Saturday, August 09, 2008

Communication has two meanings;

I have been wondering how Winston Brooks can continue to
point to "communication" as a area he intends to improve;
while at the same time refusing to answer legitimate
questions about the public interests. The disconnect is
thundering.

I have concluded that the problem is my own.
When I think of communication, I think of a dialog;
two people reacting to each other in a conversation.

It turns out that "communication" has two meanings.

One includes an exchange of information or thoughts;
the other; simple dissemination of information and thoughts.

If you examine the communications of the APS with the
community, you will find that to the leadership of the APS,
communication means they will disseminate information.

But they will not participate in any exchange of information
or ideas.

They will not, for example, hold a simple town hall meeting
there to answer legitimate questions about the public
interests in the public schools.

Winston Brooks talks a lot about improving communication
with the the community; when what he means is
communication to the community.

He will never answer questions. Questions like;

Why are you not accountable as a role model of
the student standard of conduct,
for even the 6.5 hours a day that you
enforce that standard upon students?
Is it because, that under the student standard of conduct,
communication to the community, instead of
communication with the community, is unacceptable.

Because it is unethical.

Because it is dishonest.


Stakeholders have a right to know the truth.


Winston Brooks, and the rest of the leadership of the
APS, believe that the truth is theirs to parcel out as
suits their interests.

As former APS Superintendent Peter Horoscak put it;
You can't just tell the truth, because
you never know how someone might want to use it.

Stakeholders have a right to the truth
no matter how they might want to use it.

And Winston Brooks will cover all of that up by raising
the dissemination of information to a new height; parents
and the community will be better informed than they
have ever been; a worthy step forward in "communication";
but still not the real deal.

And, it will keep the dogs at bay, while he continues to hide
the fact that neither he, nor any other member of the
leadership of the APS, has any real intention of being
candid, forthright, and honest with stakeholders.

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