In spite of what we've seen on television and read in newspapers the past five days, the latest available state and national statistics tell us that schools are safe places. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 32 people died nationwide in school-associated violence between July 1, 1999, and June 30, 2000. That accounts for 1 percent of deaths for all school-age children in that time frame.

In Utah, some 510,000 students attend public school. Less than one half of 1 percent were involved in "prohibited behaviors" worse than truancy between 2004 and 2005.

Because we have 24/7 reports of these events on cable television, the Internet and even our cell phones, we are painfully aware of school violence. Few of those reports place these events in perspective, so it's easy to conclude that school violence has run amok nationwide.

The good news is few, if any, parents hesitated to send their children to school Monday morning. It's what's best for them. For that matter, Utah law requires them to go to school.

But we ought to take these opportunities to hold our goodbye embraces a bit longer than usual before dropping off our children at school or sending them out the door in the morning.

The truth is, we can't control what may happen during the day. But our children must know for a certainty how much they are loved and cherished. Of that, we have full control.

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Marjorie Cortez, who attempts to kiss everyone in her household goodbye each day (except the golden retriever, who gets a pat on the head), is a Deseret Morning News editorial writer. E-mail: marjorie@desnews.com.