Acton must take a stand against the bullying of our school leaders
Loudly and aggressively repeating a lie, that our school system is failing our students, does not make it true.
A second effigy attacking our superintendent of schools, Dr. Laurie Hunter, was found on October 18, this time placed near the home of one of our School Committee members, Tracey Marano. The violent language used and the specific location chosen are a further escalation of the harassment that has been ongoing. It is unacceptable and it is time for Acton to step up.
Disagreements about policy, procedure, and vision for our schools are legitimate. Constant public attacks on our School Committee members, who are volunteer citizens, and our superintendent, who is a vetted town employee, are not. These attacks are, by and large, perpetuated by community members who do not have children currently in our school district and who have little interaction with the schools or the students. They choose to present a vision of profound and widespread discontent with the schools, the committee, the superintendent, but that view is not shared by the vast majority of the community: students, parents, and educators all strongly support our district’s leadership, the work of our dedicated School Committee members, and the efforts of all parent and citizen volunteers who tirelessly work to ensure the best possible educational and social outcomes for Acton’s students.
Loudly and aggressively repeating a lie, that our school system is failing our students, does not make it true. What it does do, however, is foster a hostile environment in our town, which in turn empowers lunatics to intimidate our fellow citizens with violent effigies. Where is our Select Board in all this? It is time for town leadership to show up and take a stand, and for the greater Acton community to call this behavior out for what it is: bullying.
Serena Crosina
Monument Street
