Our youth have become invisible in the eyes of far too many adults.
Do we bother to ask them how they feel about the state of the world, the country and their own personal lives? In the past, there were public service announcements like, “It’s 10:00 p.m. Do you know where your children are?” for parents. “Stay alert and stay safe,” reminded children not to talk to strangers. Smokey the Bear told us, “Only you can prevent forest fires.”
Today, if we asked our youth to create their own PSA, what would they say are the issues that concern them the most? Is it their safety? The uncertainty of wars? Is it the political divide in our country? The pervasive use of drugs, including fentanyl?
What we do know is that far too many of them are struggling with mental health challenges. In 2023, more than 5.3 million adolescents aged 12-17 had a current diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition, which includes anxiety, depression or behavior/conduct problems, according to data from the National Library of Medicine. The numbers aren’t getting better: From 2016 to 2023, there was a 35% increase in mental or behavioral health conditions.
Regardless of one’s political views, common concern for our youth should unite us. Just recently, I talked to my staff about deportation. I started my conversation off with the following statement: “It does not matter if you voted for President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris. We have to make certain we meet the needs of all of our students.”
Educators and other service providers who work with young people are now in the middle of the politics in our country. They want to make sure they follow the law. Sometimes they are not certain what to say, how to support our children, how to feel and what is appropriate to say. Yet, our youth need educators to reassure them, build up their self-confidence and help make them feel better when dealing with difficult situations.
No blueprint for kids, teachers
You only have to be in a classroom for a short while to see the tremendous role that educators play in comforting our youth and providing guidance to those dealing with life-changing events. You may hear, as I have heard, a student mistakenly call their teacher, “mom” or “mama,” further illustrating how influential and important teachers are in developing and nurturing the hearts and minds of our youth.
Because of our influence, we as educators need to be asking tough questions. I ask those who supported either candidate for president: What is appropriate to say to our youth who ask political questions? How do they stay apolitical during such political times?
Clearly, there is no blueprint and no script to help educators anticipate the complex questions that arise from the hearts and minds of our youth. What we do know is that without the proper guidance and feedback, our youth will find unhealthy ways to deal with issues they are struggling with.
I recall talking to a fellow administrator about the number of students she, along with her staff, had to deal with because of vaping in school. She said, “Dr. McNair, they are vaping because they are self-medicating.” In other words, they are finding ways to cope with life. In 2024, 1.63 million students used e-cigarettes, according to data from the Centers for Disease, Control and Prevention. Many of them have probably tried to quit in the past.
Schools are on the front lines of all the acrimony and division in our politics. We can only hope that it gets better. In the meantime, our youth deserve to walk into a school that is nurturing, warm and provides a culture of support — not be overwhelmed and burdened with politics. Simply put, “Let our youth learn.”
Perhaps that statement would be a good public service announcement that could help educators teach, administrators manage and students learn. We must not let politics keep our youth from learning. That will not help our nation compete in the 21st century.
Jerald McNair has a doctorate degree in education and a graduate degree in public policy. He is a school administrator in South Holland School District 151.
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