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Free Speech
Upheld
To the Editor:
Contrary to what you wrote in your May 22 editorial, I have never said anything or done anything to destroy the public school system. And I never will.
I never bullied anyone or used scare tactics. I have been a responsible, participating member of this community.
I have done nothing except to assert my constitutional rights under the First Amendment: The rights to free speech and peaceful assembly.
Let me explain the background.
The Superintendent of Schools and the School Board created a public issue of Goals 2000 funding by voting to accept this federal money and its requirements. They made this an issue , locally, not me.
I think they made the wrong decision, and 1 wrote a letter to your paper explaining one reason why I thought it was an error. I addressed the issue and attacked no one in that letter.
1 was under the notion that reasonable people could discuss a public pol-' icy issue and attempt to convince others of the soundness of their positions.
Your editorial makes it clear that this is not possible unless one’s position is politically correct.
I am not politically correct, I have never been, and 1 probably never will be. However, 1 can still honor people who hold positions opposite of mine.
Most people know very little about Goals 2000. So I contacted an education expert and organized a public meeting to inform people about it. That way, people could get facts to make up their own minds on this issue.
That is the essence of everything I have done.
There’s nothing wrong with people disagreeing on issues. That’s healthy.
WALTER LONGYEAR
Washington
Letters
95.6%