Democracy, Free Speech, and (anti-) Censorship

Recently updated on April 26th, 2023 at 10:30 am

By editor@realpps

A month ago, I never would have imagined myself in the position I am in today. I find myself navigating a complex web of issues, including an autocratic Board of Education (BOE), a divisive Superintendent, Dr. Carol Kelley, hand-picked by the BOE, and a deeply divided community.

Sadly, the dysfunction of our Democracy is on full display, due to flawed election rules, lack of attention from constituencies and the elitism of those in power. All the pleas and petitions have been met with another “unanimous support” from BOE of the exact decision that triggered those pleas and petitions:

• Immediate Resignation of Dr. Carol Kelley as Superintendent of Princeton Public Schools (2,111+ signers)
• Chmiel Has Been Fired. We demand transparency and that the Board rescind his termination. (3,033+ signers)
• In Support of Principal Chmiel (1,373+ signers)

Despite numerous requests to postpone the appointment of the interim PHS principal, the BOE conducted a hasty and brazen vote right in front of disapproving parents during the BOE meeting on March 28th, 2023.

Fortunately, free speech is still protected, although there have been attempts by various parties to suppress the voices of parents, students and concerned community members and to manipulate the public opinions. Local media in Princeton may have engaged in self-censorship and censorship for a variety of reasons, which is not overly surprising and not necessarily ill-intentioned. After all, they operate under their own rules and constraints, and may have their own agenda.

It is crucial that the voices of parents and students in the Princeton Public Schools are heard by wider audiences, particularly by those who prioritize individual rights as the foundation of a thriving democracy and who recognize that the pursuit of excellence drives progress in society.

The growth of the InfoHub in the past few weeks is a true testament to the power of people. The document has received numerous contributions from individuals who care deeply about the Princeton community, to whom I want to sincerely say “Thank you for your contribution”. At the same time, there have been even more disappointment, anguish and anger among the PPS community, especially after seeing the full display of the tone deafness and defiance from the BOE on March 28th meeting, how a local medium revealed the home address of a vocal parent in one of its articles, and the same local medium manipulating the public opinion by censoring the user comments, etc.

During the March 21st BOE meeting, a student aptly pointed out that authoritarian governments often use laws, regulations, and even national security as excuses to hide the truth from citizens, and even to deceive the public. As a community, we cannot allow such behavior to govern the PPS community. Thus, “RealPPS” was established as an alternative platform for sharing important findings that the BOE has attempted to conceal from the public. RealPPS invites all members of the PPS community to contribute to this effort and help us uphold transparency and accountability. This will be achieved through fact-based articles, letters or op-eds, as a more organized and public-facing version of the InfoHub. The InfoHub will continue to serve as an information hub for the current affair and will be maintained actively. RealPPS needs you to contribute to the document and website in any way possible, by commenting on InfoHub, or submitting your contribution to RealPPS via email.

Understandably, people have been and will be wondering who is behind the “InfoHub” and “RealPPS”. RealPPS is an extension of the InfoHub, which itself is a truly community-driven effort. As a Princeton resident, after witnessing the egregious and reckless behavior of the BOE, I’ve chosen to do my part as an administrator to uphold and protect the unique community that has attracted people to Princeton. I am sure certain people would not like the existence of RealPPS. It’s not a stretch to say that there is a price to pay for this fight, whether financially, emotionally or mentally. I do my best to minimize the price I, and us in a certain sense, pay to keep the RealPPS alive and keep the fight on.  After learning about what happened to http://www.pragmatic-equity.com, I’ve chosen not to disclose personal information publicly here. I am always available via email, and happy to meet with fellow parents to advance our cause if needed. Your understanding and support are greatly appreciated.

Lastly, I would like to request your assistance once more. Your input is invaluable to RealPPS and our cause. Please consider sharing any letters, research, feedback, or other resources that may aid us in our efforts. Any personal information you provide will be kept confidential, unless you choose to disclose it. What matters most to RealPPS is the quality of the content.

Thank you for your support!

— editor@realpps from Princeton, NJ April 2023

P.S.: Ways to contribute :

• Email: beyondsea88 AT gmail.com
• Via InfoHub
  • If you like to contribute anonymously via the InfoHub, you can visit the InfoHub in incognito mode by first opening a Private Window in your web browser (File -> New Private Window/New Incognito Window), then pasting the link in the address bar of the newly opened Private Window.