The following letter was sent to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.

Thank you for the thoughtfully run LUPC meeting this week. We are grateful for the MVC’s professionalism and attention to details, both large and small.

While there remains much to investigate and debate regarding the merits of MV@Play’s plans, we write today about a particular topic that was raised last night. A commissioner requested that MVRHS student body be asked for their opinion on synthetic turf. There is no doubt that the proposal will impact MVRHS students, and we know that many do hold opinions on the matter. That said, we feel it is wholly inappropriate to survey students.

The debate over playing surface materials has unfortunately been highly polarizing and contentious. At many times last spring, those of us who expressed concern about synthetic turf were mocked, insulted and disrespected — publicly and privately — by adults and children alike. As adults, we felt this pressure intensely. We can only imagine how it felt to be a high school student, with so many coaches and school leaders taking such an outspoken stand.

Now the issue is coming back to the fore, with commissioners taking a close look at the broad range of issues associated with synthetic turf: costs, environmental impacts, toxicity, maintenance, and playability, to name a few. This is not a clear-cut decision. It is nuanced, with many details to be considered and challenges to be navigated.

This is most certainly a teachable moment. Our children should be educated about the complexity of these decisions, informed with a broad range of information on all aspects of the proposal, and encouraged to engage in thoughtful, respectful conversation. But they should not be pressured by the commission, their school or their coaches to take a stand. We, the members of Vineyarders for Grass Fields, respectfully request that the commission withdraw their request to poll the study body at the high school.

Dardanella Slavin
Chilmark