Letter: Vote for candidates who understand schools

As a retired educator and librarian, I have been surprised by the reactions that some in the community seem to have in response to "banning books" and "dictating curriculum" spoken of as "parental involvement." At past school board meetings, there appears to be a well-coordinated effort to make a complaint-of-the-month, whether it's masks or censorship of book titles. In the upcoming school board elections, this delegation of negativity is running against the well established contributors that have served and will serve our school district.

Librarians and educators who make book selections consult several professional publications which guide them in this process. I intend to support community service-minded candidates who will support the public school educational needs.

I cannot support candidates who advocate private and specific issues that ignore beliefs other than their own and who would change public education to suit such specialized needs. There are already possibilities more suited to their special needs such as home schooling, parochial and charter school choices.

As a former educator, I am always surprised at how many feel they should select materials and design curriculum instead of professionally educated and trained staff. I don't see that same involvement in dentistry and other professions.

I hope all voters will all get out and vote. Public schools and voting are key elements of our democracy.

Marilyn Mauritz

Wheaton