5 Ways Parents Are Being Silenced By School Boards

Over the last year, school board meetings nationwide have been the center of heated debates over contentious issues like mask and vaccine mandates for students, critical race theory in classrooms, and more. Rather than reform their practices to reflect the will of parents — whose taxes pay their salaries — school boards have increasingly turned to a number of tactics and stratagems that muzzle parents from influencing their own children’s schooling.

Many school officials seem to treat parents’ ability to comment on their children’s education as a fully revokable indulgence extended by the government. For instance, the Ohio School Boards Association informs parents that, under state law, “There is not a legal requirement that [school board] meetings afford the public an opportunity to comment or otherwise participate in the meeting.” A number of districts seemingly tell parents they should consider themselves privileged to address such an august body of learned bureaucrats.

As parents persist in making their voices heard, school boards have increasingly restricted “public comment” at school board meetings. Here are five of the most common roadblocks school boards erect to parental rights:

1. Forcing parents to publicly dox themselves at tense school board meetings

School board officials claim they have faced death threats, obscene phone calls, and demonstrations outside their homes. Yet, they often ask parents to publicly state their name and full street address before addressing the same crowds which administrators insist pose a threat of imminent violence.

“Each speaker is asked to state his or her name and home address for the record. Failure to do so will result in an individual not being allowed to speak,” said chairwoman Jodi Sapp of the Mankato (Minnesota) Area Public Schools on October 18. When a parent made multiple attempts to avoid giving his precise address, Sapp made clear that only a complete street address would suffice. “My name is John Wicklund, and I live in Mankato,” an unhappy father said as he introduced himself. “John, you need to give your address,” Sapp replied. “I live on Fifth Street,” he said. “House number?” she demanded, which he supplied.

A similar policy holds in Prince William County, Virginia. “When you are called to the podium, please state your name and address for the record,” said chairman Barbur Lateef at a recent meeting. In their case, parents may give the school board their address privately and say, “My address is on file” at the podium.

2. Speak only to agenda