Cancellation not about free speech

The Daily Herald and Naperville Unit District 203 administrators are completely missing the mark when they refer to the William Ayers controversy at Naperville North High School as a free-speech issue.

No one is denying Mr. Ayers his right to speak. After all, he has his book out for sale and he can certainly find many venues to promote it without objection from those who opposed him from speaking to our school children in a forum sported by tax payer money.

The government (school system) is not capable or required to provide a venue for any and all forms of teachable material. After all, there is a limited amount of taxpayer dollars available and there is a limited amount of classroom time. While there is an infinite amount of available material to teach, he administrators and teacher must exclude material every day as curriculums are developed. Hate speech is routinely excluded.

Canceling the Ayers speech in no way infringes on any one's free speech. There are plenty of places that he can speak and promote his book without being funded by taxpayers. Allowing him to speak at a school function is an endorsement.

Your characterization of the opposition as angry and threatening is laughable and sad. This is a man who was responsible for buildings being bombed. People died. He is unrepentant. Certainly this type of activity is going to inspire passionate opposition from those who do not want their children taught his viewpoint.

I would submit that Mr. Eby's class is not at all about "critical thinking." It is indoctrination. His move to have his mentor, Ayers, speak was an "in your face" assault on the parent (taxpayers) sensibilities. Making this argument about free speech totally misses the point. I think that it is the Daily Herald that is not listening.

Carl J. Marker

Aurora