Seattle Schools Community Forum

Gentle readers. Charlie and I have never shied away from discussions, even spirited ones. We have a policy of not deleting any comment unless it is anonymous or has name-calling or is off-subject (and that one we don't always enforce.) However, I will have to add a new reason - making threats .  Whether they are vague or direct, we do not want any threats being made against anyone and especially not against this blog.  The blog is a community service and Charlie and I did not work this long and hard to have anyone deliberately try to undermine it.  As well, there seems to be a few readers who know each other and a couple who want to pick a fight each time the other one comments.  That needs to stop - take it elsewhere. So I will delete any comment that has threatening language, using my own best judgment. (Luckily, these few readers have discernible writing styles/tone so I believe I know who to delete.  Changing your name is not going to save your co...

This issue of posting documents at the blog has given rise to a couple of issues that I hope to resolve now. It is fine to either link to documents from their source and/or if you scan them in and link to a source like Scribd if they are publicly available documents.  Do not link documents that are not within the public domain.  You can send them to either Charlie or me but please do not put them up here.  Do NOT put up any document that reveals the name or face of a minor if it is a sensitive matter.  It does not matter your opinion about the need to post; don't do it.  Do NOT put up any document that reveals personal data like the address of any Seattle Schools' employee or members of the Board.  It does not matter your opinion about the need to post; don't do it.  If you see that a document has been redacted but the redaction is not complete (meaning, they missed something), do NOT post it here.  It does not matter your opinion ...

I feel like a teacher with some 5th graders. What part of "no name-calling allowed at this blog" is not understood? That means no name-calling of: - administrators - teachers - staff - students - schools If you had a bad experience with a teacher or school, you are welcome to tell us about it but you cannot label a person or place with an unsavory name. You can certainly say  - as I have - that I believe someone's work is unsatisfactory or even incompetent.  That labels the work, the outcome and not the person or place. I do not understand why I have to say this over and over (and then delete comments based on acting against this policy).  We're all adults and I know you know what name-calling looks like. Please, do not do this.  We are a community forum for discussion (even if it gets heated) and we want it to remain open and civil.