Amanda Lewis: Unkind rhetoric inflammatory, undermines voices of residents who want what’s best for schools

To The Daily Sun,

The hot topic in Moultonborough has been the school budget and the push for a 0% tax cap. Parents and teachers alike have witnessed constant online debates, with comments such as, "Deliver only mediocre results based on statewide testing," and "Poor college acceptance and application figures. Agree — mediocre outcomes," on the Moultonborough Locals Facebook page. However, when asked to cite sources for their claims, both declined to respond.

Amid this controversy, town elections took place, with two school board members, Patrick Hart and Eric Bernow, up for reelection. Their only challenger, Bruce Jenket, had previously written letters to the editor criticizing the school district. In his Jan. 27, letter, he also used the word "mediocre" to describe the district. More recently, in a March 12, letter, he appeared to congratulate Hart and Bernow on their victories, while simultaneously accusing Superintendent Patrick Andrew and the school board of "convincing 679 teachers, staff, parents, and others that I would be a disrupter."

As a Moultonborough resident with three children (class of ’24, 10th grade, and 4th grade), I needed no convincing to vote — and to vote for Hart and Bernow.

Following Town Meeting, I posted a simple message on Facebook: "Thank you to everyone who came out in support of our kids today! We saw you, and we appreciate you." One resident was so displeased with the results that he voiced his frustration on the community page, declaring, "The school mafia is powerful."

The remark by the Moultonborough resident, "The school mafia is powerful," implies that those who opposed the tax cap belong to a hierarchically structured criminal organization. This kind of rhetoric is not only inflammatory but also undermines the voices of the many residents who simply want what’s best for our schools and children.

Amanda Lewis

Moultonborough