Dover Democrats stand with our teachers in support of free speech
The following Opinion Editorial, signed by Dover Democrats’ Executive Committee members, was published in Foster’s.
When you go to the hospital with an ailment, the competent doctor asks two questions. “What seems to be the trouble?” so that the immediate issue can be addressed. “How did this happen?” so that the issue doesn’t recur. The more honest your answers are, the better your chances of getting proper care – even if the answers embarrass you or make you uncomfortable. And you certainly don’t want someone else in the waiting room eavesdropping on your conversation.
In America, minorities and women have, on average, lower wages and poorer health outcomes than white men. That’s an ailment from which all of society suffers. Competent treatment requires that we ask, “what seems to be the trouble?” and “how did this happen?” – and honestly answering even if the answers are embarrassing or make us uncomfortable.
The “Divisive Concepts” law in New Hampshire wants to keep you from answering these questions – or even asking them. And it encourages people to eavesdrop on the conversation and report those who participate in it. The effect is that it keeps us, individually and collectively, from asking the critical questions and reading the critical history that can lead to a properly functioning society.
That’s why the American Federation of Teachers of New Hampshire and the National Education Association of New Hampshire have sued to stop this law. That's why these unions say the law unconstitutionally limits freedom of speech.
That’s why the Dover Democrats stand with them.
About the authors:
Members of the Dover Democrats Executive Committee are: Phil Hatcher, co-chair, Nancy Vawter, co-chair, Bill Baber, George DeBoer, Robert Hinkle, Walter King, Jan Nedelka, Cora Quisumbing-King, Pam Raley, Nate Stewart, Jim Verschueren, Chris Wayne, Candace Williams.