Sometimes, kids need a break from their schools. The common policy of making attendance optional the first few days after an especially violent episode is a wise one. Families and school districts should consider more permanent solutions in cases of persistent violence. Changes in schools or home-schooling does not solve all problems. But if school districts can not give a kid reasonable protection, administrators and parents should be flexible in seeking to change the child's environment.
Finances often hinder such flexibility.
The issue of school vouchers and related proposals is beyond the scope of this article. But districts can not expect to take taxes from a family and then subject their children to an atmosphere of violence. If schools can not or will not protect a kid, then the family should receive at least a partial rebate of taxes to help find a better environment from their kids. However districts and families and friends go about it, kids and youth need to see more than violence and fear. And the last two verses do just that.