Letter to the editor: A pointless attack on our school

Some Rochester residents are attacking Rochester Memorial School for following state law governing gender identity discrimination and bathroom access. You may have seen the lawn signs and petition to recall the RMS School Committee.

Every Massachusetts school district follows the same law. Every school committee member swears an oath to uphold the laws of the Commonwealth; failure to do so exposes Rochester to fines, penalties and legal action, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill.

Schools can’t change laws; they must follow them. The people with the lawn signs must know this, but still attack our school. This is political theatre, but the damage to Rochester is real; vulnerable kids are traumatized, educators and administrators are villainized, education is disrupted, our town is divided, and taxpayers are bled to cover legal expenses.

Those opposing "An Act Relative to Transgender Anti-Discrimination" lost their fight at the ballot box in 2018 when 68% of Massachusetts voters rejected a measure to repeal it. They also lost their fight in State Court, which has upheld the law. Our State Legislature is the only remaining avenue to overturn the law. So why are people taking their fight to RMS instead of Beacon Hill? 

It’s time for Rochester to move on. RMS is a place of learning, caring, growth and safety; it shouldn’t be used as a battleground in a pointless, costly and divisive war.

Kathryn Tarleton

Rochester