So, I’m on the lookout for something new — something that can be a constructive place where ideas are shared and debated in a supportive, collegial and solution-oriented manner. To be clear, I don’t need a place where people just agree with me — I love a good debate. I just don’t want to have to flip through insults to find meaningful content. I don’t want or need a platform where its authors feel they have license to hatefully challenge a person’s motives or character, without really having any idea about either.

As Superintendent I expect to be occasionally criticized. The work I do and the decisions I make affect people’s lives. Sometimes, those decisions do not always land well with everyone. It could be a parent, a staff member or even someone from the broader community. While my goal is to make the best decisions possible, it would be naive of me to think that everyone agrees with all of them.

Criticism can be incredibly helpful, but it ALWAYS needs to be done respectfully. I’m having some difficulty finding an online platform that does this consistently. Social media has provided a sense of anonymity for some which has emboldened them to criticize more quickly and ruthlessly.

As a society, we have become quick to criticize others when a mistake is made, instead of seeking to understand WHY a decision was made. Even the mainstream media will sometimes ask a bystander about their opinion on a topic, without ever providing them with context or understanding of the issue. Opinions that are ill informed risk being just unsubstantiated gossip and unhelpful to a better understanding.

I started my blog “The Power of Why”, in part, as a reminder to be CURIOUS BEFORE BEING CRITICAL — to ask questions before leaping to an opinion or conclusion.

Watch this short video that shows how easily we can devolve into criticism and do so in a hurtful way. It’s a good reminder of what we should be actually striving for in responding to others. Its uses a classroom example of a teacher who makes a mistake. It’s only 2 minutes long and worth the watch …

My take aways …

• We all make mistakes.
• The world is quick to criticize and find fault, yet much slower to praise and find the positive.
• Seek to understand before you criticize. Try to notice the good in others before assigning blame.

Now, getting back to my use of social media … I haven’t given up on it yet. I still use “X” as a professional communication tool but do so sparingly, and primarily to highlight some of the wonderful things happening in our school district.

I am still on the lookout for a new online tool — one that is used for healthy, professional debate on interesting topics, and doing this using respectful content and commentary.

Let me know if you find one you like.