Remember When Facebook Was for Connecting?

By Dr. Shiloh Vincent, Superintendent, McPherson Public Schools

Remember when Facebook was a place to share a photo of your kid's first bicycle ride, invite someone to a class reunion, or quietly catch up with someone you hadn't seen since high school? Somewhere along the way, a corner of our online world changed. Sadly, that shift isn't isolated to the internet. It has found its way into our lives, our schools, and our community.

Recently, I had the honor of attending a legislative luncheon in Salina, a gathering that has run for 34 years. Lawmakers, school leaders, and community members discussed what has become a universal concern: the intrusion of social media hostility into our everyday relationships. The consensus was striking. While we're grateful for the kindness in our communities, we are also witnessing a growing lack of decorum. We all see it.

Here in McPherson, we are not exempt from this trend. In fact, we're facing it. Educators in our district have experienced harassment so extreme it has required filing protection-from-stalking orders. Some of our staff are experiencing burnout because of the relentless scrutiny, negativity, and online attacks. They ask themselves, "Is this how my community treats me? Is this how we treat each other?"

This is not about political disagreement or tough feedback. It's about the kind of commentary that is anonymous, persistent, and dehumanizing, and would never happen face to face in our grocery store, at a ball game, or in line at the coffee shop. The same person who offers a friendly wave in the stands may type something online they would never say aloud. That "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" version of ourselves is not the story we want McPherson to tell.

And let me say this clearly: I am extremely proud to serve as the superintendent of McPherson Public Schools. That pride comes from the people, the families, the students, the community, and the staff who are truly second to none. We have so many things to celebrate, and we should spend our time lifting those things up instead of tearing one another down.

Our district has earned exceptional honors. We've been named a Capturing Kids' Hearts National Showcase Schools® District for 2024-25, and five of our buildings individually hold the National Showcase Schools designation. Our high school is a Performing Arts School of Excellence and a Debate and Forensics powerhouse with numerous state championships in recent years. Every single year, our students bring home a state title in at least one extracurricular field. These achievements don't happen by accident. They happen because this community supports its kids and because our staff and families pour themselves into the work.

But we must also face the cost of letting the negative side of social media take over our story. When our educators feel unsafe or under siege, when potential staff ask, "What's your community like? How do they treat each other?" and when the comments section becomes a battleground instead of a gathering place, we pay a price. Morale drops. Recruitment and retention suffer. And the message we send to students is this: you're only as valued as the number of likes or posts. That's not who we are.

So here's the invitation: Let's remember the original spirit of connection, both online and in person. When you log in tomorrow, pause and ask, "Would I say this in person?" When you walk down Main Street, give the nod. When you're scrolling, give the comment that builds instead of bruises. Reach out. Ask questions. Show grace. And sometime this week, I encourage you to do something simple but meaningful: talk with a neighbor, a co-worker, or a friend about what you appreciate about McPherson. Say it out loud. Name what's good. Celebrate who we are. Positivity spreads just as fast as criticism when we are intentional about sharing it.

McPherson is still the heart of America. We are the place where you wave at strangers, fill the bleachers on Friday nights, volunteer in classrooms, and cheer for each other's successes. The challenge ahead is simple, though not easy. Let's bring that same spirit into the digital spaces where our words travel faster, last longer, and hit deeper.

We are all writing the story of McPherson – at the grocery store, at the school board meeting, in the classroom, and yes, even on Facebook. Let's make it a story we're proud to sign our names to, because our community and our people deserve nothing less.