WILMINGTON, MA – Wilmington School Superintendent Mary DeLai published her weekly blog post on Friday, encouraging parents to be good role models to their children by thinking before they share something online. Don’t become a “keyboard warrior!” Read DeLai’s blog post HERE or below:
Happy New Year and Welcome to 2016!
Each year, nearly half of all Americans make at least one New Year’s resolution. Maybe it’s to loose weight, exercise more, watch less television, or power down more often. Despite the fact that by mid-January, our good intentions fall by the wayside, we still engage in this practice year after year.
This year, I am asking you all to join with me in making a resolution that will stick. Why will this one be any different than all of the others you have made in years past? Because this one requires little energy or effort. It’s easy, costs no money, requires no gym membership, and doesn’t cause you to deprive yourself of salty snacks or sweets. What is it, you ask?
Resolve to THINK before you share. Before you post it to Facebook, Tweet it out, or hit Send, ask yourself: Is it True, Is it Helpful, Is it Inspiring? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind?
In our community, some are anxious about the threats of global instability and home grown terrorism. Others are worried about rising interest rates and collapsing financial markets. I am concerned about the new threat to the fabric of our school community – the Keyboard Warrior. The Urban Dictionary defines the Keyboard Warrior as “a person who, being unable to express his [or her] anger through physical violence (owning to physical weakness, lack of bravery and/or conviction in real life), instead manifests said emotions through the text-based medium of the internet, usually in the form of aggressive writing that the Keyboard Warrior would not (for reasons previously mentioned) be able to give form to in real life.
No doubt, we have all been the victim of the Keyboard Warrior. Here are some examples of what the Keyboard Warriors have bestowed upon us:
“If you can’t get [my son] to learn then maybe you should step away and let some who can do the job.”
“With all these new schools and my taxes going up hundreds of dollars a month I feel justified in pressuring the schools to address this issue. If enough people start expressing the same sentiments I would hope that the school district will respond. I’m tired of hearing about this big “slush fund” we have accumulated yet do nothing WITH – TIME TO DRINK THE SLUSH”
“You ought to be ashamed of yourself teaching Islam at that school. Can’t put an American flag in the classroom. Can’t say Merry Christmas. Can’t say the Pledge of Allegiance. This is disgusting. This is America. Korans in the classroom. Are you out of your mind?”
“You refused to feed my daughter again, I got [an] email on Friday saying she was -1.85 …, you telling me it would bankrupt the city if you feed a hungry kid, you people make me sick, The taxes I pay to this sh*tty town, put a lean on my tax bill for the dollar but proving a point to a hungry kid by embarrassing them is f**king sick , I’ve called before and I was told by the principal your suppose to let them eat, not embarrass them and let them go hungry because you offer a welfare sandwich instead.”
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that some folks might not have valid concerns or misunderstandings. But what happened to respectful dialogue? These messages are not helpful, inspiring, necessary, or kind. Some are not even true. If you have a concern, why not pick up the phone and speak directly and courteously with the person who can help resolve the issue? If you must send an email, can it not be respectful and productive?
We all work very hard in this district and we want nothing more than to help your children learn, grow, and succeed. Unfortunately, we are going to make mistakes and you have a right to express your dissatisfaction or objection. But it has to be possible to get the point across without resorting to hostility, profanity, and bullying.
Let’s face it – are these the types of emails or posts that you would want your children to write? Think about the message you are sending to children. If we want them to show empathy, resolve their conflicts peacefully, and refrain from resorting to teasing, bullying, and violence, then we need to model that for them. So please, make this one New Year’s resolution that sticks. Treat others as you would want to be treated and THINK before you share!
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