Stopping culture wars in their tracks: How one city did it

In communities across America, the public comment period in school board meetings has morphed into yelling, and sometimes even physical violence, over national hot-button topics.

When residents of Middletown, Ohio, descended on the Aug. 23, 2021, school board meeting, the comment period became a complaint period – about mask-wearing and critical race theory. 

Day-to-day work building trust in the community set the stage for defusing the culture wars confronting Middletown’s public schools.

“If we start relinquishing our rights to make decisions for our children, where does it stop?” one man asked.

Rather than respond, Marlon Styles, the district’s first Black superintendent, took detailed notes on what he was hearing, adding a note to himself: You gotta pick a fight against this if you want the kids to stay the main thing.

Next, he turned to a group of religious leaders with widespread respect in the community. 

Their prescription? Remind the community that, no matter the disagreements over theology or pedagogy or even public health, all belong.

Along with the ministers, other ordinarily quiet supporters started speaking up at meetings. The Rev. Michael Bailey said, “Middletown is a strong city. It is strong because of our faith to love and respect one another. It is strong because of our diversity.” 

A white doctor spoke of his great honor to treat the football team in his mask.

Others followed, meeting after meeting.

One public comment at a time, the frame on Middletown grew wider. The disagreements were still in the shot, but they hadn’t taken over the focus. The students still had that spot. Read in the Christian Science Monitor >