More accurately, Journal staff writer Winthrop Quigley gets one right, link; Civil discourse needed in education debate.
A number of people get that civil discourse is necessary in the education debate. They get as well, that civil discourse is needed in every public policy debate.
There is not now, civil discourse in policy debates. That can only be because the people with the power to control the discourse, would rather prevail in that discourse than have it enlighten the people.
So how do the people get the civil discourse they need?
In the education debate, the newspaper that reported the need could address it. I would bet that if the Journal decided to hold open and honest civil discourse in the debate on education, they could.
The Journal has the wherewithal to host that discussion.
The only real obstacle is keeping the discourse civil, and I would add, productive. That's the hard part, not finding the space, not gathering the participants; the hard part is keeping the discussion on track so people's time is not wasted with endless anecdotal illustrations of already agreed upon facts.
Just because someone has been appointed, hired or elected; cabinet secretary, superintendent or union president, doesn't mean they know how to chair a fair and efficient meeting.
I would hope that the Journal, when they host the discussion, will provide facilitation; impartial, professional and effective facilitators who will keep the discussion both civil and productive.
With that, the gauntlet has been thrown down.
The Journal can now put up or shut up.
It's easier to say, somebody should do something, when what you're really talking about is "somebody(else) should do something"
photo Mark Bralley
cc Letters to the Editors upon posting
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Journal gets one right but, talk is cheap.
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Created: 11/26/2013 6:50 PM
By: Maria Guerrero, KOB Eyewitness News 4
The wife of Lobo head basketball coach Craig Neal could soon be heading to court.
Janet Neal is accused of letting her temper flare and getting physical with a school leader.
Now that school employee is suing Neal and APS.
The district attorney's office is still reviewing the case.
Felony battery charges could still be coming for Janet Neal.
The six page district court lawsuit has been filed.
In it, former El Dorado High School assistant principal Susana Stanojevic claims the APS school board violated policy and retaliated against her.
The lawsuit is also against Janet Neal.
It says Neal was upset after a boys basketball game in late February between Sandia High and El Dorado High were Neal's son played basketball.
The lawsuit claims Neal took out her anger on Stanojevic because Stanojevic had previously told the school's principal Neal was a hot head.
Neal allegedly grabbed Stanojevic by her arm and physically jerked her around.
It also alleges APS Superintendent Winston Brooks ordered no action would be taken against Neal and Neal would not be suspended from attending any high school games.
Stanojevic says she was forced to resign "for fear for her safety and to stop the damage to her career."
She claims APS knew Neal had a propensity for "angry outbursts at games" and did nothing.
She also claims APS athletic officials tried to suspend Neal from attending games before, but weren't allowed to because of intervention from Brooks.
Stanojevic wants to be compensated for injury and losses as well as "emotional distress."
Neal's attorney says Neal "denies all allegations and is prepared to go to court."
APS says it doesn't comment on pending litigation.
New Mexico Statute 30-3-9. Assault; battery; school personnel.
E. Battery upon a school employee is the unlawful, intentional touching or application of force to the person of a school employee while he is in the lawful discharge of his duties, when done in a rude, insolent or angry manner.
Whoever commits battery upon a school employee is guilty of a fourth degree felony.
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