I write as an educator, citizen and historical observer to share some thoughts and concerns about the apparent effect the recent, unusually divisive election has had on our pre-college student population.

On my campus, we embraced a wide range of emotions: for some, despair, fear and anger; for others, satisfaction with, but surprise in the outcome; for still others, a sense of “steeliness,” clouded with unresolved feelings. I was, for the moment, gratified that students had their schools, homes and families so that they could come together in the midst of a nation that appears more divided and at odds with each other than we realized.

Our system of government operates best when “the people” — meaning ALL people — are engaged, and every voice is heard. As schools, we work very hard to teach and embrace these important traits. We expect that our schools are designed to be places where openness, learning and caring are encouraged, and where all persons have a safe sanctuary to express themselves.

From past election comments and actions, I sensed that the faith of many families and students in our democratic system was tested in this election year. People on both sides of the aisle were expressing this “faith test” in spoken and written word — and our history tells us that retreating from engagement in our system is not the answer.

We do know that what has been sown in our national psyche during the last 18 months is a depth of disagreement many, many of us have never experienced in this country.

I have shared with our students and families that our only acceptable way forward is tolerance, forbearance and dedication to our democratic foundations for everyone in America in order to achieve our universally shared goals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And, in the process, we must always treat one another with kindness and respect.

Yet, even with such a positive nod, the post-election trauma experienced by so many requires much deeper student discussion that evolves around building a community in the face of the real divisions in our citizenry that have surfaced during the election process and have reached a very disharmonious crescendo. For our younger children, discussions need to focus on fairness, how we treat each other, and that our classrooms and our country are governed by rules and laws that our leaders must also follow.

Our older students need to be examining the American political and economic system more critically, defining the kind of country in which they want to live. They must think of themselves as active participants in a democratic community where they should expect to experience civil discourse where respectful discussion and differing of views, supported by evidence, are the rules for thinking and doing.

During the next eight weeks of presidential transition and beyond, we must expect our students and teachers to listen to one another, embrace and value what they hear from each other, and work together. This is what an educational community must do.

Mahalo to our students, parents and staffs for making our campuses symbols of unity and healing in a world where feelings of division and brokenness continue to be heard.

Let’s show our community that our schools are, indeed, beacons of hope for all of us so that feelings of anger, or fear, or triumph will be replaced with feelings of compassion, optimism, and faith bottomed on the goodness of American democracy and its workings.

Betty White is head of school for Sacred Hearts Academy, and is a director of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools.