When I first heard about the lawsuit against Hanover High, I was shocked. I had heard of things like this happening in other states and towns, but I never thought Hanover to be a place of such bigotry.
Under Hanover’s current policy, students can remain “in the closet” at home but be openly transgender at school.
This policy keeps teens who don’t know if their parents will accept them or just aren’t ready to come out safe. This policy helped me. For most of my eighth-grade year at Richmond Middle School, I was openly nonbinary in class.
I worked with teachers to give me the time I needed to feel comfortable and ready to come out at home. Doing away with this could lead to much more harm than these parents realize. These parents don’t seem to understand that not only are they outing their own child, but many other children become at risk as well.
Not having the ability to choose whether or not to keep information on one’s gender private, especially with the risk of unsupportive parents, can be incredibly stressful. I still remember the toll it took on me when my guidance counselor outed me to a teacher against my wishes, and I can’t even imagine the effect having my parents told would have had on me.
No one should have to feel unsafe and unsupported at school or at home. The fact that these parents think they have a right to their child’s trust disgusts me.
Trust is a privilege, and forcing your child’s teacher to tell you your child’s private information is not a healthy way to gain someone’s trust. In fact, it may very well decrease your child’s trust in you.
Sam Harrison
Hanover
A friend has just recommended the free newsletter by historian Heather Cox Richardson, and a recent one was about the U.S. economy. According to a recent CNN Business report, since 1945 the Standard & Poor’s 500 has gained an annual average of 11.2% under Democratic control of the White House and only 6.9% under Republicans.
And the gross domestic product grew by an average of 4.1% under Democrats and 2.5% under Republicans.
Republicans rely on abstract theories about high tariffs or tax cuts, concentrating wealth upward, while Democrats are more pragmatic, willing to pay attention to facts on the ground and to what works.
I’m thinking of Reagan’s “trickle down economics” and Trump’s tax cut that was supposed to pay for itself — not so much. During this fall’s midterm elections, I’ll remember the 2017 windfall for the wealthy and the “tax cut” pennies for the rest of us.
I’ll remember the economic stimulus checks and child care credits in 2021 and the growth in the economy during the pandemic.
By the midterms, I hope to be alive to remember the free vaccines, boosters and at-home test kits. I also hope to remember the more than one million people who have died from COVID-19 or overdoses and our country’s attention to the mental health of kids during this pandemic.
This fall, when the GOP starts blaring “alternative facts,” remember the bipartisan and Democratic work on behalf of all Americans in 2021. Weigh Biden’s track record against these “alternative facts,” and vote for the 21st century, not the 1950s.
Anne Peyton
South Strafford
The Fall 2021 issue of the Sierra Club’s magazine included an article about “crunchier-than-thou” Vermont’s hypocrisy concerning solar and wind energy. Per the article, Vermont residents are all for these energy sources as long as the installations are “Not-In-My-Back-Yard.”
Per the Feb. 5 Valley News article, “Neighbors seek reversal on solar arrays,” residents of Norwich and Randolph, in their opposition to proposed solar installations in their towns, certainly are providing examples of this “NIMBY” attitude.
Phil Robertson
Woodstock
The columns by Jim Kenyon (“Scant pay for play, Feb. 9”) and Willem Lange (“The fruits of an investment in women’s sports,” Feb. 9) in Wednesday’s paper make your paper worth the price as is often the case.
These two columnists are an Upper Valley treasure. Thanks to the Valley News for hosting them.
The Rev. Ralph W. Mueckenheim
Windsor
In times such as these, it’s embarrassingly easy to forget the “behind the scenes” efforts put forth by so many. To that subject, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to each and every single plow truck, snowblower and city and volunteer crew member, who have all worked so hard to keep our roads and sidewalks clear this winter.
This season has brought more than the usual number of challenges — and not just the meteorological ones — but their work is gratefully appreciated. Thank you one and all; we are lucky to have you.
Peter Vinton Jr.
Lebanon