Dear Editor,

To: All High School Administrations (especially ULHS)

Congratulations and thank you. You got the kids through the 2020-21 school year. Our students appreciate (they will someday) and deserved your efforts. We parents are grateful for your efforts. The seniors, I’m certain, appreciate it more than anyone. They had their junior spring stolen from them. Fear! Fear took a magical time in their lives away. The class of 2021 was fortunate enough to get their senior year. The Class of 2020 did not. Courage and effort gave the Class of 2021 the senior year they deserved.

Please, everyone in education; everyone in the business of young people … learn from this experience. We all know now, but should have known then, that fear cripples progress. We should all know and remember President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s words: “So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself–nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance … These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.”

— Franklin D. Roosevelt (from first inaugural address)

You now know first-hand that fearing COVID served no purpose. You now know first-hand that you can work hard — work harder, and work different — and put the students experience ahead of your fears. You did it! You gave our students the opportunities they so dearly deserved. They experienced football, volleyball, soccer, basketball, bowling, wrestling, swimming, baseball, softball, track, the drama club play and more. They experienced classroom learning, which we all know is much more effective than online attempts at educating students of many different levels of learning ability. They experienced a make-shift homecoming, but were treated to a real prom.

You now know that those who spread fear and said you can’t do it are those that “Can’t Do It!” They are the people that will not succeed … because fear drags them down.

I am sure you don’t even realize it now, but your efforts; your willingness to put fear aside and provide the students with as much normalcy as possible has been more of an education than any classroom can provide. Because now, when these students head off to college and/or out into the workforce, they will have a greater appreciation of how special a student’s life really is. They will be leaders that know they should never cower to fear–to be selfless for the benefit of others. Especially, for the benefit of young people that are subject to and dependent upon the adults in charge. Those persons who should always have the young peoples’ interest at heart and never concern themselves with weakness and fear.

So, thanks again for unknowingly educating a class of students who should now become great teachers, coaches, administrators, health care providers, grocery store clerks, bank tellers and so on. A class of students who know what it is like to be stolen from by fear; and, a class of students who can appreciate the opportunities they received in their 2020-21 school year because a whole bunch of people that went to work every day and found new ways to work so that the students could get the educational experience that they deserve. You didn’t let FEAR stop the learning. Good luck this fall. Get out there and do it again.

Todd Kildow

Bethesda

Father of a senior

& sophomore