Define Your Terms

You might think it's early to mention the November elections for six seats on the City Council and nine on the Board of Education. Maybe. 

Usually, I spend much of my time considering choices for City Council but as the son of a lifelong schoolteacher, I want to write about the importance of choosing wisely for the next Board of Education. 

The buzzword this election in these post-pandemic times is “parental rights” in relation to schools, children, and education, The phrase is on everyone's lips, even here as Matt Grahn reported recently in The Bulletin. The trouble is, I can’t seem to find a definition of exactly what are “parental rights.”

Nevertheless, one of the two parties' slates for the Norwich Board of Education makes it a prominent plank in their election platform. Their Town Committee Chairman says, "Parental rights is a strong concern, even for people who aren’t parents yet or won’t have children, as they recognize the impact “hands-on” boards of education can have on children locally and all over the country.' (My emphasis added.)

That's as may be, but an article in Chalkbeat which calls itself, 'essential education reporting across America' reports 'Most Americans aren't satisfied with public schools-but most parents like their child's school.' It would seem the difference in evaluations by an adult with children in a public school (a parent) and an adult with no children is startling, to say the least.

Let me offer some personal perspective: Our two children were products of the Norwich Public Schools, attending Buckingham (now a grassy knoll), Kelly (then Middle) School, before enrolling in and graduating from Norwich Free Academy.

Our daughter, the younger of the two, graduated from Kelly in 2001 so my frame of reference is more than a bit dated, but my memories are still fresh about our involvement at parent-teacher conferences, as well as participation in the TPO (or was it PTO?) meetings for one or the other and I or my wife spent many, many evenings enjoying coffee and conversation at Board of Education meetings in the Kelly library (all before the renovations and expansion).

What I do NOT remember is swarms of grown-ups exercising their “parental rights” by attending parent-teacher conferences, participating in PTO meetings, or getting engaged in many, to say nothing of any, classroom activities their child's schools and teachers organized throughout the school year.

I can also recall Board of Ed meetings with fewer than six parents in attendance for a school system with thousands of children enrolled. I'm assuming the meetings too often conflicted with nights Seinfeld was on TV, or a Massachusetts sports team was playing.

Sorry for the snark. Not.

“Parental rights” must be inseparable from concomitant obligations and responsibilities which in our house meant making sure homework was completed (looking at you, Patrick), the next day's assignments were prepared (Michelle), and accomplishing everything my wife and I could do to help our children succeed. 

Between us, I fear that definition of “parental rights” went the way of the dodo and clean air, but I strongly urge everyone who is a parent, or anyone thinking of becoming a parent, to demand of every candidate seeking a seat on the Board of Education a definition of “parental rights” and how they would foster and further involvement and engagement of all parents which is critical to the success of every child in Norwich Schools. 

Do not let them offer you a cliché-make them define their terms.
-bill kenny