The upshot of my correspondence with a very pleasant Ms. Radcliffe today (We’ve exchanged six messages so far, three each way. She asked me not to share hers, so I won’t share the messages, but I will share the outcome) is that no correction will be issued as no error has occurred.
I disagree with that assessment. I have inquired of her as to what my next step should be.
UPDATE: As I was writing this post, this update appeared on their blog. I suppose that’s a step.
I’m about ready to move on, though. I don’t really think this is a battle worth fighting. The larger issue of anonymity is one worth revisiting from time to time.
I understand teachers work in places where their "free speech" will get them fired. I also understand that, sometimes, "free speech" isn’t all that free. Yes, teachers should stand up to unsafe or illegal working conditions or student situations, and there is a time and a place for doing so anonymously. But those times and places should be few and far between.
Plenty of anonymous teacher blogging that I’ve seen is responsible, but I fear that being anonymous allows for the times when the anonymous teacher wants to call someone an idiot, or a headcase, or other another defamatory, inflammatory term. There’s no responsibility to be fair or accurate in those instances.
That’s not okay. Not in public, at least, and not in a professional capacity. We’ve got enough problems to work through in our schools without a lack of civility among the supposed "grown-ups."
