A Lesson In Public Participation

Speaking in front of a group of people is often noted as one of the top fears of many. Not so for young Rising Red Hawk, Troy.  Troy will be entering 7^th grade when school begins this academic year.  That makes him 12 or 13 years old.  Last Monday night, he did something that I found truly courageous and awesome – something from which many adults would shrink away. He chose to attend our local School Board meeting. Not only did he attend, but he stood up and spoke during the public participation portion held at the beginning of nearly every open School Board meeting.

In case you have never attended or watched a live stream of a School Board meeting here’s the setting. You’re going to walk into a large room with lots of chairs set up (social distancing space right now). The Board members and District Administrator will be seated behind tables facing the audience.  Even though Board members try to be as informal as possible, the setting is likely to seem very formal and even intimidating to many.  Anyone from the School District may speak at the Public Participation / Comment section near the beginning of the meeting. If you are a speaker, you will be asked to step to a lectern with a microphone, state your name, etc. and then you will be allowed 3 minutes to address the Board and the assembled public.  So, there might be as many as 30 or 40 people and you will be standing in front of them.  Additionally, you be video recorded and live-streamed, so you are likely speaking to many, many more than that. You are only allowed to speak on issues that are included on the formal agenda for that particular meeting.

The main topic of last Monday’s meeting was re-opening plans for the impending school year.  A few adults spoke, and then, as is the custom, Board President, Joe Martin, asked if there were any in the crowd who had not signed-up but wanted to address the Board. That’s when Troy’s hand went up. He approached the microphone and then he spoke eloquently and courageously from his heart.  He shared his own personal experiences and challenges from the last couple of months of last school year. He was calm, measured, and mature, showing great poise for a young man beginning 7^th grade. He didn’t have an axe to grind, he wasn’t emotional, he wasn’t over dramatizing. Simply, and effectively, he was congruent and transparent, speaking from his heart about his own experiences that were pertinent to the topic at hand.  I was impressed.  I know for a fact that several others were as well.

I am heartened when I see our Milton young students, products of our schools and the values taught by our outstanding professional staff members, performing in this way, and participating in our community building processes.  

Thank you, Troy, for investing your time to share your perspective with our elected officials. This is your right and your responsibility, and you demonstrated how to do it in an exemplary manner.

If you would like to take view and hear Troy’s comments, this link will take you there: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQoXF8Nn2wnlQb6jpc8ZZqQ

After all, Kids Matter

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