Essay; Public Relations

I was present at the public discussion on March 8, 2017, on the rising concern of school dropouts for young people as the crime rate continues to skyrocket, which took place in the Chaffey College, California, amphitheater. There were about 200 people there, including representatives from the neighborhood and several government agencies. Notably, the mayor and several college presidents were also there. Additionally present were students, parents' representatives, and the district's chief of police. My goal was to evaluate the procedures utilized to conduct the meeting and how they improved public involvement. Good public relations are essential in any democratic meeting since it ensures a smooth, coordinated and successful participation in any a forum.

Key Issues

The meeting was held to majorly address the issue of school dropout and substance abuse by students in the district. As a matter of fact, several schools that had been affected had lost a considerable number of students. In the meeting, both sides the community and government side were both represented. The meeting was organized by the school heads to resolve this matter and curb the problem at hand. The moderator, principal in Chaffey colleagued, pointed out that all the stakeholders, parents, colleague management, community and the government were responsible for the degradation of the academics in the district.



He proposed that if all the stakeholders work together with one common goal, they would resolve the issue. On the other hand, there rose opposition when a few parents and students put across the fact that it was the total failure of the authority and school's management.

Advocacy and academic success was a key issue discussed. The significance of education is far beyond measure. Drug and other substance abuse were the main cause of lowering the academic standards with both sides of debate agreeing to this. Consequently, empowering the youth academically by fighting for better and upgraded schools was debated as a major way of realizing student potential, changing them towards individual awareness and preparing them for future obligations. Substantially, the authorities in association with parents were appealed to act on the issue due to the overwhelming evidence of a number of students out of school in a period of six months, the crime reports in and out of school as well as the ongoing concern by the community, fellow students and head of colleges.

Government Roles and Values

One parent came out to put across the critical role that the government should play in addressing the issue. Carrying out thorough investigation and pooling of resources to curb the issue by the government authorities was adeptly pointed as a starting point for resolving the problem by the parents. The government role in ensuring security and especially to students was debated with the community suggesting that even some police agents worked together with drug traffickers. Cases had earlier been reported to the authority but no action had been taken whatsoever. The general feeling by the parents was that police department and college management was solely responsible for the insecurity and crime rates in the district areas. Delays in action against those reported of crime and cases involving drug trafficking should be dealt with prior to any other action advanced as per other recommendations.

Ethical values of social morality, honesty, responsiveness to emergency calls and cooperation with stakeholders, as per the mayors' comments, would be necessary for tackling insecurity and drug abuse.

Topics Learnt Addressed in the meeting

Organizational issues and management reflectively were revealed as the debate progressed to a resolution. Management approaches allow for identifying and remedying a problem. Problems facing the school and community as large were disclosed and discussed with both contributions from both sides. Each stakeholder had a reason to work and change the situation at hand for better. Decision making is very important especially in a consensus where all parties have to come to a mutual agreement. The meeting revealed that, though not easy to come to, a decision should be made with consultations from the necessary bodies and acted upon effectively to minimize the effects of time lags.

Conclusion

Public forums and meetings, especially those that arise in divergent views from the public, are commonly associated with chaos, hauling of words among debaters or those giving out their views and disruptions resulting to failure to obtain a mutual and beneficial agreement. Public opinions are also necessary when implementing matters concerning the public. Democracy gives a right to participate in such forum. The meeting considerably was a portrayal of a good public meeting. The views of each individual were recognized, discussed and objected appropriately. The response of action by the government representatives and integration of student opinions in evaluating the problem was positively apprehended. Parents, various college management as well as the student leaders agreed to come together for the common goal of resolving school dropout issue. Finally, the decision made at the end reflected each person present in the meeting.