James Malveira

My name is James Malveira, and I live in Pelham, New Hampshire. I am a parent and a U.S. Army veteran. I am submitting testimony in support of HB 1132 and HB 1345. Public schools should be focused on education, not social or political messaging. When schools display flags or symbols tied to modern political movements, they stop being neutral institutions and start acting as advocates. That is not the role of government-run schools. These bills are not about discrimination and they are not about silencing anyone. Students and staff are still free to hold whatever beliefs they want. What these bills address is government speech inside schools. A classroom should not promote or elevate one ideological viewpoint over others, especially on issues that are actively debated in society. Parents come from different backgrounds, beliefs, and values. Schools should respect that by remaining neutral and focused on academics. When schools take sides, they undermine trust with parents and put kids in the middle of adult political disputes they shouldn’t be part of. HB 1132 and HB 1345 draw a clear, reasonable line. They help keep schools professional, consistent, and focused on their core mission—educating students, not shaping their political or social views. I respectfully urge the committee to support both bills.