BANNING ALL kinds of expression, even clapping, in Boston School Committee meetings might be going too far, but our experience at the March meeting discussed in your article makes it clear we need new rules (“Panel wants its meetings polite,’’ Page A1, Aug. 1).
As youth community organizers at Sociedad Latina, a youth development organization in Roxbury, we are active in the schools and run our own education reform campaign. We went to the budget meeting prepared with research and speeches, as we always do, to present our demands to the School Committee.
Unfortunately, the meeting was filled with screaming and out-of-control students, and even adults, who did not understand the issues. When we saw our demands were not in line with the crowd, we left. We were intimidated and afraid for our lives to get up and speak.
Everyone has a right to their opinion, but when you are uninformed, too emotional, and disrespectful, people won’t listen. We welcome differing opinions if the meeting is orderly, but behavior like this prevents free expression. Opinions that are well thought out don’t need to be shouted.
Daniel Hernandez
Wilmer Quinones
Roxbury 
