A School Board Candidate should not espouse hate and intolerance.

Every day I am more deeply disturbed by the nature of people who think they are qualified to run our local school boards. People who spout more and more outrageous conspiracy theories to try and ride the national campaign of misinformation to a school board seat. People who want to determine what shall be taught to our children in taxpayer supported schools.

I was invited by concerned parents from Montville, NJ to state in clear and logical tone, why it is so important to evaluate the true nature of candidates and why they may be totally unqualified to represent us.

Last November, just such a person came close to being elected (he lost by one vote). No doubt, he will try again this coming November. He claims to be the voice of the people, but I leave that for you to decide.

As Administrator of a Facebook page called “Montville for the Kids,” he spews conspiracy theories like “food shortages being created to help Bill Gates sell phony meats.” Misinformation and lies about the curriculum that has not yet been written.

But the most heinous of posts on the page administered by him said "[t]ear down the entire operation. Public School are so mishandled. Needs to be burned to the ground.”

It is important to know the truth about people who want to run your schools. Like a position that all teachers should quit the NJEA. It’s not surprising when he has posted comments from “NJ Fresh Faced Schools," a subset of the radical right group, “Mom for Liberty.” Their outlandish playbook is that the teachers union’s agenda is to “sexualize” our children and “groom” them for “sex trafficking.”

This rampaging hatred is why an even a much hailed program in the schools, “Living Lessons,” is adulterated by encouragement to hate that which is different. Why a child brave enough to speak about her gender at this program has now been subjected to “death threats.” This is why more than 50% of children who are trying to determine their true gender consider suicide. Because people who are supposed to be adults can’t control their baser instinct and use hate and intolerance to torture our young people.

The groups this person quotes want to remove diversity, inclusion and a study of slavery, racism and the “Holocaust” from the history curriculum. They want to replace it with “hatred, intolerance, trans/homophobia, racism and “theocratic” precepts. To insert these into public schools paid for by “all” taxpayers.” Not just this loud minority supported by money from total outsiders who want to tell you that you are running your school the wrong way. How would they know? Have they ever stepped foot in one of your district classrooms?

Often, listening to the “words” that come from someone’s mouth as less important than looking as who he associates with and whose positions he promotes.

So remember come November when it comes time to push that button, flip that lever or check that box. You determine the direction your schools will take and what your children will be taught. Diversity and open-mindedness. Or hatred and intolerance. The choice is your.

Michael Gottesman, Attorney (Retired), Founder
New Jersey Coalition for Protection of Public Education
Wayne, NJ
NJC4PPE@gmail.com