The topic of the night at the school board meeting was blogs and how they are a place for discontents to spread misinformation and lies. What I think they want to say but won't is that blogs are are a place for malcontents to spread misinformation and lies.
The question of the validity of blogs has been circulating for a while, but has become the hot topic recently. I posted the following response yesterday on another blog moderated by a Hillsborough County teacher.
Hello all,
I am of the firm belief that whether they like it or not blogs are here to stay. Should you believe everything you read on a blog? I would hope not! I would hope that everyone takes everything you read on the internet with a grain of salt and you do your own research.
However blogs have allowed people with no voice the ability to be heard for the first time in the history of our district. Blogs, for better or worse, will change education systems throughout the world. Business as usual will not be allowed.
Light is the enemy of darkness. And blogs are shedding a light in some very dark places. If we are truly on the side of right transparency should not be a problem.
I don’t always answer postings on my blog, but I do read every one and research questions and issues raised.
I dream of a day when people don’t have to be afraid to post their name. But until that day and beyond there will be blogs.
One of my favorite quotes by Edward R. Murrow sums it up “We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it”. Dissent is the core of democracy.
At your service, April Griffin
12 comments:
I received this question in November on a different topic post and felt it deserved a discussion thread of it's own. I am going to post it here again because I feel it is relevant.
QUESTION:
April, I know that this is not the proper forum for this question or comment, but what do you think about the growing number of education blogs dedicated to the many serious problems within the HCPS?
What advice can you provide those bloggers who want their stories to come out but are afraid of being retaliated against. These are your constituents and they need your help. Any suggestions?
MY ANSWER:
As you can see I support blogs. You are protected by the 1st amendment of the US constitution.
I am very supportive of any medium that encourages transparency. That being said I would hope that the intent of any blog is to create a better school district in the end, not just to hurt the district or individuals without the ultimate goal being continuous improvement.
As for advice for bloggers I would say to try to resolve problems through proper channels with the blogs as the last avenue of attempting to have your story heard.
One of the channels available is the whistle blowers policy. I will list it below. (See topic: Whistle Blowers).
Also, my contact information is listed on this site. Do not hesitate contacting me or any other board members you trust for aid.
Ms. Griffin,
I am the child of a retired Hillsborough County teacher and also the parent of a child at Alafia. My family has always been interested in school board meetings and who our school board members are each year. I watched part of the school board meeting with my mother (the ex-teacher) yesterday and I told her about your blog and the support you have shown Alafia in your blog and on their blog. Here is her comment back to me, "Oh, she's young and new and the good ole boys haven't shut her up yet. Give her a year or two and Carol Kurdell and the rest of that bunch will make her realize they don't care what she has to say."
I sincerely hope this will not be the case. The Hillsborough County School Board is in dire need of fresh blood and new ideas. You seem to be a well-spoken lady with great ideals and a sincere desire to do the best for our schools, teachers, children, etc.
Please do not let the good ole boys ruin who you are and change what you stand for. Please be a leader and make things happen! The elections just ended and I have already started spreading the word that the old timers on the board need to go next time around. If I had my choice, Carol Kurdell would be at home retired right now. Maybe the next election will bring more people like you to the board. Keep up your blog and keep caring for our children.
Sincerely,
A Hopeful Parent
April, it concerns me that some board members and administrators would rather uncover the identity of a poster rather than uncover and address the truth of the posting.
Not everything we read or write on TheWALL rises to the level of epiphany but I would hope that the honesty of purpose is apparent.
Personally your superintendent and her administration have turned up the heat. It only makes us more determined to do what we do.
A little rational transparency has, and will continue to go a long way.
I think if all board members started a blog (and perhaps used yours as a beginning template) they would be surprised how quickly it would quell some of the uncertainties in the district.
Having to think out a response and then commit it to the blog knowing it is there for a long, long time makes one very reluctant to stray from the straight and narrow.
You can't get a feel for how things really are at dinners, luncheons, receptions and the like.
So encourage the board to risk it and think outside the upside down pyramid.
On a personal note: between your blog and an occasional meeting, I think we have come to understand each other to the point where consideration trumps suspicion.
It could work for them.
A Hopeful Parent (HP) makes valid points concerning the good ole boys, what one stands for, and malcontent for the status quo. HP invokes her mother who is supposedly a retired teacher. She said her mother and she sat through part of the board meeting last night. She then went on to make her point, which I want rehash here.
Is her mother a retired teacher? Was she watching the board meeting with her retired teacher mother? Did her mother really say what she is purported to have said? All of these details could be lies; however, it does not change the meaning of the post one bit. The purpose of the comment was not about the writer or the writer's retired teacher mother. Those were details to add personality and color to the post. It doesn't matter how truthful those details were. What counts is the meaning of what was written. Most reasonable people are capable of discerning fluff from the stuff that is the true meaning.
By the way, criticizing something or someone does not automatically make what is written untrue. If words seem harsh, take or leave them according to the critical thinking skills you should have learned in school.
We keep hearing that blogs showcase discontent, lies, and misinformation. They are peppered with no-good, lying comments written by discontented, lying writers who don't reveal their real names. Is it any mystery why anyone with a lick of sense would choose to remain anonymous with administrators frothing at the mouth to catch someone to hold accountable for something they wrote.
It amazes me how blatant are the retaliatory attitudes of administrators and some school board members. They don't even try to hide their desire to hold someone "accountable" who dares to criticize the administration. They do not pretend to be proponents of freedom of speech. Rather, they shamelessly advertise their disapproval toward anyone who would utter a critical word about them. They are supposedly educators who espouse good education, including critical thinking skills, but they do not hesitate to trample all over freedom to speak critical ideas. They are hypocrites and, apparently, are proud of it.
April,
The Board should realize that future teachers will have access to the inner workings of any district they may choose to work for. It is making cyberspace truly two way.
University of Miami Education Students Blog is up.
We are all referenced.
If all of you had blogs, there would be no black box to hide in.
I am proud that we have a board member who is not contemptuous of the people who elect them.
"At your service"
What a novel idea.
Thanks Ms. Griffin.
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Kate
http://educationonline-101.com
Ms Griffin
Please please this comment on Eskay.
http://es-kay.net/?p=918
What he writes here, clearly describes the perception that many of us have. Once you get to administration you get special treatment, a free pass.
Just look at the WSE survey on the woman at Alafia. Do you imagine I would keep MY job if the parents of my students perceived me that way?
Seriously, why do a survey if its not going to be acted on? Thye didn't need an on site assessment team. That survey said it all. Action plan? Please, we know that the WSE survey is a joke. This proves it.
I would be thrown under the bus before the end of the day.
Not a good way to engender loyalty from the teachers folks SAY they appreciate.
The treatment the principal got stands in stark contrast to the way we are routinely treated.
If you havent already, please read this.
http://es-kay.net/?p=918
Ms. Griffin, Steve and I and Suzie Creamcheese are not wild-eyed discontents. I challenge anyone to show me any deliberate misinformation on the blogs Steve and Suzie publish.
What was wrong with the Alafia blog? They let Ms. Falerio publish on it.
From what I read, most of them were good decent people. Those that appeared at the board meeting were regular citizens concerned about their kids. Ms Elia could barely contain her contempt for them
I have worked with some of the finest administrators in the county. David Steele, Walt Shaffner, Tim Ducker...Cheryl Boddie just to name a few.
They were fine supervisors and I was proud to work for them. I was loyal to them. They weren't afraid to be honest and stand with their teachers if they thought we were right. They weren't afraid to kick our butts if we were wrong either!
I have the distinct feeling that there is a move afoot to get rid of outspoken people no matter how skilled they are. Ask about the "brown bag" meetings and "lighting a fire" under the feet of teachers.
Steve Suzie and I are speaking the truth of what we feel and many many others feel as we feel. Steve and I may be gone soon but this younger crop of teachers will not stand for the kind of treatment we see today. My generation is generally compliant and respectful of authority but the ones coming up....well, you will see. And they are tech savvy. No way they are ever going to scare them into submission.
Ms Griffin, Please read this.
http://es-kay.net/?p=918
Thank you for all you have done. There are many of us that support you. More than you know.
Mr. Vaughn,
As a parent to a few, I want you to know that I believe that most parents REALLY appreciate the efforts that teachers make on behalf of their children on a daily basis. Next to motherhood, teaching is probably the toughest job going (if you're trying to do it right).
April,
The administration would do well to ACKNOWLEDGE and VALIDATE the concerns of teachers and parents in the district. Many times I have read and heard that the district acts "cavalierly". HCPS is doomed to relive the same problems over and over until the administration learns to take a new, fresh, proactive approach. How about town hall meetings in the spring for brainstorming instead of in the fall for damage control? There are many intelligent, engaged members of the community who have valuable ideas. It's time for the Board, Mrs, Elia and her staff to start thinking outside of the box. Now THAT's good PR.
I teach at a high school where our principal is being promoted. We are worried. Our present principal
is much respected--she tells us "just be professional" when she knows we are speaking at meetings, blogging, etc. Who will we get? In the present climate, many who love our school will leave if word gets out that the new principal is a "crony" like Smith. The waiting 'til news and the transfer period is uncomfortable. Other teachers across the district know Smith can never be effective as a principal but she will be given a position downtown. Teachers ARE talking.
Also--yes-- you have support and respect out here--thanks for all you do.
I once heard of a system where the entire faculty worked together so well that, once a year they would draw straws to see which one would be "Principal" for the year. They all accepted that they were doing different aspects of the same job, teaching students, and that the "Principal" had no special position in the school, just more paperwork.
Anonymous 9:04AM
The job of teaching is a pleasure to me. I appreciate the validation but I simply love what I do. I have had the following jobs:
Police officer
Private investigator
Security manager for a large Va hospital
Sales manager for a TV and appliance store
Manager of a Zales Jewelry stores in two states
Middle school teacher
I took on the middle school teacher assignment about the time I turned 40 and never looked back. I love it. I have tough days but never boring days and every so often I have those days that lift me high.
One day a young man came to see me with two little 11 year old boys. He asked if I remembered him. I never do but bluffed my way out and he told me that I had been his teacher 9 or 10 years ago. THEN I remembered him. This kid was a royal pain in my @##. I was on him on a regular basis and thought he probably hated me. But he didnt.
He told me he was a father and he had a good regular job. The little boys were his young brothers. He asked me to treat them exactly the same way I treated him. I smiled and reminded him that I had made his life difficult. He smiled back and said "yep, do them the same way".
One of the many experiences that remind me why none of my other, better paying jobs never held my interest. When you teach kids you become immortal. :)
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