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Please note: this is Margaret writing 

Yesterday while strolling down Middle Street, I saw a bumper sticker that read “Democracy needs Dissent.” In light of some of the dissension on the school committee these days and repeated calls for everyone to get along, I think we should heed these words. Sure, it is nice to present a united front, to have everyone agree and get along; however, I think putting harmony first, relegating the inevitable disagreements to the backroom, does a disservice to voters. Without public discussion, handled in an orderly fashion according to Robert’s Rules, how will the voters ever clearly see what a candidate stands for, what philosophy drives them and what they are willing to fight for? As an informed voter, I want to see our elected officials stand up for their beliefs and argue for them in an open forum. Yes, it can get messy, it can be stressful, but that’s what democracy is all about. In the past, I felt that there was a reluctance to stand up to city hall, the local media, or even question the delegation; it seemed concerned parents had no one to speak their case, so we had to speak up ourselves. Maybe our new superintendent will have an uphill battle at first, but if people pay attention and see who exactly is blocking progress, they can speak up at meetings, contact the committee, and organize other like-minded people to do the same. It’s not easy, it’s not comfortable, but that’s what it takes.