A word or two of local support

Have you heard the one about the bartender's policy?

It's pretty simple. It goes something like this.

Rule No. 1: The Bartender is always right.

Rule No. 2: In the rare instance that the Bartender is wrong, refer to Rule No. 1.

Thank God most bars are operated from within the private sector. (The Ohio Statehouse tavern notwithstanding, I suppose.)

The bartender policy is very similar to the old "boss is always right" policy. No one has to like it, but it is what it is. When the person who foots the bill makes his/her decision, the rank-and-file – more often than not – have to live with it.

From what I gather this week, there was a somewhat contentious and also somewhat outdated matter between employer and employee at a local school district. That happens.

On Thursday morning, a number of the usual critics demanded that Highland County's only locally owned newspaper weigh in on the situation. One critic went so far as to demand a story or she would "contact our corporate office."

We've had that before, of course. And Brandy Chandler tells the story better than I do.

Our home office, just for the record, is in Hillsboro. It is not in Philadelphia. Our editorial decisions are made close to home, as well. We do not consult with Philadelphia (or Wilmington, for that matter).

After a series of online comments about free speech and the First Amendment and how we were supposedly denying both, I felt amused enough to post the following statement:

"It is not the policy of The Highland County Press to post stories from former Brown Publishing newspapers on our Facebook page. Nor do we post comments directed to such stories. If Facebook users want to comment on stories from such publications, they may contact those publications.

"As to claims of alleged free speech violations, such readers may want to familiarize themselves with the First Amendment.

"The amendment prohibits government from making laws to restrict freedom of speech.

"It does not force the press to publish any and all comments. In fact, it guarantees that the freedom of the press – to publish or not publish – shall not be infringed.

"When comments to The HCP Facebook page violate our policy, they will be deleted."

As one of my favorite writers, P.J. O'Rourke, likes to say: I'm not a liberal, therefore, I'm not an expert on things I know nothing about."

After a few calls and emails this week about the most recent topic of the day, I admitted my ignorance of the situation. But I also shared this: Since this so-called story – which came about last winter, but surfaced this week – The Highland County Press has not had a single communication from any alleged victims or family members of alleged victims.

After listening to a few online concerns, it occurred to me that someone was given an opportunity toward gainful employment and/or academic advancement and did not make very much of said opportunity.

That's not my problem.

More often than not, personnel issues are not my concern. There are exceptions, of course. Had the employee in question contacted me when all of this occurred, the employee would have had my attention for a reasonable meeting. But that did not happen.

Now, months after the fact, for those supporters of this former local school appointee to chastise (chastise, he says) this newspaper and make threats to the CC LLC Board of Trustees, well, it's too little, too late.

Without getting into any particulars, I do know this: The local school superintendent has served local students, their families, and the overall community with honor and integrity for the past quarter-century. What more do you expect?

The community would be wise to remember this.

I realize my opinion may not be of any comfort to either party. But that's not the intent. What I would suggest, with all due respect, is for everyone familiar with this situation to understand the general concept of the employer-employee relationship. If the employee does not bring sufficient return on investment, what's the most likely course of action for the employer?

(Those of us in the private sector already know the answer.)

Again, I don't pretend to know what all the current uproar is about. But unless I have factual information to the contrary, I'll maintain my support for the local school superintendent who has served local students, their families, and the overall community with honor and integrity for the past quarter-century.

I do know that much. Because I have witnessed it, firsthand, for the last 22 years.

Rory Ryan is the publisher of The Highland County Press.