In the little community that I work in, there is a city web site and it contains an open forum for people to discuss community matters.  However, there is an awful lot of parent complaints, comments, criticisms and amazing misinformation about the school.

Here is an example:  Parents wanted to know what was going on at our school.  They had 40 open slots for new teachers and only 10 teachers had applied.  In reality, we WANTED to have 40 slots and the business manager only GAVE us 10.  So our classes will be large again next year.

How can parents discuss things they know nothing about?  Why don't they go to the board meetings and learn before they get on line and make their comments.  It isn't the school that can't get people to apply, it is the DO that is refusing to give us the open slots.

It also bothers me that they discuss teachers in the open forum.  I no longer read it because I am afraid I will find my name on it and that would devastate me.  But do they not realize that they are open to law suits if someone sees something they wrote and takes offense?  It is a public forum!

They share information about which teachers are good or bad, why the principals should be fired, why the superintendent should be fired, and the list goes on.  If they want to change things they should come to volunteer at the schools and learn what is really happening.  Not publish incorrect secondhand information.

Our building was old (the original building) and they thought we were the worst school because of the building.  In fact, we were top notch.  Where were the parents volunteering so they knew it was a great school?  They must have been at home discussing us on the open forum.

Just to let you know...Our new building is almost done and we get to move into it at the end of July.  I wonder if they will change their opinion of our abilities then?