The purpose of this petition is to gauge local support for Marblehead Public School district leadership in their efforts to clarify the boundary between personal speech and government speech, uphold the values of a free pluralistic society, and model intellectual integrity to our children by drafting a neutral “flag, banner, and symbolic display” policy. [Click here for the full text of the most recent draft policy.]

As a Marblehead resident, I am deeply concerned about our community’s waning ability to engage in constructive dialogue on substantive issues. As a parent, I am equally concerned with our increasing lack of commitment to, and misunderstanding of, classical liberal principles such as free expression, open inquiry, reasoned debate, and personal growth. 

A good example of liberalism in decline is the argument for displaying “symbols of inclusion” in Marblehead Public School district classrooms and common areas. Most notably the Pride, BLM, and Israeli flags have adorned the lunchroom walls at MHS for periods of time since 2020. These symbols are intended to convey a sense of belonging to individuals who self-identify as members of marginalized groups, or self-identify as holding marginalized viewpoints; however, it is important to recognize that feelings and personal identities are subjective points of view, and as such constitute personal speech. Government speech, on the other hand, is representative of the electorate as a whole and as such can not represent the private speech of individuals or groups. 

What we are actually debating here is whether or not our community recognizes and respects individual expression and freedom of speech as separate from government speech and whether or not we find it important to convey these concepts to our youth.

A key issue that touches the heart of this democratic concept is related to the Supreme Court case, Shurtleff v. City of Boston. In this landmark decision, the court upheld the distinction between private speech and government speech and emphasized the importance of this distinction when it comes to symbols of inclusion. When symbols of inclusion are understood as private speech, it fosters a culture of diversity and inclusion where the government refrains from selectively promoting a singular view.

However, in Marblehead, there is yet to be a formal mandate to define and delineate such symbols of inclusion as private speech. Without such a mandate, we run the risk of creating an environment that inadvertently promotes a selective point of view, potentially restricting diversity and freedom of expression.

Such a situation is contrary to the fundamental ideals of a free society and impedes the development of an intellectually principled environment where diverse experiences and perspectives are valued and celebrated.

Whether you are a parent, grandparent, educator , student, homeowner, renter, business owner, or somewhere in between, Marblehead residents largely agree that good schools matter. A well performing cohesive school district is a top indicator of a healthy and thriving community where people want to visit and residents are proud to belong. It has long been the goal in Marblehead to provide a well rounded, intellectually engaging, contemporary, K-12 education. This goal stretches beyond merely the academic curriculum, it lies in the heart of our children’s everyday experiences, the values we impart, and the character we model. These values include diversity and inclusion of viewpoint, not just diversity of race, gender, socio-economic status, or disability. In alignment with our district's stated mission and values, defining symbols of inclusion as private speech does not restrict student speech, it encourages individual expression and freedom of speech.

The time is NOW to act with conviction, ensuring our local institutions remain committed to liberal principles for ourselves, our children, and for generations to come.

I urge you to join me in mandating the government of Marblehead, MA to formally define and delineate symbols of inclusion as private speech, separate from government speech. This action will not only protect our cherished freedom of speech but also serve as a significant step in fostering a community of diverse cultural experiences and empathy.

 

ADDITIONAL KEY POINTS:

#1  YES, this flag policy would mean taking down pride and black lives matter flags In lunchrooms and other areas that represent the district and student body as a whole.

…AND, removing subjective symbols of inclusion allows for creative opportunities to express welcome and belonging equally to all students.

#2  YES, this policy will restrict the district's ability to weigh in on controversial issues 

…AND, it is not the administration's place to assert a particular point of view as representative of all students. The role of the district is to provide a safe learning environment within which students are able to exercise freedom of thought and inquiry while learning to respect or accept opinions different from their own. 

#3  YES, Students have free speech rights including but not limited to wearing symbols, handing out fliers, protests, submissions to a school newspaper or yearbook, etc

…AND, symbols in personal artwork or in classrooms are acceptable as long as the symbols are clearly representative of an individual's point of view or are in use in an educational capacity related to the curriculum

#4  YES, this policy will upset some students and parents

…AND, the purpose of any policy is not to meet social emotional needs, assuage fears, or elicit particular feelings. Policy is meant to provide guidance, consistency, and accountability, ensuring that actions and decisions align with the established goals and values of the school district.