I can’t help but notice that the recent barrage of stories, letters, and editorials about Dan Snowberger and the Board of Education have taken an increasingly petty tone.
As a district employee, I have sometimes agreed with Mr. Snowberger and the board. At other times, I have disagreed. This isn’t unusual. This is simply what it’s like to work in an industry where passions run high and difficult decisions have to be made every day.
The common ground of any disagreement has always been mutual respect. The rhetoric around Mr. Snowberger has been, to say the least, ramped up.
To be clear, I’m not against accountability or transparency. My issue is with the unyielding, and increasingly hostile, attacks on Mr. Snowberger which now seem to be bordering on a personal grudge (or grudges).
We live in an age of hyperbole. If you watch the news or have a twitter account, you’re aware of this. In a time where the temptation to sensationalize is ever increasing, let’s remember that dialogue requires cool heads and the willingness to understand multiple perspectives.
The posturing to be next up to attack and accuse is beneath us as a community. Demonizing someone personally and disagreeing with them professionally are not the same thing.
Anyone can write straw man arguments. Discussing issues face to face takes personal courage and strength. Please, for the sake of everyone, lets engage in dialogue and have some civility. Emotions, opinions and even facts aren’t an excuse for boorish behavior.
Caleb Riley Alderton
Durango
