Penguin Postcards from the Edge

I'm glad that the book that so much of the community and the nation is discussing this week involves penguins. They're appealing, familiar and easy to alliterate. Imagine if we were all having to write about Echidnas.

Civility. The Board has received dozens of emails about the Superintendent's decision to pull And Tango Makes Three from supporters and opponents alike. I am very pleased that by and large, these emails are civil and focus on the issue and don't personalize the argument. Yes, there are a few unreasonable folks out there who liken the book to teaching elementary students how to use intravenous psychotropic narcotics. And on the other side there are those free speech advocates so incensed that they would have the School Board dispatch Dr. Hatrick into retirement for this one decision. Both suggestions are so ridiculous as to not merit a response, and the harsh tones are not helpful to a healthy debate.

Effectiveness. Many of the emails the Board has received, both for and against, are from people far outside of our community. Texas, Colorado and Lynchburg VA are particularly well represented, but we have also heard from Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Oregon and the Big Apple. Frankly I don't think that these emails mean much to the School Board or the Superintendent. Thanks for your input world, but we've got a local problem here.

The least effective emails of all are not addressed to any member in particular and don't include an indication of where the author lives. Usually these are from Loudoun parents but in a time like this when we're hearing from people across the country, in my mind they are difficult to separate from those coming from out of state. For Loudoun County parents who want to weigh in on this issue (on either side) or on any other issue, here's how to be most effective when you write:

1. Use your individual board member's email address. Don't use the one advertised on the site "to contact all the School Board members or the Superintendent." Here's a link to mine.
2. Always write to both your district's representative and to the At-Large Representative, Tom Reed. They both represent you personally. If another district's representative is taking the lead on a particular issue, include that member too. These are the people who will make it a priority to respond to you.
   
3. Always address the members by name, be it first or last. "Dear Mr. Stevens:" is as effective as "Hey, John-". Again, this will tell us who you expect to hear back from.
   
4. Always, always, always tell us where you live or which Loudoun School your child goes to, if you have a child in school. Again, the impact of the words of parents of children in our schools is tenfold beyond that of an anonymous emailer.
   

Finally I'd like to leave you with a priceless email that I received last night. It's an excellent example of someone taking a side without making it personal:

I respect and feel privileged to have worked with [Dr. Hatrick] and his family and I think he is wonderful....but on this issue, I certainly don't agree with him. It just doesn't seem like the Ed Hatrick I worked with years ago, not to embrace diversity. Hopefully he will realize he has made a wrong decision and correct it.

See? It is entirely possible for us to disagree with each other and yet remain civil, friendly even. Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to add your voices. Yes, thank you even to the angry outsiders who think I'm an idiot. We're all in this together.