To the editor:

I have always loved school. My fondest school memories are from the start of the year; students and teachers would come together to discuss and set classroom norms. These shared experiences made me feel seen, heard, and safe—they were opportunities to establish a sense of belonging and responsibility. The fusion of learning, growing, socializing, building relationships, thinking and expressing ideas, asking questions, and developing life skills in community with a group of people — some who were like me and some who were different — made school an invigorating place. In our diverse and unique learning communities, we developed most of these classroom norms to create productive learning environments that were meant to be safe for all members. That was the goal, at least. In school, I learned how to collaborate, problem solve, and grow as an individual, and uphold the values of my community. Every person in the Town of Barrington deserves to feel safe, heard, and seen in public meetings— our shared “classroom” community. Practicing respectful speech is a norm that hurts no one, and benefits everyone. 

Rebecca Taub

Barrington