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What happens when small-town tradition meets a day and age where safety is a threat?
That was the gist of the conversation at the September Cassville School Board meeting, where a conversation about Grandparent’s Day was struck up during administrative reports.
The tradition goes back decades. On the first Friday after Labor Day, grandparents are invited to come spend an hour with their grandchildren at Cassville schools.
The event is beloved by many, and it perpetuates the strong sense of family and community we have here in southwest Missouri. Year after year, I have taken photos of countless grandparents visiting, playing games, reading and coloring with their kids’ kids, spending time in a space their grandchildren are proud to show off.
It’s a tradition that would be hard to let go, but the conversation must be had.
Concern arose this year when a complaint arose — a parent called to say a person who was not authorized to visit their child did so, and they were not the child’s grandparent. It is fortunate the matter was settled with no consequence.
Yet, the instance begs the question: how much safety of our children and students should be sacrificed in the name of Grandparent’s Day?
Let me set the stage. Grandparent’s Day runs from 9-10 a.m. but by 8:30 a.m., there is typically little parking at the primary and intermediate schools. By 9 a.m., the line of grandparents awaiting entry extended from the primary entrance all the way to the cafeteria along the circle drive.
Within minutes, at least 100 people filed into the building excited to see their grands.
For people in charge of school security, what a nightmare. We live in a small town and know many of our neighbors. Many of the school staff know many of the people coming in, and even I knew more than a handful of visitors. We assume the best in people and have faith such privileges will not be abused.
However, one bad apple can ruin the bunch, and the fact is, none of the people allowed into the school on Grandparent’s Day are identified or checked for anything not allowed on school property.
Do I believe any of the people who came in brought a weapon? Probably not. But, I’m sure some of grandpas brought in a trusty pocket knife. If such an item is lost in the school and found by a student, what could be the consequence?
Despite the challenges, Cassville staff is well-prepared for the day. Employees were stationed at every corridor, helping visitors navigate hallways, classrooms and grade-level buildings. Their efforts should be applauded. I even had a staff member question where I was headed when I went down an open hallway.
Cassville also has armed staff should any horrific instance necessitating them arise. Nevertheless, the safety concerns are a questions of risk versus reward, and it that needs addressing.
Aside from the safety concerns, Grandparent’s day presents other challenges. For one, not everyone’s grandparents are able to attend. As exciting as it is for a child to have a grandparent come visit, it can be equally dreadful for children whose grandparents do not.
Whether it’s a scheduling issue, a personal choice or because they have passed, teachers have noted frequent negative behavioral effects among students who miss out for the remainder of the day.
Furthermore, it’s hard on the grandparents. If a grandma and grandpa have grandchildren in second grade and sixth grade, they feel pressured to split time between them — which also comes with its own power-walk workout. Grandparents with five or six grandchildren have to plan their time even more deliberately, and in the end, just 5-10 minutes isn’t always satisfying experience for everyone.
Cassville has plenty of time to decide what Grandparent’s Day will look like next year. As woven as it is into our community, I suggest the district follow what others in the area have been doing — an after-hours event.
Cassville’s Title I Family Nights are highly attended and offer an opportunity. But, even if it’s a Grandparent’s Night on it’s own, such an event would allow grandparents to visit the school with all their grandchildren for a significant amount of time. There would be no rush between classes, no tears when a grandparent has to leave early to see a cousin, no concern about an individual taking advantage of the trust in opening the doors.
Exeter held a very successful Grandparent’s Day after school hours, offering ice cream sundaes and use of the multi-purpose room. Cassville can — and should — do something similar.
Grandparent’s Day is a tradition worth keeping. Let’s do it in a way where we take the safety and emotional stability of our children fully into account.
Kyle Troutman has served as editor of the Cassville Democrat since 2014 and owner/publisher since 2023. He was named William E. James/Missouri Outstanding Young Journalist for daily newspapers in 2017, and he is a two-time ISWNE Golden Dozen award winner. He may be reached at 417-847-2610 or ktroutman@cassville-democrat. com.
