Letter to the editor
To the editor:
I am writing not as a school teacher in the East Windsor Regional School District, but as a former student who spent all of my formative years in that same district. In all of my years learning (and subsequently teaching) in our district, I have always greatly appreciated the value of diversity and the importance of acceptance that is stressed to both our students and our faculty. Unfortunately, one of our school board members does not share those same beliefs. She has shown hatred in her heart and fear in her mind.
I write to remind voters in this district of the ugly views expressed by Janice Mastriano in December 2000. She expressed her fear of allowing homosexuals to care for our children. Her words were clear expressions of hate and ignorance. She said in a newspaper interview that "most homosexuals are pedophiles." This statement is not only false, easily disproven by numerous reports and studies, but it is clear evidence of bigotry and discrimination. Qualities such as these should not be tolerated by anyone, but certainly not by a member of a school board, who is entrusted with the education of our children.
After much public pressure, Ms. Mastriano offered a very qualified and incredibly backhanded "apology." In this public statement, which was more defensive and combative than apologetic, she made a promise to her constituents. She pledged to learn more about the homosexual lifestyle, which she said was "possibly as legitimate as my normal heterosexual lifestyle." She has been offered many opportunities to act upon her pledge to educate herself and realize her own intolerance and she has refused every single one. Consequentially, one must conclude from her inaction that her promise was empty rhetoric. In fact, in the past year-and-a-half, Ms. Mastriano has done nothing of public record to show that she takes these concerns seriously or respects the beliefs of her constituents. This is simply unacceptable behavior in an elected official. Perhaps she thought we would all forget. Well, we cannot and we will not.
Now Janice Mastriano is running for re-election to the school board. I beseech all in our community to vote against her. A vote against Ms. Mastriano is a vote for tolerance and acceptance. It’s a vote that shows this community does not allow prejudice to thrive. If her abhorrent views aren’t enough to make you rethink her value to the board, consider her broken promise and dismissal of her own bigotry.
Please make your vote count in April and send a clear message: Hate is not in the curriculum of the East Windsor Regional School District.
Robt Seda-Schreiber
Princeton
The writer is a teacher at the Melvin H. Kreps Middle School.