Lying by Omission: A Lesson in Choosing the Wrong Way & Dividing a Community

By Corinne Hogseth

In a recent statement, the Chair of the School Committee claimed that “a few members of the community have persisted in presenting information that is incorrect.” I would counter by saying that she omitted several important facts.

She stated that the ABSEJ petition to Kill the Colonial was the only one officially presented to the committee. This is technically true. The Chair went on to say that the Keep the Colonial petitioners met with the superintendent but made clear their desire to remain anonymous. First off, her statement omitted the fact that the Keep petition was created only after the community learned of the ABSEJ petition in the September 25 email that was sent to all AB families and students. While they requested input, they allowed only three weeks for community response before their vote on October 15. Second, why would the authors of the Keep petition wanted to remain anonymous? A quote from a parent who emailed the School Committee offered this:

“I was chatting with an AB sophomore today…. she told me it has divided the students in the HS beyond what is comfortable. Students are turning on and bullying each other. The students who are heading this change are apparently using scare tactics on the students who are not in favor of the change. Is this the kind of community you are trying to foster?”

Here are more quotes from some of those whose thoughts were dismissed:

From a student: “In entertaining this idea you have solidified that no matter what you decide, you have divided a community and pitted the student body against each other during a pandemic and an overall aura of uncertainty.”

From a 2015 alum: “Acton’s traditions and history make living in this town deeply meaningful. As you debate changing the mascot, know that you have the opportunity to decide which kind of town Acton will be: another wealthy suburb lacking social culture, where parents leave as soon as their children graduate high school, or a community where future generations have a connection to the past and an appreciation for their history. Brave men died to build our country. We honor them with the name Colonials…”

From a parent/alum: “As a parent of three children…. and an alumni myself (and my husband as well), this is the most ludicrous suggestion I have heard come from the school system ever! Changing the Colonial name would change the very core of tradition and forever alter what this town has built its reputation on. Pride. Unity. Community. Inclusion. Tradition.”

Many parents offered their support for getting rid of the Colonial because they believed they were supporting the students. I wonder if they’d reconsider their support if they knew how divided the students are over this? And many other writers, including some supporters of the ABSEJ petition, asked that this decision be slowed down, so as not to create undo strife and bullying, particularly among students.

As to the Chair’s statement that many of the “Keep” emails contained only a subject line message, this was clearly due to the late realization that the Keep the Colonial petition would not be considered. They believed that petition was their voice. Those subject-line messages were part of a last-minute flurry of emails from students, alumni and parents who wanted to get their support for the Colonial on the record.

Many other students in the high school were dissuaded from writing letters, told by ABSEJ members and their supporters that the vote was a “done deal” and that their letters wouldn’t be considered if even if they did write them. Malicious silencing?

Finally, the Chair wrapped up her statement by quoting from an email sent by an AB alum who, after sending in an eloquent defense of the Colonial, followed up with an email praising the Committee for their “well considered discussion of the retirement of the Colonial”. Upon learning that his email had been used in an apparent attempt to squash any ongoing discussion over the issue, the author sent in a public statement saying he “was disturbed that my words had been used to support the Colonial’s retirement, but more disturbed that they had been used to reinforce the idea that we should hear the last of the Colonial”. The full statement was also published here on the Acton Forum. He concludes by saying “The division in the town is apparent. If the students are to decide the Colonial’s fate, as many submissions supported, then let them. If not, let adults do so. However the decision is made, let us discuss the topic as a community, inclusive of all concerned…”

The Chair’s concluding statement that “this decision has been made by unanimous consent,” – as if that makes it more “right”, demonstrated the Committee’s ongoing inability and unwillingness to properly represent all views in Acton and Boxborough.

This is not about agreeing to disagree. This is about a the incredibly poor timing of raising a topic that was bound to be divisive throughout all levels of our community. This concern was raised in many of the emails sent to the School Committee just prior to the October 15 meeting, even from people who supported the ABSEJ petition.

This is also largely about process – and the process was a joke. It went on for months over the summer, when only those who were agitating to kill the Colonial and their supporters on the School Committee, the administration and ECARES knew about it. The Committee blindsided the community in their September 25^th email, in which we finally all became aware of the ABSEJ petition. This was a full week after it was presented to a largely supportive School Committee. Even though they had only a few weeks to respond, the writers of the Keep the Colonial petition wound up with significantly more support than the Kill petition – the only one they considered “official”.

The process also violated every aspect the district’s naming policy, which states:

“The Acton Boxborough Regional School Committee believes naming or renaming a school building, structure, space, property, program or other District asset…. is a matter of significant importance, one that deserves the most thoughtful attention of the School Committee and the Administration, and one that is an unusual occurrence or event. Further, the Committee believes it should not be influenced in its decision by personal prejudice, favoritism, political pressure or temporary popularity.”

I think they checked all the boxes there.

There was a right way and a wrong way to go about coming to this decision. The School Committee and administration chose the wrong way. They can keep squawking the party line that the decision to kill the Colonial was fair, open and thoughtful, but we all know it was only as open as the Chair and her progressive allies on the Committee wished it to be. The Chair, in fashion typical of the School Committee and some members of the staff and faculty, bullied colleagues into a vote without allowing due process. They chose to dismiss at least half the community.

The right way would be to reconsider this vote, have a cooling off period of 6-12 months, after which a committee made up of stakeholders from throughout the community would define a thoughtful process, allowing and encouraging all to weigh in, discuss, debate and come to consensus. Even those who would disagree with the outcome would have to agree that the process was fair and open.

The town of Shrewsbury is currently dealing with this issue. Their superintendent chose the right way. A  committee of 12 individuals was initially proposed to study the issue – an equal number of students, staff, parents of current students, and alumni and supporters. They received so many applications that the committee was expanded to 32 members. They are charged “with reviewing the petition(s), studying the history of the mascot’s use for SHS and how the term Colonial has been defined historically, soliciting public feedback regarding how the Colonial mascot is perceived in the present day.”

The original intent of public schools was to teach civics – to ensure that America would have an educated citizenry, without which a democracy cannot survive. Through their actions, our School Committee and administration continue to set a poor example for our entire community, especially our future leaders.

I’ve said in previous comments to the Committee that they’ve created a toxic environment that dates back many years. This emboldens faculty, students and parents to behave in similar fashion. They’ve alienated many in the community who know their concerns won’t be heard.

They have an opportunity to demonstrate a little humility, to back up and do this right, in an open and civil fashion. In doing so, they’d be setting a much-needed example of good citizenship and leadership for our students. We should demand they do so.

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