Who’s running for your school board?

In just a few weeks, many New Hampshire residents will vote on elected officials to represent them, including school board members. As a resident of Croydon, I encourage everyone to do their due diligence about candidates before casting their ballot. Many in our town failed to understand who we elected, and we paid the price last spring when an attempt was made to cut our school district budget by over 50%. Although we were able to restore the budget, it wasn’t easy.

Many people with extreme views on education are seeking school board positions. While some are seeking to advance “culture war” issues, many know that school funding makes up a large part of property taxes in our state. Reducing school funding is the quickest way to reduce property taxes. We’ve seen school board members who want to cut this spending, and thus the tax rate, regardless of the hazard to students and families.

It is easier than you might think to do some basic research about your candidates. Many with extreme views on education have appeared on podcasts or written articles. If you can’t find any information, reach out to candidates directly with questions. It’s great to know what exactly candidates think the role of a school board is; as we’ve found out here in Croydon, it may differ wildly from what the community thinks.

Finally, it is important to share information about candidates with members of the community. Especially in small towns, it may be hard to get information about candidates. Consider setting up a public candidate forum, or requesting candidates make statements on community Facebook pages, and make sure people in your town know this is available. Make an informed decision and vote wisely! There is no recall process for school board members in our state. Three years is a long time to be stuck with poor board members whose agenda differs from your town’s.

Christopher Prost

Croydon

Racism’s roots run deep

When we reduce racism to the individual, it almost disappears. Maybe we know someone who is racist but we avoid them or at least avoid subjects that allow their racism to show. We may never encounter racism among our friends and neighbors. But racism is not just what happens between individuals. Racism is hard-wired into our society and the systems by which it functions.

Black, brown and Indigenous people do not fare as well in our society as those who consider themselves white. Why is that? Some people believe this is the natural order — that white people are better in some intrinsic way. Most of us recognize this as ridiculous. But that way of thinking has actually been dominant in this country for longer than it hasn’t. And that previously dominant way of thinking, called white supremacy, is what formed our current society. That is why when we look to dismantle racism, we must look beyond the individual and to the very system and rules by which we live.

Some systemic racist history: Black G.I.s who served in WWII were denied home mortgages and thus unable to take advantage of one of the pillars of the G.I. Bill. The work that thousands of Black women performed as housekeepers was not considered work by the Social Security Administration.

But if society is treating you well, why start pulling on the wires that keep it humming? The incentive to keep things humming is what currently drives the attack on public education and the fight against teaching a thorough and honest American history. Politicians claim they don’t want children to feel guilt or shame about who they are. But isn’t that really a projection of the guilt and shame adults feel about the failure of their society to treat everyone fairly? Failing to address the roots of this real guilt and shame will only serve to pass it on to the next generation.

The movement to deny the history of Black, brown, and Indigenous people in our society has a long history itself, and it is a racist one.

James Graham

Lyme

Gun poll

I would like to see a national survey and results offering the following question:

Please choose one of the following options that you feel would make you and your family safest:

a. Nobody has a gun

b. Everybody has a gun

c. Only you have a gun

Richard Sullivan

Hanover

What World War III would look like

What would it look like ... 40 million people vaporized in Washington, D.C., and New York City! Before the U.S. could react, most of the European Union would be destroyed! Then Moscow and St. Petersburg would be vaporized. Strategic sites all over Siberia would be wiped out.

Oh, and L.A./Hollywood would be hit hard, causing a major earthquake. Then radiation would kill millions worldwide!

And Biden would not know it happened; he is not in charge.

Isn’t war fun? Kiss your ass goodbye!

Jim Argentati

Lyme

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