War!
What’s on the minds of children and teenagers.
It is always fascinating how children can distill complex global issues into simple truths. As adults, we have much to learn from them.
One morning, as I entered my first-grade classroom as usual, I immediately sensed an unusual restlessness. While some students were still fumbling for their notebooks and pens, their real focus was elsewhere. Without hesitation, they began asking about the situation in Ukraine. Some had not yet fully grasped that Russia had invaded its neighboring country. In their sleepy morning haze, they simply couldn’t comprehend what it meant: war in Europe.
As any attentive teacher should, I seized the moment to address their mixture of fear, confusion, and curiosity. Using an improvised chalkboard sketch, I attempted to explain the unfolding crisis. Answering questions isn’t just part of my job—it’s an opportunity to alleviate fear. My rough depiction of the former Soviet Union and present-day Russia left much to be desired, and the ever-changing borders throughout history sparked critical inquiries. Yet, despite historical complexities, my students found the present reality incomprehensible. Then, a young girl raised her hand and made a strikingly simple yet profound observation: “If I’m not allowed to walk into my neighbor’s apartment without asking, then surely a country can’t just march into another country without permission. Didn’t Putin’s mother teach him that?”
Explaining border disputes is difficult. Answering her question was even harder. Her words left me deeply moved.
Later that day, I entered a high school classroom. The atmosphere was similarly tense. The war was on their minds—it felt close. Some worried about friends in Ukraine, knowing they were spending nights in bunkers and basements. Our discussion quickly turned to personal fears. What would happen to European security? How neutral could Austria remain? Two students, approaching their military draft evaluation, admitted their unease.
But time was limited. The school’s scheduled fire drill was about to begin. Even as the alarm sounded, the students clung to the conversation, sharing messages from Ukrainian friends who desperately reached out through social media, hoping not to feel alone.
The fire alarm forced us to pause. We left the classroom in an orderly manner, following the evacuation routes. Standing at the assembly point, we knew we were safe. If only it were that simple for everyone.