[Year 12 IT Apps] apology

Mark Kelly kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
Wed Aug 1 13:38:31 EST 2007


OK folks.  Moderator here.

Peter.  I assume you are a TSSP.  You must remember that this list is 
for meant for teachers of ITA.  It is meant to be a discussion forum for 
them, not for other people.

A teacher posted a query here to colleagues to get a second opinion.  I 
understand that someone might have felt questioned or undervalued as a 
result, but should that stop such an enquiry?

Sometimes such questions need to be asked, and sometimes a forum like 
this is necessary to get a response.  It has happened before here, and a 
wealth of opinion was gathered as a result.  More than once, principals 
have been criticised for decisions that were decidedly inappropriate. 
TSSPs are not immune to the process; neither am I.

Dog knows I have had my share of bitch-slapping in a far less civilised 
manner than the TTSP in question.

Could you recommend an alternative strategy for the original poster to 
have sought a solution to their problem?  Since this is a forum for ITA 
teachers, it would be considered a fairly discreet place to ask such a 
question.

Maybe Kevork will have to tighten the list's subscription qualifications 
if we can't ask important and genuine questions within our community.

We must all be careful of our colleagues' feelings, but we also have a 
professional responsibility to do our jobs as well as we can.

Consulting colleagues is a vital part of that job.  The TSSP whose nose 
was put out of joint obviously feels ill-used, but the poster also had a 
right to do their job and ask questions.

I feel the original posting was appropriate and warranted.  We are not 
trying to condemn or devalue TSSPs or anyone else here.

I vote that this thread ends here.  People with opinions can email the 
original poster directly.

Mark K
Moderator, ITA Mailing List.

Atalla, Peter P wrote:
> Over the past few days I have been reading comments on this list about
> the TSP at camberwell so lets just be clear about what we are talking
> about.  Here is the original message:
> 
> "We are also a govt school and have edumail. My TSSP says we can't have
> Outlook because we would all have to maintain our individual profiles
> which we would find too complicated to manage. Is he spinning me a line?
> What has edumail got to do with outlook?"
> 
> The ONLY, and I stress ONLY, part of this message which is more hurtful
> than offensive is the question "Is he spinning me a line?".  According
> to usingenglish.com "Spinning a line" means "When someone spins you a
> line, they are trying to deceive you by lying." (URL
> http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/spinning+a+line.html).  Who
> here on this list is really in a position to answer this with the amount
> of information that was given in the post?  
> 
> "You were not insulting him/her.  You were getting a "second opinion".
> I have to disagree with this.  The only time that this question would
> not be insulting is if the subject in question had no self respect or
> morals.
> 
> I am astounded that people feel that this is acceptable and that the TSP
> is being "touchy" given that "Your TSSP works for YOU" and this message
> went out to the TSP's peers and colleges.  Obviously there is not a
> world wide standard for professionalism but with the people that I have
> discussed this matter with it was not considered good form.  How would
> you feel if comments like this were made about you to your peers BY YOUR
> BOSS in a public forum?
> 
> TSPs don't know everything about computers and we are usually the first
> to admit that.  Lists such as this one are a great resource for ideas
> and exchange of technical information and TSPs encourage their use for
> this purpose.  It's when this media is used to pass judgment on other
> people's integrity and character, especially when the list members have
> never set eyes on the subject or have the full facts of the matter that
> you have to question just how productive the list really is.
> 
> There are many different network configurations throughout Victorian
> government schools and what works in one network may not necessarily be
> the best for another.  I encourage Robyn to post some more information
> about the network at camberwell so that she can get some feedback that
> is relevant to her site.
> 
> P.
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au
> [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Stephen Digby
> Sent: Tuesday, 31 July 2007 8:04 PM
> To: 'Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List'
> Subject: RE: [Year 12 IT Apps] apology
> 
> Touchy !
> Usually, when someone gets upset at a query, it is not because of the
> insult but rather that they may wish to
> curtail any future questioning....
> Your TSSP works for YOU.
> You were not insulting him/her.  You were getting a "second opinion".
> Perhaps that was perceived as an insult. 
> 
> In answer....
> Outlook is the preferred email client for all DEET users as it allows
> MUCH faster email reception, eaiser user
> management of email, much easier access and maintenance of contact
> lists; offline access to received emails
> (depending on your settings).
> 
> I setup all staff emails as plain pop3 connections so that all email
> content is retained on the local machine
> for offline reading and composition.
> Setting the option so that email is left on the EduMail server until
> deleted from the local machine allows
> emails to be accessible via browser as well.
> 
> Using the Exchange settings IS confusing as users often see duplicate
> folder sets for the remote copies as
> well as for the local copies.
> 
> Suggest that staff who have access to personal computers (e.g.
> notebooks) should always use a local mail
> client (even if it is simply Outlook express or an integrated browser
> client).
> 
> Only people who should stick to web based access are those with no
> personal computer and thus would not
> benefit from its ability to deliver a faster more efficient connection.
> 
> ====================================================
> Stephen Digby, Learning Technology Manager
> mailto: admin at cheltsec.vic.edu.au 
> Cheltenham Secondary College www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au
> Ph: 613 955 55 955  Fx: 9555 8617 Mb: 0431-701-028
> ====================================================
> Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever. Steven
> Wright 
> 
> 
> On Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:07:19 +1000, Robyn Dunn wrote
>> We are also a govt school and have edumail. My TSSP says we can't 
>> have Outlook because we would all have to maintain our individual 
>> profiles which we would find too complicated to manage. Is he 
>> spinning me a line? What has edumail got to do with outlook?
> 
> ====================================================
> Stephen Digby, Learning Technology Manager
> mailto: admin at cheltsec.vic.edu.au 
> Cheltenham Secondary College www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au
> Ph: 613 955 55 955  Fx: 9555 8617 Mb: 0431-701-028
> ====================================================
> I don't have to walk my dog anymore. I walked him all at once.   Steven
> Wright  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au
> [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Robyn Dunn
> Sent: Tuesday, 31 July 2007 6:10 PM
> To: itapps at edulists.com.au
> Subject: [Year 12 IT Apps] apology
> 
> My TSSP was very offended by my questions to this list last Frday. I
> would like to unreservedly apologise to
> anyone who I have offended by any comments or queries I have made to
> this list
> 
> 
> --
> Ms. Robyn W. Dunn
> L.T. Co-Ordinator
> Camberwell High School
> email: du at camhigh.vic.edu.au
> phone: 98360555
> 
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> 
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> Important - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education.
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> 


-- 
Mark Kelly
Manager - Information Systems
McKinnon Secondary College
McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia
Direct line: 8520 9085
School Phone +613 8520 9000
School Fax   +613 9578 9253
kel AT mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au

Webmaster - http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
IT Lecture notes: http://vceit.com
Moderator: ITA Mailing List

"My mother used to say to me,
'In this world you must be O so smart or O so pleasant.'
I recommend pleasant.  You may quote me."  Harvey, 1950.



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