Two girls sat in the hallway at Brookside Education Center while the Albert Lea school board, parents, students and concerned residents on Tuesday discussed reduction in faculty. We asked them why they were studying there at Brookside on this day. They said they had brought signs to urge the board to keep the high school band director but were afraid to post them. They asked what they should do. Our response: This is America. Expressing yourself is how change happens. Let’s hope our schools are teaching them that.