Dear community,
This week the Marblehead School Committee is discussing a policy that will make the choice to fly any flag or banner (other than the American flag and state flag) in any school their sole decision.
This means if there are parents or students who complain about a Black Lives Matter flag or an LGBTQ flag or any other flag the kids have asked to be hung, the School Committee will be the only ones deciding if they can be hung or not.
This doesn’t make sense to me.
Already First Amendment rights protect us against any flags being hung that would incite violence or disruption. I see this as an overreach and slippery slope of taking away the voice of our students to be a part of their educational process. I would encourage all the students and concerned community members to write or call the School Committee and superintendent, and ask that they reconsider passing this unnecessary policy. We care about our students’ right to be part of the decision making process in their own respective schools.
The only way this policy should be considered is if the decision-making power remain in the hands of the students and educators at each school.
Thank you,
Kirsten Bassion
Marblehead