Show’s over, folks. There’s nothing to see here.

That’s how a lot of Cranston residents are feeling in the wake of last week’s Cranston School Committee decision not to seek an appeal of Judge Ronald Lagueux’s decision. Soon, the prayer mural at Cranston West will come down, and nearly two years of debate and, frankly, divisiveness, will come down with it.

Or, at least, that’s what we hope.

It was a hostile, emotional fight for everyone involved. When religion comes into play, that’s to be expected. Religion is something people feel strongly about, as they should. And we learned from over a year of public hearings that those who do not practice religion feel just as ardently about their freedom to live without feeling pressure or influence from their spiritual counterparts.

But as these two sides retreat to their corners, either applauding or booing last week’s decision, we hope this story has come to an end.

Already, threats have been made for a lawsuit against the School Committee, but whom would that serve? Certainly not the students of Cranston. The case is decided, and whether you agree or disagree with that decision, it’s time to let educators get back to educating. If you want to vote out the committee members who voted one way or the other, you are welcome to do so. That is what democracy is all about; that and civil discourse, though it appears we may need a refresher on that count.

Superintendent Peter Nero prefaced Thursday’s meeting by saying that how the world views Cranston was up to us. Unfortunately, we did not rise to the challenge. Speakers were heckled, committee members told they were damned to hell, and a full contingent of Cranston Police officers were called in for crowd control. Does that sound like a teaching moment was seized? Does it sound like educating our kids was at the center of the debate? No, it doesn’t. Instead, the debate became personal. Opinions were not respected. Decorum and tolerance went out the window. To hear Roger Williams’ name used by the same people who moments before shouted obscenities at their opponents, is laughable.

Thankfully, Cranston can at least be proud of the students who joined in the discussion. Despite often being used as pawns in this bitter battle, it was the students who stepped to the podium with the most thoughtful and courteous positions. They clapped for those they agreed with, and sat politely in silence when an opposing view was put at center stage. They recognized that history was being made in their presence, and they wanted to be a part of that.

They became our teachers, and as this chapter of Cranston’s history comes to a close, maybe their lesson can be the lasting one.