European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 a a a the stars and stripes Friday january 18,1991 War in the Gulf dozens of schools shut doors in Europe by Jimi Jones education writer military commanders closed dozens of schools across Europe on thursday and attendance was Down at Many others As parents kept children Home. The outbreak of War actually seemed to Calm some fears said Candace Ransing District superintendent in Kaiserslautern Germany. A most principals have indicated that things seem a lot Calmer now that things have happened a a she said. A anticipation was the thing that created the tension and anxiety. We re just waiting to hear what a  a a a a a a a a a a a. A a. A. A. A a a at Pitburg High school the mood was somber but attendance was High said assistant principal Jack Nicholson. Quot its almost business As usual a he said. Quot we re just waiting Lor the other shoe to drop. The  of the news looks like things went smoothly but in be just got a feeling there has to be something  Many installation commanders in Europe chose to close schools after the United states and its allies launched a massive air attack against Iraq. Military overseas schools close at the discretion of installation commanders based on Security or other concerns. The department of defense dependents schools Germany Region continued to encourage Quot school operations As Normal a spokesman Frank o Gara said. At Mannheim High school a few students were crying in the Halls before classes started. Thirteen parents called the school to say their children were staying Home Secretary Mary Schank said. Quot most called because they have a family member who is deployed and they wanted to keep the a july Home together today a she said. Principal Barbara Axton estimated that fewer than 100 of the schools 600 students have a Parent in the Gulf Region. One of them is Dawn Hunt whose Mother is a truck Driver with the 109th trans co in saudi Arabia. Quot my Best Friend called from the states about 3 15  to break the news of War Hunt said. Although she was Calm while watching the news in her math class Hunt said she did t feel that Way before Dawn. Schools in Germany that closed thursday included those in Frankfurt Giessen Wiesbaden Mainz Kirch Gons Wert Heim kit Zingen Friedberg Geilen Kir Chen Munich Garmisch and the greater Stuttgart military Community. Frankfurt District offices also were closed. In the Eiffel area Home to Many fighter jets now in saudi Arabia principal Linda Simmons reported Good attendance at Span Dahlem elementary school. Several schools reported late bus arrivals because c ,. Is amps Jim Derheim students in Al Branca s math class at Mannheim High school watch events unfold 12 hours after the attack on Iraq was launched. Of delays at Gates but Quot parents did Send their kids to school Simmons said. She said students Are interested in the events. They  to talk about it. They appear More Active. I can see they Are wondering. They want to know what a  schools were open in the Kaiserslautern District. Ransing the superintendent said commanders Felt that because most schools Are Quot behind the Fence a they Are the safest place for children. But Security measures increased dramatically she said Quot the military has really done a number Here. In a impressed. There is definitely a Security presence around  teachers and other staff Are to Challenge anyone attempting to enter without a pass she said. Classes started about 20 minutes late at Hanau High school mainly because of Security checks at new Argonne housing area according to principal Allen Davenport. Attendance at the 850-student school dropped 27 percent wednesday and at least 50 percent thursday Davenport said. A a a we re going to go ahead and have routine classes although you know it wont be routine a Davenport said. Darmstadt Junior High principal Dan Basarich reported that attendance was a less than half thursday. It was about the same at the elementary school. At the Mediterranean regional Headquarters near Madrid Spain officials were close mouthed about school operations. The Region extends from the azores West of Portugal to Bahrain in the persian Gulf. Spokesman Dave Labuhn declined to give the exact numbers but said Many of the 34 schools were closed at commanders discretion. Reopening will vary he said depending on the country and the decision of local commanders. A temporary duty trips have been cancelled and a lot of athletic activities cancelled a Labuhn said a but most places will continue to take final exams As they had planned to  final exams were scheduled for next week throughout High schools in the military overseas  Only Dodds Atlantic schools closed thursday were the elementary Middle and High schools at Raf Crough ton England the elementary school at Raf upper Heyford England and the elementary and Junior High schools at Oslo Norway. At Lakenheath Middle school in eng land students were delayed by tight Security measures at the base Gates. Students at Lakenheath generally expressed Shock and concern at the news that the United states had bombed Iraq. Eighteen students attended a counselling session where the War was the chief topic. A we tried to stress that today feels different for everyone a Counselor Patty Donald said. A you can Tell they re concerned but they can sit and talk about it in an adult Way a Donald said noting no one seemed on the Point of hysteria or panic although tension did run High. Capt. Mark Antal is organizing a support group at the nato support activity Belgium for families of service Mem ers deployed to the Gulf Region. He said War tension could have a major effect on children. A but folks in be heard from have said that they be been talking w Ith their kids at length about death and dying and the ethics of War a he said. �?o1 would not discourage parents from talking to their children about the War but do not dwell on it. A your children Are pretty upbeat a he said. A i done to notice too much change among  a a a Antal and other officials in the Community have urged families to take precautions because of the possibility of terror ism. These measures include not opening doors to strangers As Well As encouraging children to play indoors he said. Families also should try to arrange some activities together so that children do not dwell on the War he  to this report staff writers Crystal Lau Roano Gary Pomeroy Ron Mckinney Amy Geiszler Jones and David Tarrant War in the Gulf i. A. A. A a g \ s  s a a s world could wait no longer pa9� 4 countdown to War Page 5 Congress rallies behind president Page 6 news hits families hard Page 7 War brings sadness support censure a a a Page 8 military tightens Security in Europe Page 9 pilots pleased with results a Page 10 some family members evacuated from in Ciurlik a Turkey Page 11 sirens tears followed news that the Gulf War had begun _ Page 12 eerie silence then the storm a a a Page 13 images from the first Day of War a Page 14 some american schools will be closed today the persian Gulf War has prompted officials to close some schools today. Students and parents should listen to their local of radio station fora Complete list of closed schools. Here is a partial list in Germany bad Tolz Garmisch Mannheim Munich Wiesbaden Worms also closed Are american International schools in Rotterdam Den Hague and Soester Berg Netherlands the Josef Mason school and accent International school in bran sum Belgium and the International school of Disseldorf Germany