The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received August 11, 2021.
To the Editor:
I am very glad to read Chris Page’s and Shannon Johnson’s introduction of their candidacies and qualifications to run as Republicans for a seat on Regional School District 17’s Board of Education.
Their decision to stand and associate themselves with men and women who ransacked the U.S. Capitol, attacked police officers, shouted racist and anti-Semitic epithets — and then chanted for the hanging of the sitting vice president — are activities and speech protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. I am thankful for the right to speak freely, assemble and petition the government.
However, their introductions, published in the HK News, do not mention any effort to help the students of Regional School District 17 learn the rules of grammar, perform the functions of algebra and improve reading comprehension. Nor do their letters address any effort to help teachers and administrators do their jobs under difficult circumstances.
By Page’s and Johnson’s own words, it’s better to go to Washington and join a riot than to stay at home and extend a hand to our students, teachers and administrators who face unprecedented challenges in going to and operating schools during a pandemic.
Accordingly, they have lost my vote.
Rick Hornung
Haddam
