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School Board query

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Well, it seems we are getting a lot of pathetic, inapproriate attacks lately...from all quarters. It is particularly sad when it comes from friends and neighbors.
 
JDarg:

I find it very confusing when you say that I launched an attack on you with my re-post of your summary of the February School Board meeting that you attended.

Exactly where did I attack you?

I highlighted your summary of Mrs. Wilkerson comments made at the end of the meeting. I was the third person in attendance that you mentioned. I found her comments that evening very revealing, but had long forgotten them until reading this thread and looked at the bottom of the page and found the similar threads listing. I went to that thread and found your accurate summary of her comments. I highlighted Mrs. Wilkersons comments not anything you said as an individual and made no comment concerning your support or lack of support or a change in your support of candidates.

How can that be an attack?

I served as a school board member for 5 years and have some insight into what a school board members roles and responsibilities involve. The most important thing that a school board member must do is listen. Listen to the professional educators, listen to parents, listen to other Board members, the Superintendents recommendation and to students and then and only then vote based on your evaluation of all perspectives. I found that that served me well as a board member. I also find that Robert does the same thing. Willing to examine all perspectives and respect the rights of others to hold a different position.

That seems to be the same pattern that you have followed in your decision on who you will vote for in this election. I respect your viewpoint. I have not attacked you and will not do that. I have not attacked Mrs. Wilkerson. I have simply reposted her comments made on a subject at a school board meeting without comment other than the statement that I found the highlighted portion interesting, leaving to the readers discreation what value if any to place on her position.

I am a supporter of Robert for this position. I consider him to be a person that will serve this community well as a school board member. I am a financial donor to his campaign and work daily in support of his election.

I have always found your postings to be insightful even when I disagreed with your viewpoint and will continue to do so.

I did not attack you and won't now or in the furture.
 
It is only my opiniion but it is a very strong one and, as I have said many times before, based on years of experience. It is this.
You do not need an educational degree to do a good job as a school board member. Today, education while definitely of importance in what you will attain in life, is highly over rated. I want someone divorced from the educational field deciding how my tax dollars will be utilized for education. Such a candidate should be well aware of all the educational needs of the district, capable of educating and researching problems pertaining to the district and have the analytical ability to make informed and rational decisions based on what they have learned. As I said, this doesn't mean a board member has to necessarily have a Master's Degree or be an educator. He/She has to be a well informed, intelligent and thoughtful individual. I found Robet Nelson to be all of these things. I voted for him. And after reading this thread, I am certainly glad I did so.
 
This school board race has made me very uncomfortable on many levels. I guess this is my first foray into small town politics, in addition to learning almost too much information about candidates and their philosophies and agendas via an internet message board.

As Toots said, everyone has to cast their own vote. We all have different reasons and comfort levels for supporting certain candidates.

Bob, I appreciate your comments. I felt the need to defend myself since you brought up comments I had made earlier in this race- and now I feel differently. As I just said, this is not a race that my family is taking lightly, and it makes me sad.
 
I think that both Mildred and Robert are intelligent and upstanding individuals, but IMO Robert lacks the experience/perspective that Mildred has in regards to education. I don't think we should base our votes solely upon someone's resume, but years spent teaching and upper education in the field are definitely a bonus.

Robert has brought up some good issues (block scheduling, teacher certification), but has also brought up strange issues (yoga, 2nd amendment) and is too focused on religion IMO. :wave:

After meeting both candidates and discussing issues w/ them, I will be voting for Mildred.
 
It is only my opiniion but it is a very strong one and, as I have said many times before, based on years of experience. It is this.
You do not need an educational degree to do a good job as a school board member. Today, education while definitely of importance in what you will attain in life, is highly over rated. I want someone divorced from the educational field deciding how my tax dollars will be utilized for education. Such a candidate should be well aware of all the educational needs of the district, capable of educating and researching problems pertaining to the district and have the analytical ability to make informed and rational decisions based on what they have learned. As I said, this doesn't mean a board member has to necessarily have a Master's Degree or be an educator. He/She has to be a well informed, intelligent and thoughtful individual. I found Robet Nelson to be all of these things. I voted for him. And after reading this thread, I am certainly glad I did so.

you have some great points Andy A. I do not want a candidate that is "divorced" from the field of education, but I know what you mean. having well rounded professionals from other fields to bring other kinds of insights and business skills to the table is very very important on a school board. members do need to know about the field of education and it needs to be a subject that they feel strongly about, of course. a school board position should never be taken lightly, politicized or used as a stepping stone.

however, some of us feel that having professional educators on the board is equally important. I have come to appreciate that Mildred knows this school system inside and out. I feel her experience in Walton County education is invaluable. Not to mention the people who know and work with her truly respect her knowledge and ability to continue to contribute to the school system. she has a following out there. and I've joined them.
 
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This school board race has made me very uncomfortable on many levels. I guess this is my first foray into small town politics, in addition to learning almost too much information about candidates and their philosophies and agendas via an internet message board.

As Toots said, everyone has to cast their own vote. We all have different reasons and comfort levels for supporting certain candidates.

Bob, I appreciate your comments. I felt the need to defend myself since you brought up comments I had made earlier in this race- and now I feel differently. As I just said, this is not a race that my family is taking lightly, and it makes me sad.

relax, go to the beach, live, breathe, learn, vote.

you are right about almost learning too much information on the board. but I'm grateful for the information. otherwise, I would not have learned what I needed to learn in order to make the best vote for me and my family.
 
Tootsie, while I appreciate the points you made and understand them, I feel that educators on the school board have a vested interest that is not necessary on such a board. I don't care if it is the school board, mosquito control board, fire district board or any other such board. If you personally have a vested interest in the decisions of that board, it is my opinion you shouldn't be serving on it. It is paramount to the fox guarding the hen house. I have, in other places, seen decisions made by boards comprised of members too closely associated with what they were administering. It always turned out to be a detriment to the citizens being served by the board. My take and you have yours which I respect but disagree.
 
Andy - I agree w/ what you are saying, but it's sort of hard NOT to have a vested interest in a specialized board or in a small community.

A school board w/o educators is sort of like a meat packing plant run by vegetarians - you may get a fresh perspective and new ideas, but they will make many mistakes because they don't know much about meat or meat eaters! :biggrin:
 
Andy - I agree w/ what you are saying, but it's sort of hard NOT to have a vested interest in a specialized board or in a small community.

A school board w/o educators is sort of like a meat packing plant run by vegetarians - you may get a fresh perspective and new ideas, but they will make many mistakes because they don't know much about meat or meat eaters! :biggrin:
It depends on the qualifications and intelligence of the persons willing to run for the board. In some instances, you could be correct but it has to be an awfully small community with little interest by its citizens to have what you have suggested occur. You can bet on one sure thing. You will always have people who have a vested interest willing to run for boards embodied with making decisions concerning their occupation. Educators are no different.
 
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