Headlines From Columbia Paper!
Cameras roll, DESPITE policy
The policy allows the press and individuals to film the meeting only with the consent of the board. But at Thursday’s Giles County School Board meeting, resident Allen Barrett kept his camera rolling.
At the outset of the meeting, a motion was made by Chairman Kathy Norman to grant Barrett permission to film but discussion was sidetracked and the motion was never voted on.
Board Member Jim Greene said the board allowed Barrett to keep recordings even though it was within their rights to stop him.
“If we were going to be strict about it, we could have had him shut it off,” Greene said. “We’ve given him the courtesy to keep recording.”
The new policy manual requires public comment and video recordings to have board consent. The manual was approved by the board earlier this month after being reviewed by the Tennessee School Board Association.
Green said no policy manual would be perfect, and this may need some clarification. He said the camera and public comment policies were in place just in case.
“It gives the board an option to exercise if they need to control the meeting,” he said.
Board Member
Giles County Commissioner Robert E. Lee, Jr., called the policy ridiculous. “People should be able to have their say,” he said. “You’re at the mercy of the people running the show.”
Though the board has no concerned citizens portion on its agenda, Barrett addressed its members throughout the meeting.
“Why is it so difficult to allow the public to speak and address this board that the public is paying the salary for?” Barrett asked, but was not answered by the board.
Barrett, the pastor of a local church, films the board meetings each month and posts them online to his blog. He said he records them so others can view the meetings without attending and to keep public officials accountable for their actions.
He said he believed his First Amendment rights were being squelched and that the policy was formed to prohibit him specifically from recording the meetings.
“They’ve approved a policy they can follow whenever they feel it’s convenient, and for me I’m always inconvenient,” he said.
posted by Allen Barrett | 7:25 PM
51 Comments:
This article appeared in the Daily Herald today as the main headline.
Another freedom is at stake but what did the people of Pulaski hear about through the local media?
I know the paper isn't at fault and hopefully there will be information in Tuesdays publication, but there is no reason why WKSR didn't report this story.
The absurdity of this school board policy reaches beyond anything that could be considered reasonable.
What the board under Mrs. Normans chairmanship ended up say last night was that they have a written policy and an unwritten policy and they will decide when which one will be applied. When questioned by the reporter about this after the meeting Mrs Norman said the meeting is adjourned and I can't speak as an official of the board with you about board things. What a cop out.
Much is said about the camera but a greater absurdity is that they admitted having to give a written request to speak on agenda items before the agenda has to be posted might create a difficulty. Just when you think the School Board couldn't get any more ridicules exceed all expectations. If there is to be any hope you must vote new members onto the board. Allen Barrett
Remember when citizens could comment at the end of the meeting? That's gone now. This is what I think went on last night. Mr. Barrett had his camera. The board chose not to make an issue of it. Why? I think they were afraid if they asked Mr. Barrett to turn off his camera, he would have refused. Then what? Call the cops? Have that show up on utube? Ms Norman didn't want her face plastered on the web doing something that would probably be illegal. Regardless of how long the school board says the policy has been in the works, any observer of this organization knows why the policy is in place. Hopefully someone will take this as the straw that broke the camel's back and file suit.
The "news" paper reports according to what is considered newsworthy to those who purchase the paper. It never ceases to amaze me how that plays out. The irony is that those who do care do not get their news from the local paper. Unfortunately, that leads to gossip and complicates the truth when the news comes from he said/she said. Whatever happened to the press as a "watchdog" of truth? It went the way of rag mags that prefer shallow truths and dirt. That sells papers these days and justice be damned. I love the heartwarming stories it does cover but also see a bias in WHO gets in print and who does not locally. The same families get total coverage over and over while the real issues that effect our county get thrown off to editorials. Often by poorly written opinions who are passionate but not necessarily writers or reporters of fact. Your posting on the net is the way to go and approaching outside media to mediate the irony and bias. Sometimes fallout has to come outside before the inside will react. Keep up the fight for freedom of speech and the press!!! I may not agree and thank GOD I live in this country and can.
I find it absolutely appalling that anyone would take PRIDE in disrupting public meetings by intentionally violating the rules of those meetings in such a manner. It's nothing less than shameful. Even if I disagreed with a policy, it is completely inappropriate to act in such a manner. Doing so doesn't make the officials look bad, it makes the person doing it look bad.
Make no mistake, the real reason for doing it isn't to get a policy changed. There are other more efficient ways to do that. The real reason is to bask in the limelight and get the media attention and gloat about doing it. Hey, look at me, look how I got 'em! There are always consequences for such actions. You would think a minister of all people would remember that Pride is one of the seven deadly sins.
Anonymous, July 12, 2008 1:00:00 AM, said:
I find it absolutely appalling that anyone would take PRIDE
Umm... where did WAB mention taking pride in this particular action?
in disrupting public meetings
How does quietly videotaping a meeting constitute a "disruption?"
by intentionally violating the rules of those meetings in such a manner.
A "rule" that violates both the First Amendment, and the State of Tennessee's "Sunshine Act?" A rule that was quite obviously passed with the sole purpose of gagging WAB? What kind of a bootlicking idiot would obey an illegal, immoral, and thoroughly absurd "rule" such as that?
It's nothing less than shameful.
No... what's shameful, is your pathetic support for the school board's idiotic "rule."
Even if I disagreed with a policy, it is completely inappropriate to act in such a manner.
Uh huh. And I guess the "appropriate" thing for Rosa Parks to have done, was to keep riding the back of the bus... right? Every last freedom we have in this country came from people like WAB standing up to tyrannical laws. You should appreciate what WAB is doing, because he's defending your freedom -- and right to know what's going on at government meetings -- as much as his own. (And probably more, considering that he's bearing all the risk.)
Doing so doesn't make the officials look bad, it makes the person doing it look bad.
Au contraire. The so-called "officials" look like idiotic blowhards, now that WAB has called their bluff, and they were too cowardly to sic the police on him. (Assuming there's someone on the PPD stupid enough to "enforce" this botched mockery of a "law.")
Make no mistake, the real reason for doing it isn't to get a policy changed.
Oh? So you are a mindreader now?
There are other more efficient ways to do that.
No, there are NOT. Stoop-id laws like this can only be struck down by principled civil disobedience. The school board -- that bloated tick sucking the taxpayers dry -- couldn't care less what anyone in Giles County thinks about anything. And that's ESPECIALLY true when it comes to their arch nemesis, WAB.
I could use a good laugh... so, why don't you propose some other way this ridiculous law could be flushed into the sewer where it so richly belongs? Go ahead... and be creative!
The real reason is to bask in the limelight and get the media attention and gloat about doing it.
Yeah, just like that troublemaking publicity hound, Rosa Parks!
But seriously... WHAT limelite? WHAT media attention? This story is one of those things that Herschel Lake and Company don't think Giles Countians need to know. (Much like the existance of this blog... my money isn't "good enough" to the Lakes, for them to sell me even the lowliest classified ad!)
Hey, look at me, look how I got 'em! There are always consequences for such actions.
Yeah.... and the main one I can think of, is that we henceforth will live in a better, somewhat freer, county. And I, for one, would like to thank WAB for putting his neck on the chopping block, yet again.
You would think a minister of all people would remember that Pride is one of the seven deadly sins.
Why would a Baptist minister be worried about something extra-Biblical, which was cooked up by the Catholic Church and the poet Dante? And can you REALLY say that WAB's actions in this matter even REMOTELY meet Dante's definition of "pride" -- "love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbor"??? I think not!
Hey, if you want to worry about what actually is in the Bible, why don't you try Leviticus 25:10 on for size? And you might want to chew on the motto of the original "Great Seal of the United States," written by Jefferson and Franklin in 1776: "REBELLION TO TYRANTS IS OBEDIENCE TO GOD."
Does WAB rebel against our local tinpot tyrants? You betcha! Do you? Probably not. So who is more faithfully obeying the will of God? Hmmmmm????
(You'd better work the answer to that one out while you're still aboveground..., if you know what I mean!)
This kind of grandstanding by people like barrett and his followers is exactly why surrounding counties are laughing at us!
Doesn't it seem rather strange that people would blame WAB instead of actually looking at this new policy? I find the most interesting part of the whole thing being a written policy and an un-written policy.
I must agree with WAB that the camera is much less a problem than the idea you have to submit a written request to speak about the agenda before the agenda is published. Does anyone see a problem with that?
As a teacher I have followed the actions and the deceptions of this
director and his pals, because there are several things that have directly affected me. This new policy seems to have come amazingly close to presentation of the budget. I wonder if WAB's criticism of Mr. Jackson's 5% pay increase might have something to do with this whole thing.
100 & 610 Other counties are laughing in much the same manner as people used to laugh at Amos & Andy, maybe the three stoopes, & others. Here, you couldn't find a better replica of the "kingfish" - of course there's more than three stoopes. So called educated people who connive, carry on, and pretend to be the intellectual elite that found the universal answer, "We just don't know what it's gonna be, other than we know need more money to do it!" is "Jacksonese" for "gotch again"! Fire him! Where in the world did they get educated?
Look at Bill Holt, a likeable sort of fellow, with a rubber arm that'll reach around back of you & get your wallet, while the other is patting you on the back. $2.5 million or so for four ball games is over $800K a game! Whoopie!!! And, we don't have enough to give teachers or the core workers of this broken system a raise. Da Kingfish got a plan & it includes everyone. Some of us figgered out a plan too - be somewhereelse when the plate comes around. Hell no to the sales tax & ain't nothing inevitable about raising the property tax. Time to roll back & shuck out the bureaucratic crap that KF saddled us with.
What a bunch of loosers!
You guys (WAB, Kendrick and the moonies) are looking stupid again! Keep it going. Your're a real asset to our county. If you guys were really interested in getting anythin accomplished, you would try a more workable approach.
I am not a member of the group you mentioned above in your 11:39 post, but would be very much interested in hearing an outline or summary of your idea of a more workable approach.I personally, not having a degree in finance or anything, but just thinking out loud have one idea of how our county can save some $$$$. Like I said, I don't have a degree in finance but my suggestion to conserve funds would be to do away with the practice of multiple elections on issues that the people have already spoken on, such as the financial management act, and the sales tax for Sam Davis park. This practice of have more and more elections until the votes go the way the "powers that be" want it is bound to be expensive. I am being simplistic but I guess I always thought that voting was about a majority of the population "speaking" their minds at the polls and once that has happened, it should be a done deal, at least for a uniform specified time period.....However, me being blond and all, I realize I may just not be capable of understanding that a vote on a particular issue should not be final until those in charge can sway people to their point of view. I kinda thought this practice might be a contributing factor to the fact that the election commission requested and received more $$$ this year when other depts had to make do with last year's funds. But like I said, I am not a finance major, just an average, middle class, college educated tax-payer....... what do I know??????
Where is the Pride in wab's actions? Isn't it obvious? He couldn't wait to post the article about his exploits on the blog, now could he? And WHAT media attention? Duh. "Headlines from Columbia Paper!" is at the top of the post, now isn't it? His first words in his post were not about the policy but about him getting the "main headline" in the Columbia paper.
And you compare wab to Rosa Parks? Thanks for the laugh. That's the most absurd thing I've read in years.
Well I am very well pleased with the comments about Mr. Barrett. I do think he is a very smart man, but I do think he is a person who thrives on trouble. Mr. Barrett is one who constantly trashes the ambulance service and many other aspects of the county. He is one who can't wait to get his name in the paper and has posted many things on this blog. Mr. Barrett I do understand that you are a man of God. I am a christian myself. Jesus himself also made a statement during his day. He did it in a more profound and point making approach. He did not grandstand and try to make a point by causing grief and trouble to the Pharisees. I think you might try to rethink your position and do something different. If you really want change then do something about it......Don't cause trouble just to be causing it. I am going to go but you sir need to remember this....God gave us two ears and one mouth,that way to listen more and talk less.
July 12 6:10 AM Could surrounding counties be laughing at us because we have Director of Schools and County Executive who have never moved their families to Giles County?
anonymous..
No, surrounding counties are laughing at us because of all the bickering, name-calling, and turmoil brought on by a small group of people who aren't happy with anything and who think they know best.
1139 & 913 Roll your eyes when you walk down the street - they're laughing at you & the very few other idiots who have been lobotomized by the Jackson jive.
Anonymous, July 12, 2008 1:22:00 PM
Where is the Pride in wab's actions? Isn't it obvious?
No, it is not. Given that you are talking about "seven deadly sins" type pride -- defined as "love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbor" -- then, no, that's not going on with WAB. I would truly hope that he feels pride in the sense of "satisfaction from the fact that you've done something good, and received public acknowledgment for it," but that's NOT even CLOSE to what Dante meant by "deadly sin pride."
He couldn't wait to post the article about his exploits on the blog, now could he?
Should he have waited until the Daily Herald took down the story? Isn't the point of this blog to be both timely and informative?
And WHAT media attention? Duh. "Headlines from Columbia Paper!" is at the top of the post, now isn't it? His first words in his post were not about the policy but about him getting the "main headline" in the Columbia paper.
That's still not very much in the way of "media attention." Hardly anyone reads this blog -- at least nobody will admit to it in public -- and coverage in Columbia does not equal much "attention" here in Giles County. I'm afraid my point stands.
And you compare wab to Rosa Parks?
Did WAB not engage in nonviolent civil disobedience at the last school board meeting? Kinda like Rosa Parks refusing to get on the back of the bus.... hmmm? If you had the ability to think in terms of principles, you'd see that WAB was following the same stategy as the 1960's civil rights movement. (With one major difference, admittedly-- the "back of the bus" law wasn't written specifically to "get back" at Rosa Parks... while the school board's latest "rule" is certainly a "Bill of Attainder" directed solely against WAB.)
Thanks for the laugh. That's the most absurd thing I've read in years.
Obviously, you don't read your own absurd drivel, then.
Why don't the school board , director an others change the way they talk an act an maybe get along better with us after all they do work for the children of this county.
Wab compared to Ropsa Parks? Now that's a laugh that tops the previous one!
748: I think the hounds are on the run & the dumb ass possums are about to be treed! Stuff that up either end! - can't tell em apart!
Good remedy when they get treed - shake em out & let the hounds have at em.
Same ole same ole. Bitchin' and moanin' without anyone getting in the game and really doing something about it.
If you would have been at the public hearing at the school Monday you would not be saying no body ain't doing something about the problem. There was a bunch of folks there asking some tough questions and Mr. Barrett was right at the head with a lot of people letting him use their time to talk. Go Mr B.
I read todays paper and did Tee jackson work fast to to do damage control all of a sudden the fat budget just got slimmer. Them questions Mr Barrett and them other people kept asking sure did do something. We just got to get more people and keep on keeping on. Thank you mr Barrett and the other people I don't know their names but they done good to.
Grasshoppers are running the ant colony. Instead of feeding the teachers who nourish the baby ants, grasshoppers brought in more grasshoppers to tell teachers what to do and how to do it. Instead of feeding the ants who maintain the mound and making sure they have what it takes to maintain it, grasshoppers built new mounds more suitable for grasshoppers. Because worker ants must be diverted from the ant hill to the green dining room, the rest of the ants will be finding themselves overworked and starving to death. If you are having difficulty with why this is here, that isn’t there, & all you know is there isn’t enough money, you have your answer. Get rid of the grasshoppers!
Silliphant.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008 7:48:00 AM comment: Who the heck is Ropsa Parks?
oh sorry - you meant Rosa Parks I quess. somebody compared Mr. Barrett to Rosa Parks????? that's a laugh.
I cannot believe that someone whether white or black does not know who Rosa Parks is!!!!
The writer was just trying to be funny because of the misspelling of Rosa. He or she knew very well who Rosa (Ropsa) Parks was.
This thread is a real incentive for our children to get a real education or work towards getting a bit part on the "Amos & Andy show." Snydley Whiplash & Natasha are busy trying to tie poor Pauline to the railroad tracks so they can stop the train with the property tax receipts & steal it. Meanwhile, Rocky & Bulkwinkle are trying to trip up Snydley & Ms. Natasha until the Lone Ranger & Tonto arrive to save the day! Of course, Snydley & Natasha are more worried about Clark Kent putting their picture in the paper and revealing their real identity - of course, neither Snydley or Natasha have a clue that Clark is really Superman & he might just whup up a good dose of whupass if they don't straighten up!
God ain't gonna help us till we throw TJ & his turkeys off the plantation. Kids gonna be idiots for sure under their tootaledge! Maybe it's genetic defect - we sure haven't had enough sense or gumption to toss them out!
Anonymous...or is it the Riddler?
You say that kids are going to be idiots under the current situation. Outrageous! Don't you think that's a stretch for which you owe a lot of parents and children in this county a huge apology?
Thanks 10:45:00 AM for the backup on my slightly humorous statement on the misspelling of Rosa Parks - I didn't think anyone would take that seriously or be that idiotic! LIGHTEN up people! It's a short life you live!
80000
YEP! If you can't figure it out, your DNA is doomed. Do you want the kid to grow up with overactive sweat glands & a compulsive stigmatation of trying to crawl under the headmistresses skirt when it gets caught with their fingers in the cookie jar?????
Really, it would be hilarious if it didn't cost too much.
Is it a sign of the times? What madness drives us to the point of self destruction?
Yes, order must prevail or nothing will come of the government we strive to maintain. We must get something done. But, what if that something is nothing, or worse than counter productive.
Democracy is government of and by the people. It certainly doesn't exclude the people, but that is what we have. The bit about power corrupting and absolute power absolutely corrupting is the only example we see today.
For those who see a better government evolving, look to the actions - this very thread. It isn't enough to silence the public, these idiots want them blinded and deaf! Consider the fact that they are the educated icons of our society, placed in positions of trust and power to do goods things for us. Instead they pervert that which we all cherish with all the powers of evil.
When public officials are afraid of someone finding out what they are doing, we know it's wrong! When our public education system is dedicated to perverting our freedoms and form of government so they can accomplish their agenda, it's way past time for change. The means never justify the ends, especially in the institution that teaches the next generation how to operate in life!
Change it! Vote for someone who will remove the director and fight agaist tyranny. A few minutes of public discussion in all government meetings is very little time in a community as small as ours. Like it or not, that can bring some common sense back to our education system!
anonymous..
Yes, a true democracy is in fact a government of and by the people. We have people who hold elected offices; they were put there by people at election time. Isn't that the democracy you just described? I think we could both agree that it is.
However, democracy is NOT government run by a small band of malcontents who were unsuccessful in getting their candidates elected to those offices. Would you agree with that? Like it or not, that is the process.
Sorry Charlie but this county is a Republic not a democracy. It uses a REPRESENTATIVE form of government, people are elected to represent all the people and when they stop representing the people the Founding Fathers said they should be removed even by violence if necessary. It takes a complete fool to think a person should be allowed to stay in office until the next election without being held accountable during their present term. You have limited your understanding of all things outside the range of your nose and continue to defend the indefensible through lazy ignoraqnce.
I heard a person on the school board say that if Barrett comes back to a meeting with his camera they're gonna have him arrested. I didn't think even that bunch could be that stupid.
anonymous..
You can call me names and attempt to talk down to me all you want, but the fact STILL remains that a true democracy is NOT run by a small band of malcontents. Yes, you are free to protest and express your "opinions", but it is wrong to malign those with whom you have different views.
Can you see the arrogance in accusing me of having a limited understanding of things beyond the realm of the tip of my nose?
629 - Too dumb to read or simply too spaced out to reason? Leave the grass & pills alone for a day or two & then read the Constitution - especially the Amendments. What we call Democracy fits our Constitutional guarantees, not what you see between the red veins in your eyes.
736 Trust - They are that arrogant & dumb
anonymous..
People like you continue to prove my point. Here it is. Unless my thinking is exactly like yours, I am considered dumb, naive, and stupid. When you get tired of using those names, you normally either say we are related to those you dislike or that we are just too complacent to care what goes on.
That is arrogance gone to seed!
7-28-8
It must be frustrating to have people with lesser qualifications call you dumb, naïve, and stupid. Obviously, you r talents far exceed adding and subtracting. Your chain of thoughts are methodical and well defined.
A lesser being might think your protons are whupin the neutrons, & the electrons can’t get through to the scoreboard. More likely, it’s the thought chain getting jerked, activating the jerk button, & you doing your thing. We know no way of noing, thus can’t guide you to a happily ever after situation where we can’t say, “No, that’s the wrong way”.
Perhaps, the difference is somewhere between you and the goalpost, trying to discern the difference in a manicured $2.5 million lawn and a cow pasture. Your education was on the lawn. There are no obstacles on the lawn, but they are there in the pasture. Now you are in the pasture. Every time you head straight for the goalpost you slip on a cow pod & land face first in another. As long as you would rather have a face full of dung than figure out where you should walk, we’re going to call you dumb, naïve, and stupid. We could add arrogant, but why worry?
You are so gifted at being silly. You should seek employment at Mad Magazine.
Why is that just because a member of the public asks a question of an elected official, they are labeled "malcontent"? Is it because the elected officials dont want anyone getting to the depths of local government or is it because perhaps the public knows more about laws than the elected officials?
You know very well that questioning an elected official does NOT make one a malcontent. That stereotypical thinking is like calling ALL lawyers crooked. Your paranoia and distrust know no bounds. Where did that come from anyway?
Let me repeat an idea I posted on this blog a good while ago. Let's give peace a chance and stop all the accusing and name-calling. Who knows, the victims of such maliciousness might want to hear what you have to say and work with you should that happen. Again, give peace a chance and stop the counter-productive tactics. Nobody likes to hear someone call them liars, crooks, and etc. in a public forum. Would you be willing to work with someone who called you names like that? I doubt it. Think.
What is so amazing to me is that when some of these people are elected to office, they all of a sudden are smarter and know what is best for everyone. They get elected by telling everyone that they want to do what the people want, then they do what they want. Being is office does not all of a sudden make you know more than anyone else.
anonymous...
Don't you have that a little backwards? It seems to me that when some people get elected to public office (in this county) they are subjected to all manner of ridicule and smearing by a certain few who think THEY know it all. Isn't that more like it?
Again, we are all entitled to our own opinions. I just wanted to share mione with respect to your post.
All we ever hear from the elected officials is that the people don't understand or know what is best for them.
Does it seem a bit weird that the people are accused of not knowing things by the very politicians that keep doing things in secret and hiding things from us?
It sure does.
If we could get back to more open government there would be much less turmoil, which might enable our elected officials to be more productive and acomplish more.
The people we elect to office, along with the county executive and city mayor, are the only ones who can get us back to open government in Giles County. Instead, every effort is stifled.
On school board agenda for new reading Nov. 13. Will have to have 2nd reading in Dec. to pass and problely will. Will come into effect Jan meeting. But a motion can be made to override in Nov if board so chooses.
There will be guidelines required to speak. You have to speak on a board subject, no name calling, no reference to anyone in a negative way and an answer may or may not be given back. If it is a personal issue it is to be taken up with that person in private. Most likely the two minutes will be the amt. of time. 5 min. if you call before agenda is done and it warrants being on the agenda if it pertains to school board issues.
Speaking out during a board meeting without being recognized is unacceptable.
Hopefully the people will know the board is going to try to work with the public but in the right way. As a board member I will try to respect each person and I would expect the same from you. I am open to all for comment if you want to call me. I'm speaking only for myself, so please keep this in mind. Bev Murrey
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