Meeting the Moment: Protecting Kids, Making Sense of Chaotic Times
What schools can do when the government makes students and families feel unsafe
What’s happening in Minnesota (and in cities around the country) - a masked, paramilitary force terrorizing communities and schools, causing chaos, and creating uncertainty - impacts students. Yes, those in the communities where ICE is using aggressive, unnecessary tactics - and also among students watching all across the United States.
What can educators do?
The post above offers ideas and resources to support students in this trying time.
It calls attention to what’s happening:
This Special Edition is grounded in a School Library Journal report on Minnesota school librarians supporting students and colleagues as ICE raids continue in the Twin Cities, and the ripple effects reach classrooms, hallways, and families deciding whether it is safe to show up at all.
The details are hard to read because they are hard to live: families afraid to come to school, routines shifting, students walking out, and staff trying to keep learning moving forward while the community is in fear.
The post is written for librarians, but calls attention to what educators throughout the school building can do:
When families are afraid to come to school, when attendance drops, when rumors spread, and when students feel like their lives are being debated in public, we cannot step back. This is when librarians are most essential. Our work becomes part safety net, part truth-check, and part emotional anchor.
We show up because students need adults who will stay calm, protect their privacy, and keep learning accessible.
Students in places where ICE is active need safety and stability.
Students watching this from a distance need understanding and help with processing.
The truth is out there - and it matters.
So the most powerful thing librarians and educators can do is keep showing up as steady, informed adults who protect student dignity.
If your library is the only place where a student feels normal for twenty minutes, that matters.
If your classroom is the only space where a student is not reduced to paperwork, that matters.
Thank you so much for featuring my newsletter. I’m truly honored that you highlighted this post.
It has been heartbreaking to watch what is happening, and I feel strongly that as educators we have a responsibility to do what we can to support students and families who are carrying this fear every day. While Minnesota is bearing the brunt right now, the impact is being felt by immigrant communities across the country.
As a librarian, part of my job is to make sure our students and staff have access to trusted resources, practical ideas, and support that protects privacy and dignity. I hope this piece is helpful for educators, librarians, administrators, and anyone trying to respond with care and clarity.