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
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