‘Look, mommy, a man on a horse. With a sign.” That might have been one student’s reaction the other day at the New Hingham Elementary School in Chesterfield after a parent saddled up to dramatize his beef with the principal.
As a teachable moment, it had its downsides. One of the man’s complaints against Principal Rosemary Larkin, which emerged at a May 23 forum, is that she has not shared enough information with parents about school security issues.
But his arrival on horseback, not surprisingly, prompted a security scramble of its own. Buses were re-routed, children were ushered in through a side door and police were called. That might have been an over-reaction, but when it comes to school safety, officials can’t take chances — or they risk facing criticism from parents, or worse. See the problem?
When parents and school officials finally got together to talk, important issues emerged. A big crowd gathered — 90 people — showing that this was in no way one man’s complaint. A petition called for Larkin’s “immediate removal … for failure of leadership.” And the man with the horse was back, reins in hand, holding a sign: “Principal Larkin Must Go.”
Larkin listened to criticism of her leadership, but also heard teachers and parents speak in support of how she runs the school, which serves Chesterfield and Goshen. One school committee member said that the backing from teachers counts for a lot. Another pointed out that parents have many ways short of a petition and horseback protest to be heard.
That may be so, but sometimes things just boil up and over. Then it’s up to someone like Superintendent Craig Jurgensen to get people together and work it out. He seems to have achieved that.
The day after the forum, Larkin vowed to improve her communications with parents. Some of the drama could have been avoided, but concerned parents got their point across and that’s what’s important.