Group Usage Guidelines Feedback

[Len Lipkin]

Hello and welcome to the Philly School Search Parent's discussion list.  Thanks for being an inaugural member, especially those that I didn't solicit directly!  ;-)

I am trying to determine how to manage this list, and I figure that the best way to do it would be to ask you your opinions.

It was my vision that this group would provide a safe environment for parents to talk freely about their school search experiences.  To that end, I will be posting some obvious rules of civility.  I am considering some other ideas.  What do you think?

1.) Should I allow school representatives to join the list?  If so, should they be allowed to post messages?
2.) I have the power to create a setting that will moderate all messages (I have to approve them) or moderate messages from new members only.  Obviously this is more work for me and I would prefer that this be a more open group that runs without my intervention.  Are people OK with unmoderated?
3.) I would like to allow parents to freely speak about their opinions of certain schools, and try to emphasize that opinions on schools are just that--opinions.  I woud liek to encourage people to support any opinions with actual experiences and facts, and not use the forum to make blanket statements like "ABC School Stinks!"
4.) I would like to limit the conversation to families personal school choice thoughts and experiences.  I don't think that this is the right medium, for example, for school reform debates, public policy advocacy, or other politically charged topics.  There are other forums for that.

What do you think of these rules?  How should I revise them?  Are there more that I should create? 

Thanks,
Len
Philly School Search
http://phillyschoolsearch.com/

[Len]

No response. So let me ask specific questions.

First one:
Should membership on this list be hidden from other members, or should
list members be able to see who else is subscribed?
Len

[Holly Lentz]

I do not think there is value in hiding membership. Transparency will
create a better trust among users, in my opinion.
Holly

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[Monica Golphin]

I agree about promoting transparency by disclosure of the membership list. I also personally don't mind if others see me on the list.
Monica
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[Heather Morrison]

I agree- nothing to hide

Sent from my iPhone

[Len Lipkin]

OK, that seems like a consensus--open membership list to all subscribers.  Feel free to pipe in if you disagree.

Second question--Do I allow school representatives on the list?  It seems to me that parents would feel better talking freely if they knew that school officials were not eavesdropping.  On the other had, unless someone registers from "@germantownfriendsschool.org" or the like I have no way of really knowing.  I can ask for the list to be only parents, but it is hard to enforce.

So--Should I even state a "parents only" policy?  If so, should I try to enforce?  Would it encourage more participation?

Thanks,
Len

[Monica Golphin]

I think you should just clarify that this group is a forum for those seeking to discuss school choice, application and admission processes, not as a forum for representatives from schools to promote their institutions. This is a not a marketing forum. I really do not know if you can ban school representatives because as you said, how would you know who they were? If they are inclined to eavesdrop (which they likely wont)  they could still do that under an assumed name. I would not worry about enforcement unless you see a blatant abuse of the group/forum. I think people will listen to the rules. Or maybe I'm just being optimistic.

Monica

Len

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[Holly Lentz]

I think you state that it is a “parent group.”  And, if needed, remind folks that they should respond and add information as a parent.  The truth is, many school personnel are also parents.  I believe they need to choose to wear their “parent hat” while participating in this group.  Having said all this, it should be clear that there is not any real screening to insure that everyone is a parent (so as to not create a false sense of security).

 

That is my opinion on the matter.

 

J Holly

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[Chris Rugen]

I think trying to exclude representatives will be a bit fruitless,
since some may also be parents of kids. Additionally, I think it would
be good for them to be able to see what's discussed.

I understand that unfavorable things may be said about specific people
or schools, but given the medium, I think it's safer to allow
participation and assume others will see. On the web, it's usually a
sure bet that information will spread and get out. It may be better to
just create that expectation from the start.

Though a policy against representatives posting here sounds good.
There are other venues (blogs, news sites, Facebook, etc.) that we can
link to for that kind of thing.

-chris