Saturday, December 11, 2021

Honesty on personal FB page?

How important is it for a public official to be honest on her personal Facebook page?
As of 12/11/2021


I think most would agree rhat a public official should be honest at all times.

If a school board official, even one who has never taken the oath-of-office legally, identifies herself as a "School Board Commissioner [sic] for Richland School District Two", is that correct? Is that honest?

Richland 2 doesn't have "Commissioners". It has Trustees. (Richland One calls its elected officials Commissioners.)

Is it just a simple, dumb mistake? What possible reason could there be for such an error?

And how about misleading the public by calling yourself an "Assistant Administrator / Guidance" for a school district where you haven't worked since August 1st? The person, whose Facebook page it is, was never an "Assistant Administrator". According to that school district, the person was a Guidance Counsel/Lead Teacher who also had some administrative duties when the Administrator was not present. But that doesn't make her an "Assistant Administrator".

For some people, "little things" don't matter. Is it just a case of "Don't sweat the small stuff"?

Like not taking the oath of office legally, and therefore not being a legal member of a school board, but sitting on the board, voting on school matters, accepting pay and perks, and glad-handing all.

Many years ago, I heard "integrity" explained as what you do when no one is looking. Well, everybody is looking.

Is honesty important?