Many schools and districts these days say they cannot focus on character and citizenship because there is no time, or because those topics are too controversial. The truth is that our schools have no choice about teaching character and citizenship: Every school is already doing it all day long. The experience of school shapes the dispositions and priorities of children. Schools make our children more respectful, responsible, honest and kind — or less so. They make our students more capable and committed as active citizens — or less so.

We can either do this work purposefully and well, or do it poorly. That’s our only choice.

The epidemic of school shootings in America shines a bright light on this issue in two ways. First, it reminds us that focusing explicitly on positive character in our schools is essential. Schools must be emotionally and physically safe for all types of students from all backgrounds, so that children do not feel bullied, marginalized or alienated from their school communities. This does not come from posters or lectures, but from a daily focus on norms of respect and compassion, and courageous conversations with students and teachers about responsibility and equity.

Second, these shootings remind us that we live in a democracy and we have a responsibility to stand up and contribute to solutions. This is exactly what motivated students from Stoneman Douglas High School to travel to Tallahassee, Florida last week to contribute their voices to legislative debate. Thomas Jefferson would be proud. This is not a partisan response — it is an American response.

Read the full article about Florida students and civics learning by Ron Berger at The Hechinger Report.