Civility Project

Working to Increase Civility and Improve School Governance.

Keeping things civil in local government has grown difficult in today’s fractious political environment. From contentious school board meetings to personal attacks on social media, civility is being challenged.  For that reason, the New Jersey School Boards Association identified promoting civility in school board governance as a top priority.

Numerous polls, published by various organizations such as the Pew Research Center, American Bar Association and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, have found that the majority of Americans feel that the rhetoric of public discourse has deteriorated in recent years. The polls also show that Americans want it to improve. This confirms what most of us have been hearing and experiencing anecdotally. The lack of civility in public discourse is not just at the federal level, but is being felt at all levels of government, including local school boards.

This increased incivility comes at a cost to our communities and our students. It reduces citizens’ trust in their elected officials. It dissuades people from getting involved and serving on a local school board. It can also make the local board less effective as a governing body.

At the core of NJSBA’s work is advancing public education and promoting the achievement of all students through effective governance. While increasing civility is a task that NJSBA has helped districts achieve for many years through training programs, there is a need to refocus on and reinforce civility now more than ever. Civility cannot be taken for granted; it needs to be nurtured.

To meet this demand, NJSBA has partnered with the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University to provide additional resources to help our local boards develop techniques for having more fruitful public discourse.

This webpage is designed to provide information and resources to help your board have more respectful and effective meetings.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments on this initiative, please get in touch with us at civility@njsba.org.

Contact Us

Send Email

What is Civility?

Civility can mean different things to different people, so as NJSBA launches its “Civility Starts with Us” initiative, it helps to begin with a shared understanding of what the word really represents.

The term itself comes from the Latin civilis, referring to the conduct, character and responsibilities expected of a citizen. For the ancient Greeks and Romans, civility wasn’t just a nicety. It was the foundation of democratic life. The founding fathers of the United States held a similar belief. They understood that democracy depends on open discussion, tolerance for differing viewpoints and the ability to debate without tearing a nation apart.

It’s just as important to be clear about what civility is not. It isn’t simply being polite. It isn’t about suppressing free speech or avoiding disagreement. It doesn’t mean giving in, and it certainly isn’t something we can assume will take care of itself.

Civility in public discourse is about disagreeing with respect. It’s listening to understand, not just to reply. It’s acknowledging differences, seeking common ground and looking for opportunities to collaborate or compromise. It’s choosing to be courteous even when conversations become difficult.

Maintaining civility during tense political moments is challenging, but for public servants, it’s essential. It shapes how we serve, how we communicate and ultimately how we strengthen our communities.

Featured Video

Conversations on Civility

New Jersey School Boards Association’s podcast on “Civility and the Connection to Effective School Governance” features Executive Director/CEO Dr. Timothy Purnell in conversation with Ray Pinney, chief membership engagement officer, about how civility directly affects the ability of boards of education to govern effectively.