The Free Lance delivers a great disservice to our community with
the Citizens Voice and Hotline.
In a few short weeks, it has degenerated into a scurrilous
trough of unsubstantiated aspersions and personal attacks.
Publishing anonymous accusations and insults is the journalistic
equivalent of protecting those who hide behind ski masks and white
sheets.
The Free Lance delivers a great disservice to our community with the Citizens Voice and Hotline.
In a few short weeks, it has degenerated into a scurrilous trough of unsubstantiated aspersions and personal attacks. Publishing anonymous accusations and insults is the journalistic equivalent of protecting those who hide behind ski masks and white sheets.
In the column of Aug. 25, a writer attacked unnamed information technicians at the Hollister School District as Dumb and Dumber. If the issue is a problem with technology services, address that. Instead, you provide a board for insult and intellectual graffiti.
The San Benito County Office of Education works closely with all school districts in San Benito County to provide state-of-the-art technology services. The recent wave of viruses has been of great concern to us.
We have all seen this topic at the top of the national news programs. Certainly, we may expect some disruption of service in a system the size of our county. This office works closely with the technology department of the Hollister School District and we have great respect for the people who work there.
I call on the Free Lance to drop this column and admit its mistake in running this feature which runs counter to the ideals of democratic discourse we cherish. The entertainment value of the column cannot be worth the damage to your professional reputation.
Tim Foley, County Superintendent of Schools
