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This Vital Issue

I applaud recent community-based efforts to address the important matter of fostering the healthy emotional and psychological development of boys.

In December of last year, Shoreline Girls United sponsored a screening at the Guilford Free Library of The Mask You Live In. This award-winning documentary film takes a close look at the damaging effects on boys of a narrow definition of masculinity. The film examines the pressing question of how to nurture boys in a way that facilitates their development into men who—unafraid of their emotional experience—will be less inclined toward violence. For those Guilford Courier readers who missed the library screening, the film is available on Netflix; I highly recommend a viewing.

Last month, local school staff, medical providers, town administrators, and sports coaches were invited to a screening of the film at the Guilford Free Library followed by discussion. The intent of this effort was to engage community leaders in this critical conversation. Turnout was enthusiastic, and the discussion among attendees conveyed a strong interest in furthering local engagement around this topic.

Both the work of Shoreline Girls United and the subject of The Mask You Live In point to the need for local programming aimed at nurturing the psychological and emotional wellbeing of our community’s boys. This issue is by no means particular to Guilford—and yet, it is as important to address in Guilford as it is elsewhere. Perhaps similarly concerned community members will call upon the Guilford Fund for Education to take up this vital issue and fund initiatives to promote local efforts to support our town’s boys in their development into kind and compassionate young men.

Adam Spivack

Guilford