There is likely to be a time in which a tragedy or a calamity will occur in your classroom. A student may be afflicted with a serious illness, or may even die (it has happened!). There may be an act of terror - and such cases do not occur only in Israel. You have read about such instances in the newspapers, and you may experience them yourselves. It is wise to be prepared in advance.

The worst possible situation is to wring your hands desperately, not knowing what to do. Students who sense the weakness of their teacher will lead the class to a feeling of terror, frustration, and panic.

Teachers must act immediately in times of crisis. The action does not necessarily reflect a school pattern or written documentation. The students must recognize that you are relating to the issue at hand with determination and authority.

There are many possible steps to take, especially if the students are reacting to a distant crisis.

• Stop the class and say Tehillim
• Allow the children to discuss or vent their feelings
• Speak about the importance of the tragedy

Conduct the class with authority, so that the students understand that they are doing something about and reacting to the situation.

Ideally, the school should have a plan of action for a calamity. At your next staff meeting, you may want to recommend that the administration develop a policy.

That policy should allow for some flexibility. Teachers should have the option of doing things their own way, with the support of the school staff. They should be able to adapt school policy to their own personality, needs, classroom, and possibly even to their specific subject matter.