Whatever your own opinion may be on the proposed new middle school planned for the Wheatley campus, some of the contributions to the debate appearing in this column concern me.

One recent letter went so far as to suggest that there should be no "grass roots" advocacy or organizing in favor of this plan (apparently a reference to a newly-formed group called "Partnership for Education," which favors the plan).

This is a deeply troubling notion to anyone familiar with our nation's constitution, laws or history. Advocating a point of view in the marketplace of ideas is one of the oldest and most firmly established of American traditions. There is nothing inherently sinister about a group formed specifically to support or oppose a particular initiative in our school district. You may not agree with its opinion (in this case, that our public schools are overcrowded and that we need this plan to correct the condition). But who can argue against the right of our neighbors to organize at the community level, disseminate information to local residents and promote the upcoming bond issue?

Each of us is entitled to express his or her view on this important issue. The pernicious idea that the public dialogue on this matter should occur in an antiseptic vacuum is unrealistic, counter-productive and not in the best interests of the taxpayers or the children of our community.

Louise Sobin Hersh