This post is from from my other blog here

To be clear (probably need to do this once a year), this blog isn't simply about criticism, destructionism, "nay-saying" or general negativism. This blog is an attempt to get some additional public discourse into the Web 2.0 sphere, regarding the topic of Loudoun Schools and Education (both public and private). It's an open request to all parents, teachers, administrators and any other interested party to check in and discuss, politely and frankly, what's on their mind. It's about seeking answers, seeking collaboration on sensitive issues, offering anonymity to those concerned about it.

It's also very much about answers, solutions, and new ideas, from a grassroots, parent and consumer level. Yes, consumer, because we pay a heck of a lot of money for educational services, public and private, and at least deserve accountability for our dollar. Being a blog, however, means that what's on "our" mind is usually the source of most topics. (When we say "our", that also refers to the fact that this is a collective blog, multiple authors and contributors.) Our topics deal mainly with things we directly experience, hear, see or are involved in from an educational perspective (and we're extremely involved, on a daily basis, in many ways that are for the most part known only to our children, family, friends, teachers, business partners, customers and blog readers).

We'd love to participate in other viewpoints and address topics others have, - but there just isn't anything out there on the blogosphere (outside of John Stevens), LCPS websites don't appear to allow online commenting for others to see, like blogs (where's Government 2.0 in Loudoun County?), LoudounExtra's education contributions and Jay Mathews reprints are too infrequent (though letters to him are usually quite introspective and well thought-out), emails to supervisors and school board members aren't shared with the public (I suppose they could be FOIA'd), emails around the community mom and dad email lists are too cumbersome and aren't really very "democratic", and broader Internet discussion forums are either not well known enough or simply not "local" enough.

What would be productive and useful, would be if those who do post either positive or negative comments, or send emails full of constructive or destructive criticism (that's why this blog is moderated), or who have strongly opinionated thoughts and ideas, would also get these out into the Web 2.0 fray of blog, wiki, and BBS-enabled discourse. Have your own say, start a blog, do your own thing - we just need more people online discussing this, and this blog could and should be only one of hundreds on the topic - especially a topic that costs nearly a Four Billion dollars to Fairfax and Loudoun County taxpayers, many hundreds of millions more to those electing private educational services, and many billions more in consumer goods and services focused on educating ourselves and our children.

We guarantee good, inbound "link-love" to anyone who starts another great blog or BB on these topics!