Letter to the editor

Disappointed with the Mat-Su School Board

To the editor:

A few weeks ago our school board entertained and passed a motion to remove the Student Advisory

Board Representative from the dais and limit their role. Prior to this meeting, during this meeting, and after the meeting several talented, bright, articulate, determined, and responsible students organized and fought against the change. None of this is new news. What has just come to light is the response of the school board and the school district administration when faced with an organized dissenting student voice.

The board retaliated against the students who articulated beliefs contrary to the board's. This retaliation can only be described as dystopian. They launched an inquisition against the very students that they are supposed to be serving. The school board acted like Big Brother from 1984. Students were pulled out of their classes and interrogated. They did not have representation.

They did not have the option to say no. Their parents were not notified. There was no due

process. They were denied the instruction they should have been receiving and instead

received a lesson on not stepping out of line. The school district, at the direction of the board, abused their authority, using it to intimidate, harass, and punish students for their political views.

The school board and the district admin that took part in this fiasco may attempt to justify their actions and point to their concerns about school district property or some fabricated story of inappropriate political action from staff; however, there is no justification. These students’ rights were violated. The rights of their parents were violated. We entrust our children to the school district with the expectation that they will be taught and protected. We do not give the school district the right to indoctrinate our children nor do we give them permission to browbeat and force submission to the board's political views. The school board engaged in persecution of political adversaries, and their target was the very students they were sworn in and elected to serve.

Perhaps the board should read more books instead of removing them from libraries. They could learn a lesson from Kurt Vonnegut “If you are an American, you must allow all ideas to circulate freely in your community, not merely your own.” I’m sure one of the students that were subjected to their illegal harassment could quote it to them.

Jamin Burton,

Wasilla