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FamilyLight sm
intends this website to become a place for exchange of useful
information and discussion between people of contrasting opinions.
We welcome vigorous dissent.
However we expect dissent to be respectful and constructive.
We do not intend to permit the website to become a venue for
libel or innuendo. We do not intend to be a venue for misleading
promotional activities.
In many cases, the best way to
hold a school or program accountable for something you believe is a
serious problem, is to alert referral sources and those who are
evaluating for their own family regarding what they need to look for in
their own evaluation rather than tell them what they will find.
Some specifics:
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All persons submitting
information and/or opinions for publication or intended to influence
our own assessments must fully disclose their identities.
This means that we expect to have the person’s true name, at
least one efficient means of instant communication (phone, fax,
email address, etc.),
and the physical address and mailing address where they are located.
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All
submissions must be free of propaganda techniques, such as
glittering generality, broad brush, innuendo, and distorting the
context to convey a wrong impression.
Generalizations must be backed with specific examples.
This applies whether a statement is in support of a school or
program or criticizing it.
Examples:
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Reference
to any provider as “the leading” provider would require a
credible clarification as to why this provider rather than its
direct competitors should carry that title.
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References
to a “sex addict” being on the staff of a program in a context
that appears meant to suggest a child molester is not
acceptable. Such a
reference would also need documentation of its accuracy and
clarity of the purpose it serves.
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We
want to hold schools and programs accountable.
However potentially libelous charges must be submitted in
writing in a notarized statement.
One purpose of the Notary is to verify the true identity of
the person submitting the statement.
Therefore we do not accept sworn statements lacking a notary
seal even from states that allow statements under penalty of perjury
without notary participation.
This statement must be accompanied by a release of liability
and indemnification of FamilyLight sm for our use of the
statement and (if applicable) authorization to release confidential
information in so as to facilitate discussion of the allegations
with the facility being criticized. We
have forms for this. All such
statements will be shared with the facility being criticized before
we take any other action.
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We
will be fairly liberal about “I statements.”
Examples of “I statements:”
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“I
am not comfortable with the level of training of the recreation
staff.”
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“I
particularly like the family visitation policy.”
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“I
encourage parents thinking of enrolling their child to take a
close look at the liability release in the contract they will
want you to sign.”
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We
are likely to be more flexible with a person or organization
responding to a criticism of itself than to the criticisms
themselves.
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Our
decision about whether or not to publish a particular submission is
final.
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If
a reader provides credible evidence of a deficiency in a school or
program and we do not think we can safely publish the information we
will watch for an opportunity to put the information out safely.
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Schools and programs will be
permitted the opportunity to publish a response to any criticism we
publish about them. However the response must be point by point
responding to the criticism and must not be an attack on the source
of the criticism.
We
appreciate your participation in our web project.
Contact us regarding submissions
Last update June 6, 2009
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