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We live in a world shaken by fear, apprehension and anxiety.

The sorry condition of our planet indicates that something has gone terribly wrong. The suffering we experience and the distress we sense in others indicate that suffering does not discriminate on the basis of race, social status, religion or even morality. It can seem cruel, random, purposeless, wildly out of control. Bad things happen to people who try to be good, and good things happen to people who enjoy being bad.

As we sit thinking of all the suffering our friends, co-workers, family, neighbors and church family have experienced, we can hardly believe the list which for many of us is incomplete.

We must love and take care of each other. Listen to the leaders when they speak of things we should not be doing and pay attention to what we should do as we are on this “LOCKDOWN”.

One popular verse of comfort comes to mind, Ps. 46:10, “In everything we must continue our trust in God and remember who is in control.”

That being said, parents and guardians of school children should take this time to talk to your children. Those of you who can connect with the school websites should take advantage of the lessons prepared by the teachers. Also in these days of social media, put the lesson on your special pages for discussions.

This is a good time to continue talking about what is going on in school. We have the time to absorb what the children are saying. A former teacher and administrator would ask me how long we are going to keep his grandchildren out of school. Acts of God take away the control of man; under his guidance we as a community, a family and a school system will survive.

We need to read, read, and read some more with our little ones, then let them read to us.

Our foundation must change from mistrust to trust, we must remember when a foundation is laid, it is neither visible nor attractive, but nevertheless still necessary. It is the formative years of our lives when the greatest foundation by the Master Builder (God) is established, as always we must be weary of any cracks that may develop.

Today there exists a controversy when some districts regarding the federal role in education, (caught in the middle districts, test tube districts end of the line districts) must be alert and stay on top of issues.

The subsequent missing pieces are the usual words we hear all too often in Louisiana, especially in St. John Parish, words I am referencing are communication, collaboration, and transparency. The glue to the success of the education of our children is lacking transparency above all with the school system and the community. We have to do this together, there is no excuse. The taxpayers of a district along with the state relatively make up 90 percent of financing the schools in the system. The children in this state should be given the same opportunity in every district to reach their potential and become a successful part of the community working towards a thriving economy in our parish.

Educational equity means that all students should have access to the right resources they need at the right moment in their education, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, languages, religion, family background, family income or zip code.

To attack these battles, we need to Put On The Whole Armor of God, remember the battle is not ours alone (thank the angel whispers for that reminder).

Citizen Jean (Caroline Baptiste, LaPlace)