I would like to start this letter by thanking the members of the community who have reached out and really tried to help my family through this really difficult time we are facing. Last week, my brother who was 16 took his own life. So many of you cooked for us and were there to help us with anything we needed. I would just like to let you know from the bottom of my heart how much I really appreciated that. Without you, our family may not have been able to get through the last week.

I would like to thank the coaching staff of Lampasas for everything, and the families and the students who really helped my mother through this by sharing stories and memories you had of my brother. I would also like to thank the teachers and staff who reached out to my family.

Next, to the school district of Lampasas: I would like to tell you that as a group of people who are supposed to care for the kids in our schools, you have failed at your job. What happened to my brother was not your fault, but the way you handled it was. As educators, you are supposed to go above and beyond for the students you care for. When you tell students and parents that they will have unexcused absences if they go to the funeral and not allow them to say their final goodbyes, this is heartless.

The students in the high school are hurting as much as the family and are searching for answers. To tell them you do not condone this behavior is inexcusable. I would like to let you know that the next time a student passes away in this manner, maybe you should think twice about the way you behave.

I know you would not like it if the district told you that you were not going to be given any leave to attend the funeral of a family member or close friend. My brother was just that: a brother to more than just my family but to all the kids in the school. Even though you might not like or condone what happened, you should not tell people to hold their tongue or prevent them from saying their final goodbyes.

I remember when I was in high school and we lost several members of the student body to tragic accidents the support that the school gave us and our peers. Where did that caring nature of education go? Why have we stopped being for the students and more about our own feelings? Why are you failing the kids by not letting them deal with their grief? What happened to teaching compassion and respect?

I just want you to know that it was painful to know I lost a brother, and it was painful knowing there were kids not able to speak their peace and say goodbye because you would not let them.

In closing this letter, I would like to thank the parents of the students who attended and the teachers who came to give their condolences because you have not lost your hearts. As educators in life, you are showing these kids the right way to live theirs by having compassion and not passing judgment. As a district, you are not to decide what is right and wrong outside of the school. You are to teach this next generation how to deal with these things and become stronger from it. Please keep teaching these things in your classrooms so maybe in the future this will not happen again. Keep teaching our future the right way because you really are shaping the future in those classrooms.

Thank you for teaching compassion. Maybe some of our school leaders should sit in and learn some of this.

Donovan Clarkston