To me the essence of democracy is free and open debate and this is exactly what is taking place at a new website, www.lischooltax.com. The examination of the running of our public schools is the main purpose of this website and especially interesting is the Manhasset section that seems to have 20 times more messages than other school districts.

There are both community activists and what appears to be school representatives (teachers also?) who both give and take. Some (which appears to include the Manhasset School Education Association) seem to dislike the idea of this website but democracy is sometimes messy when there are differences of opinion.

Debated topics include school taxes, the new teacher's contract, school administrative issues, etc. Unfortunately some messages stoop to personal attacks and one writer stated: "If it's that hard for you to live here, move! It really is that simple." It seems the writer was attacking senior citizens who are finding it harder and harder to pay their school taxes on a retirement income which is often fixed.

Click into this new web site and join the debate!

John Frangos