Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old man, was shot and killed by a police officer on Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Missouri. Was the officer out of line when he shot Brown six times? Did Brown threaten the officer's life? Was this a racial attack? Many questions still remain unanswered.

Within hours of the shooting, outrage consumed the town. Members of the community began protesting in the streets. Peaceful protests turned into violent riots and looting. Police placed a curfew on the town, but the curfew was ignored. The National Guard was called in, and social media was covered with images of Ferguson looking more like a war zone than a suburban town in Missouri.

To everyone outside of Ferguson, the images of riots, damaged businesses and police officers standing in front of military-style vehicles with weapons drawn was everything. Ferguson and the surrounding areas were a place of chaos and violence.

What about the citizens not on the streets? What about the children? Not every resident of Ferguson was rioting, but they were forgotten.

School is postponed

When Brown was shot, most children in the area were preparing to return to school. Students in Ferguson were supposed to have their first day Aug. 14. However, riots and chaos still filled their streets, making the schools unsafe for children. School was postponed, students were left wondering what would happen, and teachers were trying to determine a plan of action.

"Kids and teachers have been very anxious to get back to school. For kids, school is a place of safety and security; they know how it works and what to expect. The normalcy of a school day is very reassuring to kids," said Sharon Sevier, board chair of American School Counselor Association and a licensed counselor in the state of Missouri.

Students want to return to school, not to discuss the events that occurred over the past few weeks, but to learn. They want their entire lives to return to normal, and school is a major factor.

Emotional effects

School closures were obviously not the only thing affecting the students and teachers — the riots, violence and chaos were all witnessed by the children of Ferguson. Children of all ages saw things right in front of them that most people will only see in movies. How did these scenes affect them? Will this cause any long-term effects?

"The little ones may exhibit unusual fears about common everyday things," Sevier said. "This is because of where they are developmentally."

For example, Sevier said one young child in the Ferguson area is afraid to walk in the street now. He associated the shooting of Brown with walking in the street. The child is scared he will be shot if he is caught walking in the street.

For the older children and teenagers, the impact is not easy to determine. These students are much more aware of what has happened and are able to decide for themselves what standpoint they will take, Sevier said.

At this point in their lives, they will all react differently. Some might want to discuss the events, some will not talk about it at all. Sevier stated that it's important to not force conversation but just as important to not avoid the topic. When they are ready to talk, they will.

As time goes on and things in Ferguson return to normal, the long-term effects on the students will start to become apparent. There isn't a list of effects for parents, teachers and counselors to review. Time is needed to assess the situation to find the effects and determine how to reduce the long-term negative effects.

Football must go on

The beginning of the school year is exciting for many reasons. One of the biggest excitements is the start of the football season.

The coaches in Ferguson were determined to keep the events happening all around them from stopping their game. Not only were the coaches wanting to prepare for the season, but they were also trying to bring some sense of normalcy to the players. So, the McCluer North High Stars began practicing at local parks since their fields were closed.

St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher had been looking for ways to support his local community when he heard about the teams' practices at the park. According to ESPN, Fisher invited McCluer North and the other two high school teams to practice at Rams Park. On top of that, the teams were able to stay and watch the Rams during their training camp.

One coach noted that "on the field we are all brothers." The ability to continue practices and keep the students busy during this stressful time was one that provided them with some comfort. The students and players felt they belonged somewhere, not forgotten, not tossed aside and not labeled.

"The teachers and coaches were amazing in doing everything they could to restore some semblance of normalcy for the kids," Sevier said. "Whether it was learning sessions in the library, providing sack lunches for families, or holding practices, the teachers and coaches lived and modeled caring, responsibility and respect for all."

Around the country, the focus has been on the riots, chaos, images placed all around us. However, in Ferguson, teachers, coaches, parents and students were just trying to bring normalcy to their lives.

The teachers and coaches did their best to appease the situation. They became behind-the-scenes heroes for the students in Ferguson. Educators nationwide can learn from the actions of the educators of Ferguson.