If Bentonville School Board member Rebecca Powers were to ever write a book about her experience in public office in recent days, its title could convincingly be "How to Apologize Without Really Meaning It."
What's she apologizing for? It turns out she posted some comments about a student, without naming her, on social media. The girl is an advocate for board member Grant Light's proposal to add sexual orientation and gender identity, among other characteristics, to the classes of employees protected from discrimination in district policies and practices. The student participated in a demonstration at the high school in support of changing the policy. Powers, to say the least, does not favor Lightle's proposal.
What’s the point?
Although not cyberbullying, Bentonville School Board member Rebecca Powers’ social media post about a student was ill-advised for an elected official charged with leading a school district.
"The young lady that is heading this up is an atheist," the post attributed to Powers read on the "Protect OUR Children BPS" Facebook page. "She is also rude, and disrespectful. I had the displeasure of watching her at the Mary Beth Tinker event at BHS. She was reprimanded for her behavior that day by school officials."
Tinker was an April 8 guest speaker at Bentonville High School on, oddly enough, free speech. The student Powers referred to caused a disruption moments after Tinker's talk ended by shouting a demand for a chance to ask a question. It was an uncomfortable moment, but that's about all. Tinker ended up answering the question.
Then the girl's mother showed up at a school board meeting a little more than a week ago, citing Powers Facebook post and calling it "cyberbullying." Mom had earlier demanded an apology, but had not gotten one. A supportive Wal-Mart attorney suggested Powers violated a federal privacy law by revealing details about a student's disciplinary record.
Anyone paying attention, or even checking Twitter occasionally, knows equal treatment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons is the hot-button topic of the day. It's filled with gut reactions, religion, self-identity, right and wrong, individual rights, love and hate. The nation appears to be on the cusp of a huge cultural shift, and it's churning emotions more deeply than the gushing waters pouring out of the gates of Beaver Dam.
Naturally, the clash, including a suggestion Powers should resign, made news. Then Powers issued a statement expressing her disappointment the media reported the story, saying it was untrue she bullied a student. She acknowledged making the post on Facebook, which was later deleted. In her statement, she said "supporters of the 'Name and Shame' campaign" had identified the student, not her.
"My comment was meant only for private discussion, and was inadvertently posted in a public group instead," she wrote. "However, I am sincerely sorry that these remarks became public, and I sincerely apologize for any hurt this has caused to any student who believes I was identifying them.
"As usual in debates about homosexuality and cross-dressing, when these divisive issues are forced on school boards by those who wish to normalize harmful behaviors to impressionable children, supporters of these categories make accusations of 'bullying' when confronted by the truth," Powers wrote.
In case you missed it, that was the apology.
The statement reflects the aggressive stance Powers has taken on an issue she feels strongly about. Nothing to fault her for on that. But let's also not pretend, in this instance, that she's lacking responsibility for what everyone is responding to. She's a publicly elected school board member who chose to air her issues about a student on Facebook.
Let's get this straight: In an effort to have a private conversation, she posted to a social media site?
Let's also dismiss this notion that this is a media-created firestorm. The media didn't bring this up; they reported claims against a sitting elected official that were aired in a public meeting. This newspaper reported the details surrounding the matter and gave those involved a chance to respond. Yes, the way a school board member conduct's herself, particularly in connection with a student and a public policy issue within the school district, is news. Powers asked for the public's vote to do a job; how she does that job is their concern.
Nonetheless, while Powers posted statements were ill-advised, we agree they do not amount to cyberbullying. First, the message does not appear to seek to intimidate the girl. Indeed, from all appearances, it's unlikely this girl would be that easily intimidated. It was also through the actions of her own mother that her involvement because a public spectacle. Was that bullying? Ultimately, Powers comments were not directed to the girl. And Powers isn't the first person to, amazingly, believe social media is a place where a private conversation will remain private.
Powers, in the heat of this controversy, did forget she has a responsibility as a member of the school board to go above and beyond in protecting students -- all students, not just the ones she likes or agrees with -- in the organization she leads. If she wants to aggressively take a stand against Lightle's proposal, that is her right. It's what people elected her to do. But focusing that fight on a teenage student? No school board member should see that as an appropriate response.
Commentary on 05/31/2015