Love always wins out. It might seem trite to say or hard to believe, but it’s true.

That’s the good news that the children of Mars School District need to hear after racism reared its ugly head there recently.

Superintendent Wesley Shipley invited parents to meet in a letter distributed on Monday. In the letter, Shipley said an incident of physical violence was under investigation, and that law enforcement was involved.

On Tuesday, dozens of parents gathered in the primary school cafeteria to voice concerns and share their experiences.

Tearful parents talked about the pain inflicted on their children by racial epithets hurled at them by classmates. The stories brought tears to the eyes of other parents as they listened.

“A student taught my daughter that she is different and it’s not fair because she’s not different, and it has to stop,” said Janet Parham, who added her daughter asked to move away from the district when a boy harassed her.

“I said to her, ‘Moving is not the answer, you have to learn to deal it,’” she said. “When somebody called her ‘the N word,’ it cut to the bone — it is deep, extremely deep. So do not shove it off like it is another word. ... It caused scars, and scars forever.”

Don’t overlook the extreme power of this moment for all its subtlety. As these parents get misty-eyed, they are steeling their collective resolve to stand, united, on the side of righteousness. You can bank on it.

“I’m not here because my kids were in this incident,” declared Jeff Bonifate, a Mars parent who works for another school district, “I’m here to show my kids what it means to stand up for what is right.”

Bonifate said the community and its school should protect the health and safety of students. He said the school board was being naive and “borderline negligent” by not taking swift action and punishing students who are racist, homophobic and xenophobic.

We’re inclined to agree — and would recommend a more clearly marked “path of least resistance” philosophy that encourages correct behavior and decisions. Some might call this approach “positive peer pressure.” Others might prefer “straight and narrow.” We’re equally OK with either nomenclature.

Bonifate made reference to the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” saying it should serve as an example of how to handle racist taunting.

The suggestion brings to mind a memorable quote by the attorney Atticus Finch, the novel’s central character and perhaps the most loving parent in town.

Finch’s advice is perennial: “It’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you.”

This is especially so when a child is aware of a protective community surrounding her and looking out for her best interests.