THREE PEOPLE A CAT AND A TYPEWRITER ? – THAT’S JUST ILLOGICAL…

THE TRUTH DELIVERED FROM ‘DATA DRIVEN INSIGHTS’ STRIKES AGAIN !

We spoke recently about the value of ‘data driven insights’ in identifying and solving problems. So here’s an interesting little bit of “data” about the continuing level of interest in the community in the current governance reform debate.

Almost 2 years on from the PMSA delivering us into disaster, you would have thought (and no doubt the PMSA desperately hopes) that community interest and passion around this topic would be waning? Well if you thought that, then you’re VERY WRONG.

Beyond PMSA has conducted some analysis of its own, we have tracked media outlets coverage, Facebook performance and trends as well as the Beyond PMSA Web traffic reports. The data shows that there is still MASSIVE community interest behind Beyond PMSA and its objectives to bring about constructive and sustainable reform. How do we know this? Well apart from the increase (not decrease) in private messaging and discussions we are having on a very regular basis with multiple members of all school communities, the DATA has spoken to us.

It shows significant traffic on our Facebook page (and through that, via our webpage). Not hundreds, but thousands of you are clearly VERY interested in understanding just how LITTLE the PMSA and the Churches are listening to your calls for proper reform. The numbers speak for themselves.

DIALLING IT UP TO ELEVEN ?

Yes, like any platform, Facebook traffic goes up and down depending upon the topic under discussion and user activity. But Beyond PMSA’s “reach” (and your interest) peaks at HUGE levels when important issues and events occur.

What does this show? Well apart from showing the continued strong relevance of Beyond PMSA as a community mouthpiece it clearly demonstrates that community interest can be ‘DIALLED UP TO ELEVEN’ very quickly when there is SILENCE, DEAFNESS and INACTION by the PMSA.

And as the silence, deafness and inaction continues, we promise you that we will do exactly that – by continuing to speak the truth and advocate for constructive change that will genuinely heal our community and ensure a successful and sustainable future for each PMSA School.

A FLAWED UNDERSTANDING IS JUST WISHFUL THINKING

You may recall from our analysis of the PMSA’s Submission on our Letters Patent Application recently that (in trying unsuccessfully to dismantle your status and significance as concerned “stakeholders”) the PMSA tried to use its magical powers of statistical analysis to review the “Likes” and “Comments” on the Beyond PMSA Facebook page as a measure of the representative status of Beyond PMSA. Their “scientific” conclusion based on that analysis was that Beyond PMSA was just three people, a cat and a typewriter. (Knowing the full extent of our organisational architecture, holding back laughter is hard at this point)...

In our Submission in Response we pointed out that the authors of the PMSA’s Submission were not statisticians. Clearly. In attempting to rely on that type of ‘data set’ they exposed a material lack of understanding of how social media works and how social media traffic and “reach” is analysed. We have always said that, (just like physical gatherings of people) “Likes” and “Comments” on Facebook Posts are a “visible” form of protest. Some people feel comfortable doing so, many many others do not and have established habits around the way in which they engage on the platform. Just like McDonalds, some people are “heavy users” and some are not. But that does not determine broader levels interest or support on areas of their platform. Far from it.

JUST LIKE THE PM’S ‘QUIET AUSTRALIANS’, THE ‘QUIET BEYOND PMSA SUPPORTERS’ HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE

We have always said that a MASSIVE and silent majority of supporters is fully behind Beyond PMSA and is aligned with our objectives. As Scott Morrison termed his voters on the weekend, they are like the “Quiet Australians”. And like those Quiet Australians (our “Quiet Beyond PMSA Supporters”) have always been there to deliver a strong voice when required. That’s why Bill Shorten was picking up Rice Bubbles from the supermarket the other day instead of hosting cocktail parties in The Lodge.

AN ‘INCONVENIENT TRUTH’ MEANS THAT THERE IS NO SANCTUARY FOR THE PMSA IN THE ‘DUE DILIGENCE’ DEFENCE

It is important for both sides to be objectively reasonable when giving responses to questions about the “status” of this ongoing debate, because the whole situation is not “all fine”. It is NOT settled. There is no majority “consensus” behind the current reform trajectory. The PMSA and its 203 followers on the PMSA Facebook Page (yes, they had a recruitment drive over the last month and picked up an extra 4 people!!) might well consider this when choosing to give responses to interview questions with new staff hires or to questions from prospective parents or donors.

You will all recall that the PMSA declared to us all in November 2017 that its detractors and critics were just a “nebulous few”. Well, they are still “spreading the word” through the schools and the community in the hope that continuing that charade will make everything ok again. Beyond PMSA is an inconvenient truth for them. Their counter-position is falling FLAT and making things worse. No one believes it.

The many newbies who have joined the leadership teams within the Schools and at PMSA headquarters were no doubt sold this “pup” when they were enticed on board. How unfortunate for them to now be finding out that everything WASN’T as they were lead to believe. Imagine having to sing from the PMSA song sheet and knowing that everyone listening to the song can see through the lack of emotion in the delivery – they can see that the singers don’t “feel it”.

And make no mistake that people making important decisions about joining the PMSA Schools community NEED to be aware and informed about that. If the PMSA are peddling a story that isn’t correct and unsuspecting parents and donors are making important investment decisions based upon those assurances, then what is the consequence for the people making those investments – indeed, what is the consequence for the Schools and the PMSA itself?

Think long and hard about that one – because we don’t think the PMSA has, and if they haven’t, then arguing that those poor unsuspecting people had an opportunity to undertake “due diligence” before making an important commitment for their child (and their cheque book) won’t be a defence for them. Why? Well, because its not the “existence” of a public debate that creates that risk for the PMSA or the Schools. What creates the risk is the very important decisions that the PMSA makes every time it chooses to provide a representation concerning its current lack of alignment with the broader community and its current capacities as a governing body to deliver what each School needs (both financially and strategically).

COMMUNITY SPIRIT IS SOMETHING TO CHERISH

We all feel for the wonderful new Somerville House Principal who saw community anger in full flight at a recent P&F meeting. The anger clearly wasn’t directed at her. She is doing a great job. But was she told, when she was offered the role, that it was just three people, a cat and a typewriter behind all of the unrest? Was she given the full picture of what the PMSA did to cause the problems in the first place? Even now, many in the community only know parts of the full story.

She must have formed a dramatically different view after the P&F meeting ended. Yet at the same time, we hope that she clearly understood that the depth of emotion and conviction being displayed at that meeting could just as easily have been in support for her (if she had been in the same position as Flo Kearney). Despite the tense nature of the meeting, we truly hope that it gave her a “nice” feeling to know that the Somerville House community (indeed all PMSA Schools communities) love their school and will protect staff to the hilt when they are affected by wrongdoing.

So we’re actually all behind you too Kim, (and Paul and Kathy and Maria)! – Even if you don’t feel it yet (or if you’ve been fed another line and therefore don’t fully understand or agree with the strong and uncompromising stance that Beyond PMSA is taking), know that you’re one of the community - and that we all look after our own ! After all, that’s what being a “community” is all about. That’s what the PMSA still don’t get.

LIE BACK AND THINK OF ENGLAND ?

And so, is it any wonder that when the PMSA continues to tell us all to “lie back and think of England”, they’re ruffling more than just a couple of “nebulous” feathers?

Perhaps Toowong Towers might like to ponder the significant support base of Beyond PMSA when next they meet with staff, future parents or donors? (We expect that they will just engineer some strange “logic” to explain them away as irrelevant at the next PMSA Board meeting).

Yes, we might have to listen to the continuing nonsense coming from the PMSA on the issue of where TRUE community support resides, …for the moment, but make no mistake – the community NEVER closed its eyes to what happened in 2017 and 2018, and it never will.

Thank you for you ongoing support. Your continuing Facebook traffic and active interest speaks louder than anything that the PMSA can serve up in response.

We are not going away.

Beyond PMSA