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At Aspen View Academy, we are incredibly fortunate to have an outstanding team of teachers and staff who go above and beyond every single day to provide your children with a top-notch education. They are deeply committed to not only fostering academic growth but also supporting the emotional well-being of each student. The dedication, passion, and hard work that our staff brings to the classroom and beyond are evident in everything they do. Whether it's staying late to offer extra help, creating engaging lessons, or providing a caring, supportive environment, our teachers and staff pour their hearts into making sure every child thrives.
While we may not be perfect, please know that our team is unwavering in our commitment to your child’s success and happiness. We genuinely care for each student as an individual, and we are here to support them every step of the way. As a school, we also care for and support our staff members and hope that parents, staff, teachers, and administrators can work to create an online and public presence that reflects the caring and supportive community we strive to be.
However, when negative and sometimes untrue things are posted on social media, it can unfairly damage a staff member’s or the school's reputation, which ultimately affects the entire community. We understand that emotions can run high, but we encourage everyone to approach any concerns with a solution-oriented mindset. If you have a concern or question, we encourage open, respectful dialogue with the school directly rather than using social media as a platform. This ensures that misunderstandings can be addressed appropriately, and it helps maintain a positive and supportive environment for our students. When sharing online, we recommend adhering to best practices by being mindful of the potential impact of your words, verifying information before posting, and considering the broader consequences that may arise from spreading negativity. Together, we can work to create an online presence that reflects the caring and supportive community we strive to be.
"The pen is mightier than the sword." Many people are familiar with this phrase that was coined by English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839. The idea behind this phrase is to indicate that communication is a more effective tool than violence. There is no denying the power of the written word. While the original phrase was coined a long time ago, I feel an updated version of it might be, 'the keyboard is mightier than the pen.'
Social media is any form of online publication or presence that allows end users to engage in multi-directional conversations. Social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, blogs and countless other social media outlets are readily available to anyone with a computer, cell phone or other personal electronic device. The value of using social media is undeniable. It is a great way to catch up with long lost friends, brag about your child(ren)'s accomplishments, show pictures of your latest adventures, and countless other things.
Social media is a powerful communication tool. There really is no other way to reach the magnitude of people in such a short time. Information can be pushed out to thousands of people in a matter of seconds. As with anything that is so prevalent in society, there is great potential to misuse social media.
Recently, I’ve noticed an unsettling trend among parents to ignore this process and instead turn to social media. It’s easy to post a quick rant about how “everyone in my son’s class failed the test and the teacher is being unreasonable,” or “the coach is insane for not letting my child play.” But while this might just be intended to blow off steam, these kinds of comments can quickly spiral out of control, and they allow for no clarification from the teacher or coach.
The unfortunate part is that in many cases, parents don’t even attempt to speak with the teacher before they vent on social media. They take the word of a single child, without question, as the unbiased truth and reality. Once it goes up on social media and people start piggybacking on to it, something that may have been clarified by a meeting, phone call, or email becomes a much larger issue.
As an educator, I can’t help but feel defensive every time I read one of these rants, and I wonder what parents hope to gain by slandering someone they may have never met or spoken to. Quite often you might get sympathy or rile up other people, which will only make the situation worse, at least in the short term.
So, it’s worth talking to a teacher, preferably in person and with your child present, before you launch a crusade on social media or storm into the school in a rage. I’ve heard kids of all ages say they “hate” certain teachers or that teachers are “mean” for reasons that might make sense to kids but would not be valid to an adult. Maybe the teacher denied someone a hall pass, asked them to put away their cellphone, or held them accountable for their behavior in class. Maybe the teacher asked the student to work hard and study for an upcoming quiz or test.
Just as there are a few parents ranting about “bad” teachers and schools on social media, there are plenty of stories in the news and online about what all teachers do for students, how little they earn, and how poorly they are treated. Some of that is exaggerated, too. Not everyone who teaches wants to save the world, but they do want to be a positive influence in your child’s life and work countless hours preparing lessons and working hard to make sure your child has an amazing educational experience. Sometimes teachers do raise their voices or get sarcastic with students. Sometimes they yell, and then they’re the ones who feel bad about it afterward. It really does ruin our day when we have such negative interactions with students.
One of the biggest drawbacks we have seen with social media is the ability to post negative comments about a teacher or staff member on one of the platforms. Unfortunately, once a negative comment is posted, quite often more people will also chime in with a negative comment or express support when they do not have all the facts or information. While everyone certainly has the right to do so, I would ask you to think how you would feel if you read negative comments about you?
In conclusion, we want to remind our parents that we fully support and encourage you to advocate for your child—your involvement is invaluable in ensuring their success. However, we ask that you please follow the proper communication pathways when addressing concerns. Our communications pathway is and has always been readily available for parents on our website here. We are always here to listen and work together with you to find solutions. By engaging in respectful, constructive dialogue, we can ensure that your concerns are heard and addressed in the most effective and positive way possible. Together, we can continue to create an environment where our students feel supported, valued, and empowered to succeed. Thank you for your continued partnership and understanding.
Bob Barber
AVA Principal
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