Exeter Region Cooperative School Board candidate Peggy Massicotte
Name: Peggy Massicotte
Education: Bachelor of Science, University of Connecticut
Occupation: Mother of four children/medical sales
Political or civic experience highlights: I’ve never been a political person, I’m just a passionate mother who wants the best for all children.
What would be your top three priorities if you are elected?: 1. Removing DEI. At the heart of DEI is a simple binary: the world is divided between “oppressors” and the “oppressed.” DEI is stoking hatred with an “us” versus “them” worldview focusing on group identities. This way of teaching has proven to be dangerous and should immediately be removed from public schools. DEI’s concepts are not inclusive and instead force exclusion and division within education and should not receive funding from taxpayers.
2 Implementing later school start times. It’s the number one thing we can do as a community to improve all children’s mental health. We have one of the earliest start times in the nation at 7:10 a.m. Research shows that starting school at 8:30 or later for middle school and high schools significantly improves children's mental health, physical health, and academic performance, this is supported by both the AAP and CDC.3 Bring back a Homecoming Dance!
How should the school district handle requests to remove books from the library or curriculum?: Sexually explicit content, offensive language, and “unsuited to any age group” are the top three reasons cited for requesting a book be removed. I do not believe any sexually explicit or pornographic material belongs in public schools.
This shouldn’t be controversial; we’ve done it with movies for years protecting children from information that is not appropriate. “Rated R”– Under 17 requires an accompanying parent or adult guardian. The history of ratings was created to help parents make informed viewing choices for their children. I believe we should use the same guidelines for what books are allowed in public schools. Waiting until a child is mature enough to understand vulgar or obscene language, or explicit sexual content is often necessary to promote healthy development.
Books in many ways are our best teachers. Adults need to take a commonsense approach. I think many parents would agree, that regardless of politics, it’s necessary to protect children from harm while nurturing empathy and critical thinking.
Do you support the expansion of education freedom accounts in New Hampshire?: Yes. Every parent should have the ability to choose the best education option for their child.
SAU 16’s school buildings may be in tip-top shape, however, enrollment and school rankings continues to decline and children’s mental health problems continue to rise. Parental rights were taken away. This school system made children carry the brunt of the pandemic and didn’t listen to what over 80% of parents wanted. We had prolonged school closures, prolonged masking, making children eat silent lunches and eat with masks on their faces while restaurants down the street were full and towns next door were open for a full year of learning in person with masks optional. Children were made to show up at an outside prom with vaccine papers, numbered if unvaccinated and made to raise their arms every third song. This town was extreme. It’s easy to understand why so many children are dealing with anxiety. This board's decisions were the least equitable for all children.
After this experience, I believe in Education Freedom Accounts. They can empower parents and provide better options for their children. Parents can tailor their child's education to their individual interests, learning styles, and emotional needs, leading to improved academic outcomes. You can also save taxpayers money by supporting an individual student rather than an entire school. Most people don’t realize that tax rates would go down and school competition could lead to better quality education opportunities.
What else should voters know about your views on local schools and public education?: I am running because I pray that my voice can serve as an advocate for families who feel they are not being heard. I believe in public education, and I look forward to the opportunity to speak with the amazing teachers at SAU 16 and find out where the school system needs support.
In the end, the greatest asset schools can have are happy teachers who feel supported. Some other issues I feel passionately about are discussing if parents want their children involved in social emotional learning. SEL is connected to failed Common Core. Research shows that as a nation, schools are devoting a total of approximately $21–47 billion per year to SEL. Is this helping? Is this how we want our tax money spent? Or should we be paying our paraprofessionals and teachers a competitive wage to keep consistency for our students and bring the focus for students back to academics? Recently, so much has been taken away from children. My focus would also be on creating more social interactions. I believe this is one of the most important and memorable parts of your school experience. You cherish these memories for a lifetime!
I would feel honored to earn your vote. If elected my goals will be clear and focused on creating positive outcomes. Together, we can build a future for our children that is rooted in a strong education and supportive community and an engaging environment for every child.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exeter Region Cooperative School Board candidate Peggy Massicotte
