To the Editor,

It would be hard to tell from all the rhetoric around “book banning,” but it is a fact that no Board of Education members have moved to “ban” or even remove challenged books. It is disappointing to see people who should know better misleading on BOE deliberations with characterizations of the issue so far afield of reality.

Anyone who takes a moment to read the minutes will see that the 5/2 meeting item was noticed as “presentation” only and the motion was if an unnoticed vote should be added to the agenda, (generally regarded as bad practice for transparency reasons). Every motion from the meeting on 5/16 would have allowed the materials to remain and the debate centered around assuaging concerns with compromises like parental approval for children below a particular age. Compromise, imagine that?

These challenges are a parent’s right under board policy. I understand that this originated from local parents looking into what is going on in the schools, discussing their concerns of explicit materials, and ultimately identifying this process for redress.

Many do not realize one challenge resulted in the special committee’s agreement and removal of a text from the high school and another from the middle school. Clearly those making selections are not beyond scrutiny. No one protested these decisions. The two still in question, per policy, went to the board with a recommendation.

Parents have rights, are most invested in their student’s education, and must have a voice in our district which describes itself as “a partnership of students, families, educators and community.” I have seen many experts make mistakes in my tenure, perhaps none worse than myopic pandemic policies that resulted in dramatic student learning loss. Interests do not always align. Parents need to be heard and it is the Board, not the staff, that represents the community.

We cannot digress to a point where dissenting voices are disallowed, shouted down or bullied out of participating. It is an effective strategy if the goal is to win on an issue, but counter a productive if way to build community. It was under a past culture of unanimity, where dissenters were chastised, that saw our district fall behind peer communities in rankings. Good ideas should welcome scrutiny, not fear it.

I have chaired meetings on heated topics like gun laws, but never did I see the likes of what happened the 16th, nor have I seen a political party host a rally before a meeting and incite a crowd in such a way. Our town government is made of volunteers who give up their time to serve, not to endure unproductive abuse. We must do better.

Parents and staff may disagree on these issues, not share the same values, and have different concerns about issues around student sex and sexuality; that is okay. However, what public benefit is served by catastrophizing around this issue such that everyone is talking past each other?

Ryan Knapp

Sandy Hook, CT