Poetic SOS Comment Board Ground Rules

2005-03-23T11:05:00.000-08:00

As owner of this website, I reserve the right to edit or refuse to post comments which attack others. Please refrain from attacking and criticizing specific individuals, specific schools, specific school districts etc. on this website. I also reserve the right to redirect conversations which are beginning to focus too heavily on a single issue between a couple of individuals. I feel that comments of this nature will detract from my objectives in providing a comment board. So, I will refuse to post comments, if deemed necessary, to redirect the conversation.

If you would like to give an example of a problem in your school or district, please just leave the name of the district, school, or individual off. The point of your message will still come through without these things. I do not feel that a local school, a particular individual, a specific school district, etc. needs to be criticized on a statewide website since I don't believe this is the proper forum for them to respond to such criticisms.

Remember, my objective in providing this website is to try to do something positive and constructive to help. I want to inspire people to learn more about school funding. I want to have them share stories about how the funding cuts are impacting them. I want to motivate them to write to their elected officials about their concerns about the funding crisis. I am willing to post ideas and opinions that differ from my own, but I feel that attacking others causes them to go on the defensive and stop listening.

I am not a subject matter expert on education and education funding. I am a parent, and I am trying to share opinions from the point of view of a parent - me.

I hope that others with greater expertise and a true knowledge of some of the topics that will inevitably appear on my comment board will be willing to post messages to clarify issues and facts when needed.

I also hope that as people begin to see how many of us are sharing stories about the impact of education funding on children, hopefully more and more of us will be motivated to become involved. Having a website where all of our stories can be seen should help to broaden the awareness of these issues.

If you are willing to have your name shown on your posting (which I think, ultimately, will have more impact in Sacramento), please include it. I will do my best to get these comments noticed by our officials... but PLEASE be sure to ALSO write and send your paper letters to your elected officials.

I believe comments containing facts, actual observations, and personal stories will be the most helpful in communicating how we feel about the funding cuts. I welcome notes from those of you involved in education, such as teachers, because stories told from your vantage point about cuts to specific programs (e.g.,. reading specialists, librarians, etc.) are relevant to me as a parent if you feel they impact your abilities to provide the best education possible for my child.

Parents, if your child would like to share a story from his/her perspective too, I feel this would be valuable. Students must have permission from parents to post stories or ask their parents to post stories on their behalf. Children's stories should be posted anonymously. Instead of a name, specify the student's grade level. I have heard many touching stories from children in my school district who have spoken at recent School Board meetings. The stories have been both eloquent and heartfelt. They have really helped me to understand how these funding cuts are impacting these fine young people.

Thank you for understanding.

Sherry Williams

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