BRATTLEBORO — Today, I was informed that you were upset about the sexual assault theme in the play Man of La Mancha.
I understand it's your job to have a positive influence on middle school students, and what you say matters. I understand that it is upsetting, but I'm pretty sure that most middle school students can tell what's real and what's a show. I don't think that a story or a play has to only have heroes.
But you want to know what is real and what is a sensitive and concerning topic? The behavior of a lot of middle-school boys.
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In my 1{1/2} years at Brattleboro Area Middle School, I have been called a slut, a whore, and a “hoe.” Boys have called my body hot and sexy. They have made comments about my breasts and my butt, my makeup and my clothes.
I've been dress-coded for wearing my regular clothes that somehow the school thinks are sexual.
I've had a jealous boy post a picture of a gun on social media and threaten to hurt my friend. I was promised that I would not have any classes with him, yet now I am forced to sit behind him in English.
Most girls I know have similar stories to tell.
I wasn't upset or triggered by a high-school musical, but it was good to be able to talk about Man of La Mancha today.
But it would also be good to talk about what is really happening in our middle school sometime soon.