In classrooms across the country, children are carrying invisible burdens. They walk into school with heavy hearts shaped by things most people don't see, such as divorce, serious illness in the family, the death of a loved one, a parent in prison, or simply the quiet heartbreak of losing a friend.

What we often label as "behavior issues" or "lack of focus" are frequently signs of unresolved grief. And yet, grief remains one of the most misunderstood and unsupported challenges in education.

Many schools respond well when a student loses a parent or grandparent. But grief doesn't always come with a death certificate. When a child's world is shaken by a move, a broken friendship, or a sibling struggling with addiction, the emotional impact can be just as intense, and too often, it goes unnoticed.

The problem isn't lack of care. Teachers, staff, and administrators are deeply committed to helping. But most have never been trained in how to respond. There's no course in teacher education on how to support a grieving child. No policy outlines what to do when a student says, "My mom is really sick" or "My dad isn't coming home."

We need to change that.

The Grief Recovery Method should be the standard, not an optional practice. Educators need practical tools to recognize signs of emotional pain and respond with compassion and clarity. Children need safe spaces to discuss their experiences without feeling rushed or dismissed. Adults need to understand that grief doesn't follow a timeline and rarely fits into neat emotional stages.

Children look to adults to learn how to deal with difficult emotions. If we remain silent, stoic, or emotionally unavailable, they learn to suppress their feelings as well. Healing becomes harder. Behavior becomes louder. And we miss the chance to help the whole child.

Grief isn't rare. It's just rarely addressed. If we want to create healthier, more supportive schools, we must start treating grief as a genuine part of childhood and provide educators with the tools to meet it with empathy and skill.