Reporting on community asset struggles is not persecution

Dear Editor:

 

You deserve commendation for your reportage of the current unpleasant circumstances of the local school system. Your continuing coverage has been fair, balanced, and complete.

 

Working with complex financial systems and their documents is difficult for those who do not work with them every day. It seems that it is also difficult for some of those who do work with them daily.

 

You have been patient with school representatives who obviously stonewalled you and ducked your questions, or employed diversion. And charging you for copying documents could be taken as a punitive action. The law provides government entities the opportunity to charge for making copies of its documents, but surely charging for making copies is not mandatory. It would have been a gesture of good will to have done it for free.

 

Reporting the weaknesses of a popular and valued community asset is a delicate proposition. However fair, reporting it is often taken as a sign of persecution. It need not to be so taken. Not reporting such matters would be a dishonest disservice to the community.

 

Frank L. Martin, Peace Valley