetic observations.

Leave a Reply