“It would seem Ru Freeman is jumping to conclusions and making accusations about Blake Robbins and the Robbins family in the exact same manner she (not that it matters, but is Ru a she?) is complaining that the media is jumping to conclusions about LMSD.

This destroys any credibility the op-ed may well have in regards to some of its points.”

So this makes me a hater? Sure.

People have difference experiences with groups or individuals in their lives. Obviously you experience with LMSD has been positive. I have no problem with you keeping that experience positive.

My experience with government in Lower Merion has not been so positive. I started out in a polite manner with concerns, but when I kept up my polite questioning, I was treated in a pretty ugly manner.

This has caused me, like you, to become an activist. I also work on a state and national level. I am not associated with either political party or the Tea Parties as they are not the answer in my view.

I seek government accountability to the People. In my view, government on all levels, and whether it be the school district or the township, has lost site of who they work for and have lost respect for the rule of law.

This is not “hating”. This is seeking to hold government accountable - whether it be to African Americans in South Ardmore, to citizens who complain about police misconduct, or whomever.

In my view, too many people are either too busy with their lives to get involved, or they just blindly follow what government dictates.

My activism revolves around government following the rule of law and obeying the Constitution.

I know that upsets some people, and I know some will say that makes me a “hater”, but to some people the Constitution and the rule of law do matter.

I just happen to be one of those people.

Perhaps some (like me) were put off by the tone of your petition — suggesting that the signers of the petition are “saner and more measured” than people who were at least as concerned about protecting our children from unknown eyes with undisclosed access as we are about protecting our school district from potentially undeserved international ridicule.

Others are disturbed by the ongoing campaign by numerous petition signers waged on an affiliated Facebook group to destroy the reputation of the plaintiffs, which is irrelevant to the question of whether the actions of the school district were legal or appropriate.

There is a difference between being a partner and being a follower. A partner is unafraid to voice their objection when the enterprise is off course; a follower will pledge their allegiance and obedience. Our schools are better served by partners than followers. It is possible to be both loyal and critical.

PS - A petition is as much defined by its signers as its framers, and people who criticize your petition as being full of many of the same names who were behind efforts to preserve the status quo in Lower Merion (the Unified Slate and Citizens Advocating for Lower Merion (CALM)) are not incorrect. Perhaps you began your petition as a genuine grass-roots effort, but at this point, it looks, feels and smells more like astroturf.

Instead of fielding slates divided by party (Democrat v. Republican), the Unified Slate chose to run as a bi-partisan group. People could choose to vote for a particular “slate” or they could choose to vote by party or by individual. The objective was to reduce conflict and create an atmosphere of trust between a team of people working together rather than in opposition.