Letter to the Editor: Community Concerns

Dear Editor, 

I was sitting in the Suffern Library cafe, enjoying a coffee and doing some work, when a group sat down at the table next to me. They were meeting to discuss future canvassing events for people interested in running for the East Ramapo school board. Most of the group seemed new as the leader explained what they do and why they do it.

Then the conversation shifted.

The leader said that the reason they canvass is because although the majority of students in the public schools are Black and Hispanic, the school board is led by… he paused, trying to find the right words. After a long hesitation, he labeled the board members as “white supremacists.” Some people at the table were visibly shocked and said they had never heard this before. The leader replied, “Yes, that’s why canvassing is so important.”

This kind of accusation troubled me. While I don’t like to put words in anyone’s mouth, discussions around East Ramapo elections often highlight the fact that the majority of the current board members are Jewish and send their children to private schools. This concern is frequently raised during campaign seasons, and it deserves a genuine conversation, not hostile rhetoric.

Now let’s talk about the realities.

Black and Hispanic students indeed represent the majority of students in the East Ramapo public schools, with approximately 77 percent Hispanic and 16.5 percent Black/African-American students, and they absolutely deserve representation and a meaningful voice in the conversation. But it is also true that approximately 76 percent of all children living in the district attend private schools. To imply that private school families do not deserve representation is unreasonable. These families pay taxes that fund schools and programs their children do not attend. If every private school child attempted to enroll in the public system next year, the district simply could not accommodate them.

Every child in this district needs to be considered when decisions are made. The Board of Education exists to promote a standard of education and support for every child, not to be used as fuel for division. It shouldn’t matter if a child is in public or private school, or their religious background or race. No child should be left behind. And I fully support diversity on the board.

That being said, I cannot support any candidate or canvassing effort that calls people “white supremacists” simply because they do not fit someone’s preferred racial category. Calling someone a white supremacist without any actions or evidence to support the claim is defamatory.

This rhetoric is dangerous and divisive. It weakens the meaning of something truly hateful. Calling someone a white supremacist simply because of their skin color is irresponsible and harmful.

What we need is unity and common ground, not buzzwords designed to divide neighbors. Students deserve support regardless of race, religion, or the type of school they attend.

Signed,

A resident who loves this county and wants all of us to come together to support our children in the best way possible.