Cranston High School West motto: A place where we treat people as we would like people to treat us

This is the text of an email I sent to the administrators of Jessica Ahlquist's high school, Cranston West. Feel free to drop them a polite email (no harassment, please!) with your thoughts (or solutions) to the issue they are currently facing.

 

Dear Principal Knowlton and Assistant Principals DeVall , DePalma, Magnelli and Schiappa,

 

I am saddened to learn of the controversy plaguing your school, which is probably detracting from providing quality education, but not valuable life lessons, to the students in your care. Speaking of lessons, I'm sure your students have been reminded of the motto you proudly display on your website when incidents occur within your jurisdiction involving defamation or harassment.

 

I imagine that being administrators of a high school is no easy task and, given the current climate you are faced with, it must be that much more difficult.  I wish I could simply email you the answer to how to stop small minds from attacking those who wish to assert their rights in the face of a vociferous majority. All I can offer is my support to you in finding a way to see past the politics (and the religion) to ensure that you maintain the constitutional rights afforded to all of your students.

 

Your very difficult job is to educate not only the students in your care, but their parents as well.  If you take solace in God, may that deity inspire you to do the right thing. As an Atheist, I have neither the right nor the inclination to deny you your faith. I ask that you respect the beliefs of all of your students, but remember that the authority in your community school is the government, and, specifically, the court system.  Separating that authority from the one in which many of your students and their parents place their trust is essential to resolving this troubling issue.

 

In Peace,

 

(name included)

a concerned citizen

 

PS Have you considered King Solomon's approach and splitting the banner to make both sides "happy"? (Perhaps that isn't a viable option, after all.)