A not-so-funny thing happened on the way to Swampscott school officials trying to make a point about substance abuse in the community. What should have been an open discussion of a serious problem turned into an exercise in authoritarianism and censorship.
The high school administration's decision to compel parental participation in a forum scheduled for Monday night was controversial, but defensible in our view, given reports of widespread drug and alcohol use among students, the risk that poses, and the need to get all parents involved in addressing this issue. But the decision to bar the press and muzzle parents, at least at the first session, was a huge mistake.
By doing so, administrators created an unnecessary controversy that took some of the focus off the matter they hoped to address.
If the problem is one they want all parents to know about, why not get the entire community involved? And why not let parents voice their disagreement — respectfully — with the decision to require their attendance by threatening to bar absentees' children from participation in sports and other extracurricular activities?
One public official in attendance, who did not learn of the restrictions until afterward, called it a "rookie mistake" by a superintendent, Lynne Celli, and principal, Layne Millington, who are both relatively new to their jobs. We hope they will know better next time.
Abuse of alcohol and/or drugs by students at Swampscott High School should be a matter of concern to every person in town. Rather than opt for secrecy, the administration should have welcomed press coverage of Monday's event.
Likewise, school officials should have encouraged parents to provide their views on all aspects of this situation — including the strategy that was used to get them off their couches and to the high school Monday night.
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