COMMENTARY:
Anonymous School Survey Biased and Cowardly
By TED WARNER
February 13, 2013
Recently a survey was circulated though email by an unnamed “local community group” in an attempt to explore “perceptions of the local school options” and “local Eastern Shore schools.” It was reported by the Cape Charles Wave. The survey was not appreciated and accomplished nothing. Its organizers should be ashamed.
And who are the organizers? They are anonymous; anonymity has no place in the public discourse.
At a basic level, we must exchange ideas in order to make any progress. That’s why testimony has value in a democracy. That’s how minds are changed. And, because we sign our names to our ideas, democracy is done in the light of day and personal accountability.
It matters that I sign my name to this letter; it means that tomorrow, someone can approach me on Mason Avenue and speak to me about it. My boss will see it. I can’t hide from what I’m saying here, but I’m going to say it anyway. Because it matters.
But this anonymous group has deliberately chosen to excuse themselves from that system of accountability. They are hiding. They are cowards.
There is also something psychologically violent about this anonymous survey. It is not, as it claims, an exploration. Its suspicious and shoddy methodology reveals its own bias.
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For example, in asking why “my child/children is/are home schooled,” the survey provides seven options, five of which are critical and negative. They are:
- I don’t think the local public schools are safe.
- I feel that the quality of education in my community is not challenging enough for my children.
- I have tried local public schools and been dissatisfied.
- I have tried local private schools and have been dissatisfied.
- The cost of local private schools is more than my family can afford.
- NA
- Other
Notice the absence of a potentially popular answer: private religious belief. Notice how an answer like “I wanted to raise my child in a safe environment” is not necessarily the same comment as “I don’t think the local public schools are safe.” And yet, that would likely be the option such a parent would select. Notice how the criticisms weren’t solicited; they were spoon-fed.
And so, we can’t view this survey as merely an inept, amateurish, and cowardly attempt to gain some perspective on the educational climate on the Eastern Shore. It is also its own comment on our schools, an intensely critical comment, as well.
As a survey, it is designed to encourage its respondents to agree.
As a public school teacher (and I do not speak for all public school teachers here) and as someone involved in organizations (and I do not speak for them either) that support and advocate on behalf of schools, teachers, and students, I know that there are serious challenges ahead of us.
We need to work together by sharing ideas. This survey is not part of the solution. Rather, it’s a reflection of the problem: that some people are willing to sit back and criticize without stepping up the plate.
Ted Warner is a public school teacher and works at Northampton High School. He is the president of the Northampton County Education Association, but does not write in that capacity today. Submissions to COMMENTARY are welcome on any subject relevant to Cape Charles. Shorter articles will be published as a Letter to the Editor.
Persons who have experienced reprisal for speaking out are more likely to realize the need to “hide behind anonymity” (in other words, protect yourself). It could be argued that the individuals who wrote the survey were exercising wisdom and good judgment in remaining anonymous. As a whistleblower who lost her job due to speaking up, I believe there are times when it can be crucial to remain anonymous when raising concerns. (For the record, I am not associated with this survey, and have no knowledge of who is behind it.)
Ms. Southern, I appreciate the place of anonymity in protecting courageous persons from reprisal. There is a need to reform whistle-blower laws precisely because we want persons to not need the protection of anonymity.
We respectfully disagree with one another, however, that this situation is similar. First, this is not an issue of reporting criminal wrong doing. Such wrong doing should be reported to the State’s attorney, anonymously or not. The whistle being blown is not about wrong-doing but climatic dissatisfaction. Second, if we are conceding that a whistle is being blown, we are conceding that the survey was not really a survey. I’m not sure that we can really view these actions noble without viewing them as hypocritical, too.
Again, with respect, part of the problem here is that we all really do want our schools to be safe, nurturing institutions of learning. I assure you: I’m ready to devote my professional life to that very purpose. But, what the situation requires is adult conduct and a willingness to participate in the solution. It does require us to dig down and summon our full capacity and personhood. Our signatures are a measure of our commitment.
Is it possible that the authors of this survey were staying anonymous specifically because of this type of vitriol?
Especially if they have kids in the schools?
Just askin’……….
I’m not sure why some folks are having such a big problem with the fact that this survey was done anonymously. Mrs. Southern’s point that there is often quite a bit of hostility directed at those who dare to speak out against the popular opinion is valid. Sadly, the truth can be unwelcome, especially when it reflects poorly on those being called out. I feel that it is wrong to imply that the opinions put forth in this survey are somehow illegitimate due to the anonymous nature of the inquiry. Yes, it’s possible that some respondents did use the survey as an opportunity to grind a personal axe, but I seriously doubt that this was the case for the majority of the responses. And yes, many of the answer options in the survey question above are critical in nature, but there is an “other” option, and respondents had the choice to include their own remarks as well. So rather than rail against the survey’s methodology, perhaps the county’s children would be better served by taking a look at WHY there are such negative feelings about our school system. After all, as they say: Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
What type of vitriol?
Paragraph 5: “They are cowards.”
Paragraph 10, in toto: “And so, we can’t view this survey as merely an inept, amateurish, and cowardly attempt to gain some perspective on the educational climate on the Eastern Shore. It is also its own comment on our schools, an intensely critical comment, as well.”
That is vitriol — especially coming from a teacher.
Ms. Finney, your comment is appreciated but it’s a little inconsistent. If you’ll allow me, my complaint isn’t primarily about the survey’s methodology (the biased questions.) At the same time, you’re right that “other” allows for positive comments to be recorded but that doesn’t correct the biased methodology. Anyone familiar with the design of surveys will agree with me on this point. And, in general, surveys are a complex thing to design and need to be designed carefully in order to guarantee that the results are scientific statements about reality. This survey is simply not that. On this point, you seem to have agreed. You say: “it is wrong to imply that the opinions put forth in this survey are somehow illegitimate due to the anonymous nature of the inquiry.” In order for that view to be valid itself, you must also believe that the survey did, in fact, contain opinions.
But, again… my complaint isn’t primarily about method. Rather, it’s that the method is a reflection of a larger problem: that the survey is actually a comment and because it’s an anonymous comment, it’s more destructive than constructive.
I’m afraid, also, that I simply can’t respect the idea that we live in a system in which we need anonymity to protect ourselves from reprisals. If there are real world problems that need solutions, no one can be fired for pointing them out or voicing them in a professional manner. There are channels and procedures for this and, in fact, we’ve seen many people in the county utilizing the available resources in exactly that effort. And we know their names! If the problem is nebulous and imprecise (like “I don’t like my principal” or “there’s a lot of stress at work”) there’s not a lot that can be done. That is a negative perspective, anyway. It’s not one that leads to solutions. And that, I fear, is precisely the attitude represented in the survey.
Ms. Finney, you say: where there’s smoke, there’s fire. It’s an interesting aphorism because it is, of course, not true. Smoke so often precedes fire. In this case, the survey has done nothing but throw fuel on a smoldering coal — which PRODUCES fire.
Rhetoric and metaphor aside, let me put this in the most simple terms I can. The survey is not a solution. It doesn’t point to clear problems which we can, in turn, try to repair. It doesn’t advocate change. It advances no philosophy or vision of the future. But because it’s anonymous, it stands on its own and has its own life. Were an actual individual to take the microphone in order to complain without offering any positive solutions, without any useful comment, we would all politely ask them to hand the microphone back.
Mike, no, sir. “Coward” and so forth are not vitriolic. That is charged, deliberate language. I mean it to carry specific meaning and not to irritate. Political language can be barbed without being vitriolic. In other words, you have lowered the standard of vitriol so low that only sycophancy survives.
“If there are real world problems that need solutions, no one can be fired for pointing them out or voicing them in a professional manner.”
That’s an extremely naive point of view. Like Dorie, I’ve been there, too.
Cynics call the truth naive.
Mr. Warner seemed all too committed to transparency until he abruptly walked out on his English students at Northampton High School last month. Where was his commitment to integrity when he [. . .] left a trail of dust headed for a job with the Virginia Education Association in Richmond? His hasty departure suggests that his motive for organizing and moderating a school board candidate forum that he invited Richmond VEA representatives to attend had little to do with the welfare of this community or the students he was supposed to be serving.
Hear, hear, Rae Vaughn. While Mr. Warner may have turned a fancy phrase or two, his words ring hollow now, don’t they?
This is a simple matter: anonymity of survey sponsorship is not a problem as long as the researcher conducting the survey is known, trained in data collection and analysis, and, most importantly, unbiased. The survey, as it stands, is biased and the data collected using this instrument is, more or less, garbage.
Should you need this type of study performed appropriately, I volunteer to help and maintain sponsor and respondent anonymity. Email me at [email protected]. This is what I do for a living and for fun.
Hmmm…someone with a Richmond email discounting an Eastern Shore survey as biased and offering services. Say hi to Ted and let us tend to our community as we see fit than you!
Rae Vaughn, were you behind the anonymous survey?
I can’t imagine why else you’d have such xenophobic antipathy towards me or Dr. Lascu. Did you feel personally attacked by my critique of the survey? Have you been nursing a grudge ever since? Is that why you’ve taken such a bizarrely personal interpretation of my change in employment? (By the way, people change jobs all the time… it’s not an issue of integrity or dedication.)
A Richmond email does not detract from my dedication to my Eastern Shore home; I have as much of a stake in improving the schools and life on the Eastern Shore as anyone else. It is surprising that this divisive subject is resurfacing and a way to address it is to provide a free valid and reliable solution. What’s there not to like?! (Indeed, the old survey is biased and the data is rubbish.)
I did respond to the survey, but I was not behind it. I appreciated the opportunity to share my experience and thoughts. I thought it was a genuine effort to address real concerns. I did not appreciate Mr. Warner’s dismissal of my feedback as trash at the time he wrote this piece. It made my heart sink to see the voices of families and teachers dismissed. I don’t know who was responsible for it, but I don’t care if the survey met the technical criteria for validated research. All I cared about was the opportunity to be heard. Mr. Warner’s dismissal of this community’s voice was disheartening and downright disrespectful.
The survey was not the subject of my original comment nor was Dr. Lascu. I do take offense to Dr. Lascu’s characterization of the data collected as rubbish. Our feedback was raw and real. I wish that the results were still visible because every comment represented the voice of a real person being impacted by real issues. Anecdotal feedback is not rubbish.
My original comment was about the feigned commitment to this community apparent in Mr. Warner’s shameless campaign of self promotion. NCPS was a stepping stone. He didn’t lose a moment’s sleep when he walked out on his contract and left students at the mercy of a series of substitute teachers. When you sign a contract for a year’s service and walk out on that contract before satisfying even half of it, isn’t that an issue of integrity? It is my understanding that walking out on a teaching contract is an issue of ethics.
Rae Vaughn, I have no idea what makes you think I was dismissive of the community’s voice, why you depict my work for teachers and education as “self promotion,” why you view my work in Northampton as a stepping stone, or why you view my commitment as “feigned.” Those are characterizations that seem to reveal more about you and they do about me.
It’s none of your business, but a teacher’s contract with the school district and the regulations that surround employment for the district spell out very clearly how a teacher can resign midyear. I followed these procedures carefully and both the superintendent and school board approved. I made effort to lesson the impact on my classroom and my students, as any teacher would. There is no ethical issue there, whatsoever. If you dislike the “series of substitutes,” I recommend you take your complaints to the district. They are misdirected at me.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: While recognizing the intensity of emotions surrounding Northampton Public School issues, we believe all parties in this comment chain have had their say. Comments for this story are now closed.)