Threats, intimidation ‘have no place’ in Acton
Our schools and our town are strongest when we model the kind of civil engagement we hope to see in our children.
Recent threatening acts directed at our superintendent, Dr. Laurie Hunter, and members of the School Committee are deeply troubling and unacceptable. No matter how strongly any of us may feel about the decisions or direction of our schools, threats and intimidation have no place in our community.
In the past, I have disagreed with Dr. Hunter and the School Committee about how our schools have responded to antisemitism and other acts of bias-driven hatred. Those were difficult conversations, and I continue to believe that we must do more to ensure that every student feels safe, seen, and respected. But through those disagreements, I also found that Dr. Hunter and the committee were willing to engage in dialogue and problem-solving in good faith. We did not always agree, but that willingness to talk, to listen, and to work through differences is what democracy requires.
Our schools and our town are strongest when we model the kind of civil engagement we hope to see in our children: the courage to speak up, the humility to listen, and the commitment to treat others with respect, even when we differ deeply.
Public service, particularly in education, is demanding and often thankless. Disagreement is part of civic life — but threats, harassment, and hate are not.
These recent acts of intimidation do not represent who we are. We can and must do better. Let us stand together in rejecting hate in all its forms and recommit to building a community rooted in safety, empathy, and dialogue.
Eliza Shulman
Old Bedford Road
