The Sound Of Silence May Be Cultivated

Dag nab it, I got it wrong one more time.


Saturday, I made a SWAG and got it wrong. Maybe. My experience told me that one way the District gets out of these types of messes is to simply have the problem-maker recant their story. So far from the media reports, that won't be necessary.

I get partial credit in the "first you blame the kid, then you blame the parent" subject area. The District spokesperson suggested on the first day that the kid didn't tell anyone of the two-month-old problem, and then the next day the second part was covered when the Superintendent made it clear that not even the parent knew.

That clears up any needed effort to defend and diffuse a "what did they know and when did they know it' defense scheme.

I still have a little wriggle room left to carry out a broad brush attack, weak that it may be, based on this:

Boy's silence disturbs Elia:

"Of the alleged victim's silence, Elia said: 'That is a problem. We have to figure out a way that our kids know that they have people that care about them. There is always somebody at the school that the kids will relate to. A particular teacher. A guidance counselor, it might be the custodian. The big issue is that the student didn't do this."

How many of us can recall what happens to a student, a parent or an employee who comes forward with a problem?

I am sure we all remember this one about a student, with a disability, which means questionable thought processes, who came forward with a truthful problem:

How many of you have witnessed the perseveration of an SLD kid? Try getting them to be quiet. It's called "manifestation of a disability!"

PRO on HCPS: Middleton Teacher Pleads Guilty:

"'Another Middleton student, a 15-year-old girl, was suspended as a gossip-monger after refusing to stop talking about rumors of an affair after telling a school official.'"

I am sure we all remember this about parents who came forward with a truthful problem:

Parents Critical Of Alafia Elementary Principal:

"Five parents told the School Board on Tuesday that the A-graded school in Valrico is 'a school in crisis' with poor morale and high teacher turnover....".

Or, was someone telling an untruth:

"Later, both Faliero and board member Candy Olson said "there is some validity" to the complaints."

And then there was this from teachers and last, but not least, an administrator, all who came forward.

This administrator who tried to come forward even had a surprising impact:
Hillsborough: Schools search may use wide net:

"Faliero said the lawsuit brought by former schools administrator Doug Erwin, which ended recently with a jury saying the school district had violated Erwin's right to free speech and whistle-blower protection, convinced her change is needed."

Word gets around in a small, small town, as Martina McBride would sing. Perhaps there is a culture of silence, because it is being cultivated.