Our school has one and so does the PTO. I know it sounds crazy but the point of it is that if you have a board member who is badmouthing the PTO or the school all over town, it cripples the ability of the PTO to accomplish anything. And as far as volunteers? They will RUN when they hear someone badmouthing the PTO. Who wants to be a part of that? You're on the board and you're talking about your fellow board members in a derogatory manner? If you talk about everyone else to me, you're talking about me to everyone else. It has worked for our group. We have a bunch of women who view the PTO as a business (it is a non-profit). We feel free to discuss anything in our board meetings and we know what we talk about won't leave the room until a decision is made. That level of trust has allowed our board to come up with some really incredible fundraisers. We did have an issue with someone who was badmouthing the school and the PTO at a public event. When we explained to her that she could lose her position because of it, she stopped. Our by laws also state that if you make negative comments about the PTO, you may be asked to leave. As far as the school's policy, it comes from our county. Basically, it prevents you from gossiping about the kids. If a child with special needs is having a rough day, his/her privacy needs to be protected. If a second grader has a bathroom accident, that's not for you to discuss at the mall. It's those kind of things. Now, if you are complaining to your spouse, that's not what we're talking about.

PLEASE COME VOLUNTEER AT MY SCHOOL! We do criminal background checks, but feel free to have your own opinion about things and to discuss your opinions! In fact - we encourage not only free speech, but free thinking at our school.

O.K. - I'll be serious now! I wouldn't sign that thing. I've lost a job over refusing to sign non-compete/confidentiality agreements, and I made a whole lot of money there, too! This is a public school, right? I am not a lawyer - but I'd be willing to bet that one of your parent group members is, or is married to one, or has a sibling who is one that would be willing to look at this thing for you. If it's not worth the paper it's printed on - i.e. cannot be upheld - then go ahead and sign it just to keep peace with the principal who is, in fact, in charge of the school. Then go about business as usual. Otherwise - **&^*(&)& no!

I just thought of something here, EVERY School District has something like an Accountablity Committee, this is just the kind of issue they need to look at. This way (hopefully) the School Board member won't so so alone or look like to be on a "witch hunt". He could work with the Committee.

I am on the Acct. Comm. at our school and this is the kind of issues we look into. Right now we have someone in Admin that is trying to bann Harry Potter and anyother book with magic, witchcraft, wizards....she wants "Wizard of Oz", "Snow White" etc...crazy stuff!!! But this is the kind of stuff we look into.

The two statements in dispute are
1. refrain from sharing any personal opinions regarding students, staff or situations observed while volunteering.
2.Avoid discussions within or outside school regarding classroom practices, individual students, or personnel.

there are several other statements, all relating to students only and we agree totally with student confidentiality.

I have read many other volunteer agreements on the internet and there are clauses about gossip but they are much more detailed and don't cover such a broad free speech infringement. We have contacted news stations, press and the ACLU but no response yet. I will keep you posted.

I would not sign that agreement. I agree not to talk about the staff in front of the students, but Parents have every right to discuss what they have seen or gone though with a teacher. I hope all your Parents stand up against this for their own rights. I'm glad our principal is not like this.

WOW, puter gets a virus and I miss all sorts of stuff!! Doesn't it also work against some stuff in NCLB? Anyway, my puter is about to shut down but I'll be back, a lot to say about this one.