Journal editors wonder; what purpose does timeliness serve, exactly?

APS found out about a couple of students who planned to shoot up their school, on a Wednesday.  They reported the situation to parents on Friday and to the media for in time for late on a Friday coverage - coincidentally, the best time to release inconvenient news.  Journal editors are not only alright with that, they offer extra credit.

Journal editors report, link, that by the time parents were informed;

"...the system kicked into high gear in the right way, with police inquiries and psychological threat assessments, counseling referrals and two school suspensions."

By delaying the release of information, the editors argue, APS had prevented unnecessary panic, a disruptive lock-down, and protected the troubled boys from being targeted by other students and their parents.


Because APS held the truth for as long as they did,

"... everyone else went to class and on with their lives."  

The editors wonder;

"So while some parents wanted to know about the boys’ plans on Wednesday instead of Friday ... what purpose would that have served, exactly?"

The purpose would be; as a matter of principle.

The district believes, and the editors agree, that in some circumstances; it is ok for public servants to withhold the truth for however long they like, as long in doing so, they can help people to "get on with their lives".  They can't handle the truth!

Unfortunately for them, open government laws don't provide for the comfort of the people, only for the prompt surrender of the legally redacted truth; counting on the people's ability to handle the truth.

APS thinks it will help interest holders to get along with their lives, by keeping them in the dark about the circumstances that create and enable students with plans to shoot up schools.

Stakeholders are being kept in the dark about bullying in schools.  They are being kept in the dark about the effects of chronically disruptive students and student discipline in general.  They are being kept in the dark about criminal activity on campuses.

They, APS and the Journal editors, suppose that's alright, because people are getting on with their lives in the absence of a candid, forthright and honest description of student behavior in APS Schools.

Friday last, I asked Journal City Editor Charlie Moore what he intended to do with credible allegations and evidence of an ethics and accountability scandal in the leadership of the APS.  He is yet to respond.

In the absence of his response, it is fair to begin speculation, including the speculation that the leadership of the Journal and the leadership of the APS are in cahoots to cover up said scandal, and anything else that might interfere with us getting on with our lives, for as long as it suits them.

cc letters to the editors upon posting