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H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 06:13 PM Jan 2015

Twelve Angry Men


Serving on a public school board is a unique experience. I find all types of systems fascinating, and a Board of Education (BOE) is obviously a sub-system within other systems. Besides the BOE itself, you have the school (administration, faculty, other adult positions, and students); the school is within the community (parents, tax-payers, alumni, and businesses); and more, it is within the state and federal systems.

In my opinion -- for what it is worth -- public education is an essential foundation stone for our democracy. For this reason, public education is under attack from the 1%; unfortunately, a lot of people who see problems with public schools too often side with those who have an agenda to destroy it, rather than repair it.

This may be helpful as a model to illustrate the three distinct levels of conversation that people can engage in: discussions, debates, and arguments. In the context of public education, it’s good to recognize that we discuss issues with those we are in general agreement with; we debate with those who we trust hold the same general values per public education, but hold very different opinions on how we reach our common goals; and we argue with those who seek to destroy the institutions of public education, because our values and goals are polar opposites.

With the second group, we rely upon rational thought as a most valued tool. It can increase people’s levels of understanding, thus increasing the potential for agreement. Yet, with that third group, it is not a failure to grasp our positions that creates the divisions between us. In fact, it’s the opposite: the enemies of public education know full well its benefits. Indeed, that is exactly why they want to destroy it.

This is a rather simple model. It’s not limited to discussions of public education alone. It can be applied to a wide range of social and political issues. If you were to look at, say, just the first page of OP/threads on DU:GD, you could easily find a dozen discussions where this simple model could be or is applied; and two dozen examples where it should be applied, but isn’t, thus resulting in unpleasant and unproductive arguments.

And what, I ask you, would Henry Fonda have to say about this?

With warmest of regards,
H2O Man
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Twelve Angry Men (Original Post) H2O Man Jan 2015 OP
Way to go, H2O Man. R&K nt longship Jan 2015 #1
Thanks! H2O Man Jan 2015 #2
K&R ND-Dem Jan 2015 #3
Thanks! H2O Man Jan 2015 #4
no, thank *you* for getting involved at the grassroots level. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #5

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
2. Thanks!
Sat Jan 17, 2015, 01:14 AM
Jan 2015

I'm on my second term on the BOE. It's taken more than 3 years to get certain topics discussed. But, in the past 4 weeks, the flood gates have opened. In that time, I've made an effort to consider how I can best communicate with each of the other folks as individuals, as well as in the group context. And, of course, I've examined the best mode of communication with other groups and individuals involved with BOE business.

It's interesting -- at least to me -- to look at how various people on this forum chose to communicate their ideas/ opinions with others.

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