Editor’s note: The following are opening day remarks by Superintendent Bill Webster to Lewiston public school teachers.

Good morning and welcome to the official beginning of the new school year. The start of a year is always special, and one teacher likened the first day to a second New Year’s. “It is our day to make resolutions, to look backward to former lapses and triumphs, and to look ahead, usually with a mix of anxiety and hope, to the year to come.”

I wish you all an outstanding year and during those times when it seems less than outstanding, know that you are truly making a difference in the lives of Lewiston students.

One issue that makes the start of this school year different from any other is the tone of this year’s presidential campaign. Of course, there are such campaigns every four years, but this one is unlike any that we have experienced, in part, because of the focus on immigrants.

As you know, presidential candidate Donald Trump recently explicitly linked Somali refugees in Maine to a growing crime rate, and this statement is only one of many that have challenged our country’s immigration policies.

Roughly 30 percent of the students in Lewiston schools are the sons and daughters of recent immigrants, so these sentiments impact our community, Lewiston families and their children.

More people are fearful today than was the case prior to the beginning of the presidential campaign. Non-immigrants are worried about crime, taxes supporting welfare and changing cultures. Our recent immigrants have been told by some to “go home” and referred to as “terrorists.” Some of your students may even ask you the question, “if Donald Trump gets elected, will my family and I be deported?”

How do we as educators best work in this landscape? There are at least three questions that, if answered, might offer some guidance.

Question 1: Should you teach anything about this election in your classroom?

This election cycle is missing one of the basic tenets that we treasure in a democracy and education — that is civility in debate. If you are not a social studies or history teacher, I can understand that you might not want to touch this election with the proverbial 10-foot pole. BUT, the heightened interest in the political debate presents many age-appropriate opportunities to educate students about the electoral process, the U.S. Constitution, presidential power and the checks and balances on presidential power.

Another important consideration for students is how many campaign promises become reality after the election.

How do you have a civil classroom discussion when students may have strong opinions? Be clear on the rules for your classroom, and address any incivility as a teaching moment. Emphasize research and fact-checking over opinion; dialogue and listening to the concerns of others over dogmatism.

Question 2: Can you share your opinion on this election with students?

First, let me read from the School Committee policy: “Teachers may not use the classroom as a personal forum to influence the political views of students. Teachers may identify and express their own point of view, provided that they identify it as such and the opinion is presented in the context of instruction which provides a balance of viewpoints.”

So, yes, you may express your opinion and let me share some examples.

Let’s say your class is identifying the campaign themes for each of the four presidential candidates on the Maine ballot. A student asks you if you support Donald Trump. You are within your right to say “I do not support Mr. Trump because his views on immigration are the opposite of mine. America is a country of immigrants, and I view that as one of our greatest strengths.” You are also within your right to respond “In my opinion, this country needs a shake-up, and I am supporting Donald Trump, even if I don’t agree with many of his statements.” Or, perhaps, you might offer, “I have great concerns about both of the major candidates and am considering voting for one of the third party candidates.”

You may also be faced with situations that are very personal for your students. What do you do if a student blurts out to Abdi, “If Trump wins, you are going to be sent back to Africa.” That must have a response as our role as educators is to support our students. In this case, I suggest a response such as, “I don’t think that Abdi is going to be sent back to Africa any more than you are going to be sent back to the country where your ancestors came from.”

This really brings us to Question 3: What guidance can we all give our students as they navigate these waters with their classmates, neighbors and others?

Here are some thoughts that may be helpful to you and our students:

• Virtually everyone in our city and country is either an immigrant or had ancestors who migrated to this country.

• Countries without immigrants, and Japan is a major example, are increasingly dealing with declining population and stagnant economic growth.

• Lewiston’s immigrants have higher school attendance rates on average, are bringing Lewiston recognition on both the athletic and academic fronts and have increased our high school graduation rate.

• Our crime rate has continued to drop as more immigrants come to Lewiston. In fact, crime today is roughly one-quarter of the rate in 1985. See our website, lewistonpublicschools.org, for a crime data presentation prepared by Lewiston Police Officer Joe Philippon.

• Maine history is filled with stories of xenophobia. French Canadian settlers in Lewiston were initially not allowed to attend public schools and, when they did attend, they were punished for speaking any French. Catholics were at one time tarred and feathered in parts of Maine. African Americans were forcibly removed from Malaga Island in an attempt to spur development in Phippsburg. These and other stories need to be told and retold.

• Minority populations are too often treated as sharing the guilt of individuals from their ranks who commit violence whereas white perpetrators are treated as isolated cases.

Let me close my remarks with this:

Recently, I spoke with one Lewiston immigrant whose children went through Lewiston public schools. She said, “Our public school system is the foundation of our multicultural democracy and ground zero for our diverse community to join together. Day by day and step by step our students learn, share and build trust. We are not just helping each student reach his or her potential. With the examples we set and the children we touch in our daily work we are empowering this community to reach its potential. Nothing could be more inspiring or valuable.”

Thank you.

Bill Webster is superintendent of the Lewiston School District.