What’s at stake in school board elections

Public education’s task is to contribute to a liberal education so eloquently defended by the Catholic theologian John Cardinal Newman. Newman’s defense of knowing those ideas that form our humanity speaks to the need to recognize deeper selves and to be connected to universal ideas.

“E pluribus unum” is not merely a national motto but a definition of our democracy: “Out of many, one.” Our United States is a pluralistic country: No state religion, no state ethnicity, no state sexual orientation, no state skin color or hair fashion is imposed. In a pluralistic society, citizens need to respect each other in order for society to thrive. It is challenging to respect that about which we are ignorant.

Our public schools are open to all of our community. These learning grounds permit our children to learn beyond their boundaries, see beyond their yards and understand humanity beyond the images in their mirrors. Such exposure to other peoples, their history, their art, their music, their accomplishments, their pain and their dreams will enable all our children to establish a basis for valuing what they already have and appreciating what others have to share.

Reading about the burdens of others and the choices others make broadens our capacity as humans to experience gratitude, compassion and tolerance. Libraries and public schools need to transmit these ideas in a safe environment where dialogue is possible.

Our public school budgets come before the community this month, as do the individuals who would compose the boards of education that steer our schools. We need to choose those leaders who neither fear knowing others nor acknowledging different paths that individuals thoughtfully carve out for themselves. Knowledge of others is not dangerous, but fearing and demeaning others merely because they are not like you is a cancer that destroys.

Anne Mccabe

Delmar