The following comes from Eagle Rising and is writen by:
By Onan Coca / 10 May 2014
Read more at https://eaglerising.com/6093/daughter-man-arrested-local-school-board-meeting-speaks/#wzV4FcLfw06JQ4rX.99
The daughter of a New Hampshire man who was arrested while protesting the school board’s decision to require High School students to read a book which contains sexually explicit material spoke out before the Gilford school board this week.
We brought you the story of her father, William Baer, earlier this week. He was appalled that this book was foisted upon his daughter without first getting parental consent. He went over his allotted two minutes speaking time, and the school board had him arrested. He was charged with disorderly conduct, though if you watch the video it’s hard to understand why, and after spending a few hours in jail, will also have to pay a $700 fine.
His daughter, Marina Baer, spoke to the school board this week and what she said was both sincere and important.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ryVWfATBT9M
Those words “This just shows that you resort to force at the first turn of conflict and I am appalled. So I don’t trust you. And, I honestly don’t feel safe around you people.”
For a former educator, they cut to the quick. Several times each year teachers are evaluated by peers or superiors. On each of the evaluations I have ever had as a public school educator, there was a short section that asked if I made the students feel safe and if I provided a safe and comfortable learning environment.
I felt as though one of the most important jobs I had as a teacher was ensuring the safety of my students – in every way that I could possibly control.
Marina Baer’s curt and heartfelt comments should shame that school board. They have failed to accomplish one of the most important jobs they have – providing a safe and comfortable learning environment.
Each and every student in that district now knows that their school board (meaning the leaders of their schools) are capricious and vindictive. This school board will do whatever it takes to shut down dissent – even if it means having someone arrested for speaking more than two minutes at a public hearing.
They have since apologized.
Shame on you Gilford School Board.
WARNING: Some of the related articles may contain sexually explicit references
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