We invite open and civil discussion about the ideas and commentary posted on this blog. This blog is moderated and we reserve the right to remove comments that are inappropriate or off-topic. We also reserve the right to ban users, if necessary. Please don’t assume that those who manage Education Speaks agree with or otherwise endorse any particular comment just because we let it stand.

Here are some guidelines to follow to ensure that your voice is heard!

• Please use common courtesy You must demonstrate appropriate respect for other commenters. If you disagree with an opinion, feel free to challenge that opinion with a comment of your own. In fact, we hope you do so – that is the whole idea behind this blog.  We encourage spirited discussion, but we want Education Speaks to be focused on ideas, NOT personalities, so please, no personal attacks.
• We will not allow any comments that are obscene or contain profanity or that may be hateful or offensive on racial, ethnic, sexual or any other grounds; are harmful, vulgar or distasteful; or are defamatory, libelous, or invade another person’s privacy. Comments viewed as flaming, abusive or offensive will be removed.
• You may not represent that you are any other person, whether real or invented, or imply any connection with any person or organization with which you are not in fact associated.
• This is a moderated blog and as such, it may take some time for your comment to appear. Our moderators strive to read comments as often as possible during regular work hours (8 am to 5 pm, Monday- Friday.)  Please be patient.
• The use of multiple identities (aka “sock puppets“) on this blog is not permitted. Just be yourself.
• Stay on topic “Education Speaks” is devoted to a thoughtful discussion of the issues shaping public education in New York’s Greater Capital Region and beyond. Our goal is to advance a deeper understanding of education issues and to help move the conversation forward, toward new and creative solutions to the challenges facing our public schools. Comments that do not pertain to the subject matter at hand will be removed at the discretion of the Moderators.
• Respect copyrights Please respect the copyright of other users, organizations, Web sites, media, etc. Citing of published material: Referencing and/or linking to material published in other newspapers, blogs, and other sources is fine; so is limited use of excerpts. Cutting and pasting of entire articles or lengthy excerpts is not allowed. Education Speaks is not responsible for any comments that violate copyright laws and will not take any steps to verify that comments do not violate any copyright laws.
• No advertising, please Unauthorized advertising, business solicitation, promotional items, “spam” or junk mail will be removed.
• Email Privacy: Email addresses are required for commenting, and they are not published on the blog, nor shared. They may be used by the blog owner to privately contact the commenter.
• What To Do If Your Comment Does Not Appear: If you leave a comment on this blog and it does not appear in a reasonable time period, and you know that it does not violate these Comment Policies, contact us at edspeaks@gw.neric.org.

All comments within this blog are the responsibility of the commenter, not the blog owner, administrator, contributor, editor, or author. By submitting a comment on our blog, you agree that the comment content is your own, and to hold Education Speaks, and all subsidiaries and representatives harmless from any and all repercussions, damages, or liability.

Basically, we reserve the right to remove any comment at any time from this blog, without limitation, if it violates the above rules.