a column by Oxford Supt. Dr. William Skilling

The purpose of this article is for me to share, first-hand, some of my beliefs, opinions, and actions related to the relationship between The Oxford Leader and Oxford Community Schools. At the outset, I want to be clear that I support our hometown paper, the Oxford Leader, and the vital role it plays in our community, as well as its important role in supporting our schools, students, and families. Don Rush recently reported on many of the ways the Oxford Leader has supported Oxford Community Schools throughout its history. These efforts are greatly appreciated and are important to us. Our local paper helps to keep our community informed and vibrant. With the difficulties we all face in this challenging economy, the paper can facilitate efforts to help make the Oxford Community more attractive for businesses and families looking to locate to Northern Oakland County. No other paper will cover the positive things happening in our community like the Oxford Leader. The local paper provides an important forum for educating the public about important events, informing the citizenry on both sides of an issue, providing a forum for public discourse on issues, showcasing community events, and helping the community stay connected with each other.
I also want to covey that the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States that include both freedom of speech and freedom of the press, among other rights, are important and should not only be upheld and fostered, but supported by all. Freedom of the press is an important foundation for a free, just, and democratic society, and done responsibly, ensures that voters are able to make informed decisions. The press has great power in society through the choices made about what to print, what not to print, and how to frame issues for its subscribers.
Thus, with this great power comes great responsibility. For example, with regard to our schools, it would seem great to have the Oxford Leader always support school initiatives, but it would not necessarily be responsible nor serve our community well. If a new initiative proposed by the school district is a good one, it will stand the test of time through critical thinking, public discourse, and scrutiny in our local paper. If it does not survive public discourse, it was probably not a good initiative. Therefore, it is imperative that we have a ‘win-win? situation where both sides of issues are fairly and accurately presented so the citizenry can be better informed through civil discourse in our local paper. ‘Iron sharpens iron? is a principle I believe in strongly. I also believe that our debates, discussions, and critical analysis of issues in our local newspaper must be civil ? respectful, courteous, and focused on the issues to support truth-seeking and clarity on matters of public interest.
Recently, I, along with community leaders and others, expressed concerns about the tone of some of the opinion columns and letters within the Oxford Leader that were focused on destructive descriptions of an individual or a group of individuals rather than on issues associated with their actions. It appeared that there was intent to degrade and discredit individuals who were on the opposite side of an issue. Some individuals who contributed letters to the paper, on both sides of an issue, often contributed to a focus on personal or group attacks as opposed to conveying their opinions about the issues at hand. Quite simply, attacking a person’s character, name-calling, using negative labels and so forth are not civil, and instead of enlightening and informing, distract from the important issues at hand.. We need a local paper to provide a forum where both sides of an issue can be discussed without fear of personal attack.
It was with this concern that I canceled Oxford Community Schools? subscription to the Oxford Leader and that I asked to meet with the Oxford Leader’s Editors. The publisher and the assistant publisher provided two board members and me the opportunity to meet with them. We believe they understood our viewpoints’that name calling is destructive not only to the individual, but also to their families and to our community in general. It is very divisive and is not a good example for our students and children. Another board member and I had a follow-up meeting with the assistant publisher to affirm our desire to see the Oxford Leader be successful and to come to an agreement on a positive course of action. The writers at the Oxford Leader have every right to communicate their opinions to the public on important issues that affect us all. We need these communications to be focused on the issues rather than distracting from the issues by targeting individuals through name calling or demeaning language. We all hope that their leadership in this area will encourage even greater participation in community debate because fear of a personal attack will be diminished.
Therefore, in good faith, we are renewing our school districts? subscriptions knowing that the Oxford Leader is making a commitment to write articles, opinions, columns, and editorials without assaulting a person’s reputation when they have written or stand for an opposing view. I am also, in good faith, personally subscribing to the Oxford Leader for the first time. This may come as a big surprise to the staff at Oxford Community Schools and some of the people who know me in the community. I have shared with them my concerns and reasons for dropping our subscriptions to the Oxford Leader. However, my answer to these concerns can be found in the first paragraph’a hometown newspaper is critically essential to a vibrant and engaged community.

In conclusion, our hometown paper plays a vital role in our community. Allowing me to write this article to express my point of view and my support demonstrates good faith on their part. Likewise, I am reciprocating my faith in them’that they will avoid personal attacks that are destructive to undeserving individuals and instead focus on the issues. My confidence in them is demonstrated by renewing our school district’s subscriptions to the Oxford Leader and personally purchasing one for my family. It is time to look forward, not back, with renewed understanding and the pursuit of win-win opportunities for the Oxford Leader, our community, and Oxford Community Schools.