Senate President Justin Alfond has loudly and repeatedly criticized the Baxter Academy for Technology and Science for hosting a luncheon on school choice last Wednesday. The event was sponsored by the uber-conservative Maine Heritage Policy Center, thus Alfond described the luncheon as an “inappropriate” partnership between the public charter school and a “fringe political group.”

Republican Gov. Paul LePage blasted back, accusing the Democratic leader and “school union bosses (of) fighting tirelessly to deny Maine students the choice of where they can get the best education. You are putting the politically motivated demands of the union ahead of the best interests of the students. This is wrong. We must put our students first.”

And then, of course, each party’s faithful joined in the fray and accusations of political posturing circled round and round.

Let’s look at what actually happened at Baxter Academy.

The Maine Heritage Policy Center hosted a luncheon on school choice — the very essence of Baxter’s creation — honoring the much-accomplished Nobel laureate economist Milton Friedman. It was one of hundreds of Friedman Legacy Day events held across the country that day, showcasing the late presidential adviser’s policies on tax reform and school choice.

School was not in session. No students were required to attend as part of their schoolwork.

How is that different from a public school hosting a Lincoln Day Dinner honoring one of the nation’s most respected presidents? The Lincoln events are chiefly fundraisers for the Republican Party, providing an opportunity for elected officials to serve up their conservative platforms right alongside the boiled chicken.

And, yet, a huge number of public schools in Maine and across the country (except those in the South) host these events and are happy to do it.

So, it’s OK for our schools to host a Lincoln Day Dinner but not OK to host a Friedman Legacy Day luncheon?

Why?

Is it as simple as Democrats objecting to Maine Heritage Policy Center’s sponsorship because of its members’ conservative views?

If we’re really, truly going to start criticizing public schools for hosting luncheons, dinners, clubs, conferences or guest speakers based on political points of view of presenters or sponsors, we’re a nation in trouble.

Our public schools — including Maine’s new charter schools — are supposed to be community centers where ideas are exchanged and dialogues of great public interest are entertained. Worthiness of a political point of view is not and must not be a qualifier for such dialogue.

If that were the case, think of the number of clubs, organizations and guest speakers or professionals in residence that might be excluded from our schools.

For instance, hundreds of Maine public schools host Model United Nations, a simulation of the United Nations that is intended to teach teens about international political issues debated within the United Nations.

This nation’s relationship with the “real” United Nations is tinged with controversy, from differences in politics and membership fees to the U.N.’s failure to confront human rights violations in some of its member countries.

Remember the uproar when Libyan Ambassador Najat al-Hajjaji, representing a country with a despicable record on human rights abuse, was permitted to chair the United Nations Commission on Human Rights? Elected by secret ballot, no less.

Modeling the controversial United Nations gives students an opportunity to talk about societal values and actions, and what each nation can do to improve this world. Isn’t that what education is all about? Study, discussion and learning?

Just because, as Baxter Executive Director Carl Stasio said, a school hosts an event does not mean the school is aligned with the sponsor’s message. Baxter has a lot of supporters, including some liberal and some moderate. If a liberal group were to host a luncheon at the school would that be OK?

We want our students, teachers and administrators to study all ideas, learn from many messages and benefit from all points of view, don’t we?

And, if not, then exactly what are we teaching our children?

jmeyer@sunjournal.com

The opinions expressed in this column reflect the views of the ownership and the editorial board.

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