Online Communities in the News

There's quite the buzz in the media these days about online communities. On the cover of the August 27 edition of Newsweek is a photo of Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg. The thrust of the article is that Facebook, begun as an online community four years ago for college students, is now growing to include all ages— more than half of its 35 million users are people other than students. The article begins with the description of a frustrated Facebook member who was distraught when the site was down for four hours and she couldn't get on to see what new photos had been posted or connect with her friends. That person was not a college student but a 40-year-old working mother.

I was intrigued when I read that first paragraph in Newsweek because working moms (and dads, too, as well as parents at home) are just the people we hope will join the GreatSchools Community. There is one difference, however. While Facebook users include a range of ages, interests and friend networks, parents who come to the GreatSchools Community will have an immediate bond with each other and a common focus — we all want our kids to succeed in school and get a great education, and the GreatSchools Community is a place to meet other parents with that same desire.

Zuckerberg, as quoted in the Newsweek article, says Facebook is "not a social networking site but a ‘utility,' a tool to facilitate the information flow between users and their compatriots, family members and professional connections." We couldn't have said it better to describe how we envision the GreatSchools Community.

Parenting and supporting our kids as they go through school can be a tough job. How great it will be to have a place where it's easy to ask for advice and find solutions, from complicated issues like dealing with a problem teacher or helping a child learn to read, to the simpler challenge of figuring out something new to pack in a school lunch. You'll know that at any time of day or night there will be others out there with similar experiences. Think of it as hanging out in the virtual schoolyard, talking to other moms and dads, and you don't need to leave the comfort of home to do it!

Comments

[Doug Keehn]

My daughter attends Holy Trinity and she is starting seventh grade. We live in Diana Shores and would like to know if there are any events at Edgewood that she may be able to get involved in to meet kids that live near by or in Diana Shores.

Doug Keehn

[Katherine]

I'm really glad you brought up the "utility" idea, Lisa! That's exactly what community is about.

It may sound grand and lofty, but think about it: the GreatSchools Community is simply taking what we already do offline with neighbors and friends and bringing it online, to this wonderful digital world where great conversations can happen over the course of an afternoon or two, pausing for naps or a critical meeting. And when it's on a national level, there's more than just a couple sets of ears (and eyes!) to listen to what's on our minds! Now, if only we could find a way to get it to serve non-stop cups of coffee as well...

[E.Goldberg]

I need help in figuring out how to get my son out of the school our address is assigned to and into one I find much better for him. Is there anyway to get him into another school even though our address assigns us to one in particular? He was bullied often last year and most the kids don't speak fluent English hindering his learning. Your suggestions and comments are appreciated.