waiting to hear from the more experienced names on the baords,,,,but what jumps out at me is this:
"Void a disclaimer, assumptions are made that a school directory will not be used in a negative, self serving way."
that might be YOUR assumption. it might not be that of the other parents at your school. and, the US legal system would have a field day if all product manufacturers could say,,,,"well we didnt put a disclaimer on our product, we just ASSUMED they wouldnt use the product in the way in which they did which caused them harm."
again, it comes down to either you have a disclaimer (have people agree with their signature when they fill out the form , as to how they agree to use it/the directory), OR you hold your peace when someone uses it in a manner which you personally find inappropriate.
I don't want to put a damper on the happy times you all are having but I must say I disagree with the position that the directory is not something for the PTO to be held accountable for.
In our situation an angry parent sent a mass e-mail to everyone in the directory (who listed their e-mail) about a happening at school. She did not know everyone she sent the e-mail to nor did they ask for her opinion (makes it spam). She used the directory to propagate her opinion about a happening at the school involving her child.
A school directory, a PTO sponsored tool, is not to be used to propogate ones opinion. A school directory has a different "code of ethics" than the white pages. Void a disclaimer, assumptions are made that a school directory will not be used in a negative, self serving way.
The PTO has on obligation to the people who gave their names and bought the directory to address any misuse of the product (directory).
For instance if the ladder company found out about a person who decided to climb on his roof using a metal ladder in the middle of a thunderstorm they are obligated to tell him his behavior will cause him danger, thus bringing about warning labels. Which in this case would be a disclaimer in the directory.
I think for a PTO to say this is not their problem is negligent on the PTO's behalf and just bad management. This is not an attempt to manage the parents at the school but an attempt to encourage a spirit of cooperation within the school.
I thought PTO's were supposed to set the best example. Avoiding responsibilty, in my opinion, is not setting the best example.
lest i be remiss, there are many smart people out there, the critters, dlfs, phil Bs, Tims, serendipitys etc etc i am sure i am omitting some, those are just on the tip of my tongue,,,to all the smart folks on this site giving sound advice day after day to ANONYMOUS folks who dont pay your salary (what salary??!!) i say THANK YOU. the www becomes the wwweb of friends! so here's afew pennies tossed your way - THANKS.
maybe the PTOTODAY website needs a BD, a blogger day, like TA day.
Well, that's what my Login message says - Should be on Payroll. Maybe I am on the payroll already and am getting the same sweet but elusive compenstation package my PTO offers.
I must be doing a good job because I got a 10% raise this year......
Do not hire a man who does your work for money, but him who does it for love of it.
Henry David Thoreau
HEAR HEAR crewchief (thoreau gets replaced by einstein!)
"Folks who don't want their contact information misused shouldn't put it in a phone book. Sorry, but if you hand out your email address then you're basically saying "email me!"
i couldnt agree more. just like being unlisted in the white pages......
hope you keep pto-ing even after you move! you should be on payroll.
