tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post1429573016912751427..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle School Board Meeting Next Wednesday - It Will RockMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25414924076786158892013-08-19T18:03:55.788-07:002013-08-19T18:03:55.788-07:00Not related, but really is. This demonstrates the...Not related, but really is. This demonstrates the attitudes our children face from professionals and idiots neighbors like the one in this letter:<br /><br /> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/19/karla-begley-autistic-letter-teen_n_3780378.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular" rel="nofollow">Family Of Boy With Autism Receives Shockingly Offensive Letter</a> mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86690150130291966292013-08-19T17:55:40.858-07:002013-08-19T17:55:40.858-07:00What Sped Parent said....What Sped Parent said....mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15282864188994986282013-08-19T13:23:25.216-07:002013-08-19T13:23:25.216-07:00The thing that is federally mandated and has a lot...The thing that is federally mandated and has a lot of support and research is PBIS. It is related to RTi (response to intervention). I know everyone supports this, but the devil is in the details on both of those efforts. Who wouldn't want "positive behavior intervention"? Who wouldn't want "response to intervention" for everyone who needs it? PBIS is a broad umbrella term for a federal mandate recognizing discipline as a school issue.<br /><br />Positive Discipline - well, not so much. It is not a nationwide effort, it is more of a product sold by a company. Of course it sounds good. But, the notion of teaching "Discipline" or doing "Discipline" is narrow. It's idea seems mostly to be rooted in the idea that negative reinforcement doesn't usually work. Fine, but not very deep. <br /><br />The understanding of the roots of the issue are somewhat different. Positive Discipline is about teaching kids. PBIS is about creating a culture and school climate. PBIS recognizes that sometimes the lack of respect that students exhibit is actually a reflection of the bad behavior they witness by adults, including school staff. Principals who are bullies, for example, often have bullying problems in their schools. PBIS grows out of the special education notion of determining the function of behavior.<br /><br />From Wikipedia:<br /><br />Positive Discipline (or PD) is a discipline model used by schools that focuses on the positive points of behaviour, based on the idea that there are no bad children, just good and bad behaviors. You can teach and reinforce the good behaviors while weaning the bad behaviors without hurting the child verbally or physically.<br /><br />PBIS intervention, like RTi, is based on assessment for behavior functionality.<br /><br />Sped ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66118262516217023342013-08-19T13:01:41.672-07:002013-08-19T13:01:41.672-07:00Why don't they look at what Walla Walla is doi...Why don't they look at what Walla Walla is doing?<br /><br />http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020531591_jdlcolumn11xml.html<br /><br />HPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43873998438376243102013-08-18T11:30:55.304-07:002013-08-18T11:30:55.304-07:00sped Parent,
I believe I referenced PBIS. Positi...sped Parent,<br /><br />I believe I referenced PBIS. Positive Discipline. WT heck is that? Sounds like S&M. No thanks!mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-13728984613921257432013-08-17T15:26:39.835-07:002013-08-17T15:26:39.835-07:00Actually Mirmac, the nationally recognized approa...Actually Mirmac, the nationally recognized approach to improving school climate and behavior is PBIS - positive behavior interventions and support. NOT "Positive Discipline" - which some Johnny-come-lately "how to" self-help product some schools in the district are using... complete with a bunch of consultants and classes. EG. it features "intrinsic motivators" (which often don't work). Do teachers work without a paycheck? Why do we expect kids to be "internally motivated" all the time? Why not use the nationally recognized PBIS? That is what is really researched based, and that is what has been promised for a long time... even if a few schools have been sold this other thing.<br /><br />Yes it's good that the ed-reformers have clued into disciplinary issues, but they need to clue into the solutions too.<br /><br />-sped ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77153427124377589342013-08-17T14:43:26.064-07:002013-08-17T14:43:26.064-07:00Absolutely GMG. SEAAC has been hearing about PBIS...Absolutely GMG. SEAAC has been hearing about PBIS in SPS since ex-Ex Dir of SpEd Marni Campbell used to make stuff up. Parents want to see it put to use, not used as a prop at board meetings.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30631670898379443302013-08-17T11:15:40.644-07:002013-08-17T11:15:40.644-07:00Here is a summary of positive discipline used in s...Here is a summary of positive discipline used in schools:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.appsonline.org/resources/apps_positive_discipline.pdf" rel="nofollow">Classroom Management with the Positive discipline approach</a><br /><br />GMGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-56204804201306804222013-08-17T11:12:19.663-07:002013-08-17T11:12:19.663-07:00Miramac -
" We are doing one last push to a...Miramac - <br /><br />" We are doing one last push to ask SPS to include positive discipline practices in the teacher contract AND to actually implement Article II- "Partnership to Close the Achievement Gap"<br /><br />Positive discipline is good, in fact it is interesting to see it mentioned as it is such an enlightened practice. I haven't seen a lot if it in use at SPS though and I imagine that there has been little training in this regard. Am I misunderstanding the intention here in that quotation? Is this not to improve discipline practices? <br /><br />GMGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31463843448380396652013-08-16T19:26:39.783-07:002013-08-16T19:26:39.783-07:00"At a meeting two weeks ago at Rainier Vista ..."At a meeting two weeks ago at Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club and sponsored by the OSC, Superintendent Banda said that he had invited the ACLU to help them with their disproportionate disclipline issue. I have written Banda an email asking for more information on that." <br /><br />And when asked what concrete things would be in place come Sept 4th 2013to curtail discipline disproportionalities, he said he would be forming a task force and that it would take about 3 years. <br /><br />Really out of touch. <br /><br />Ezekial, CD<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18802788044985254412013-08-16T17:50:29.350-07:002013-08-16T17:50:29.350-07:00Thanks for your comment, E.A. I find such cringe-...Thanks for your comment, E.A. I find such cringe-worthy exploitation to be one of the lowest forms of deceit. Maybe a good T-Shirt would be aimed at those very kids, and say: "If only you knew..." Somebody paid for those shirts and rides, so again, follow the money. It literally sickens me to see such easy prey for neo-liberals used as pawns. Why not just dress them up as decoy ducks? That's what they're there for, and many folks just eat it up like they're the real thing. Either way, it's the fig leaf of legitimacy that deflects legitimate criticisms as racist, insensitive, uncaring, etc., etc., and that's the most important thing to corporate America's profit-seekers and their henchmen. WSDWGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9434049145648055492013-08-16T13:16:04.684-07:002013-08-16T13:16:04.684-07:00GMG, I would write:
- listen to ALL parents, not ...GMG, I would write:<br /><br />- listen to ALL parents, not just OSC<br />- OSC does NOT represent me<br /><br />Thanks for asking. Ditto on the shirt Mary<br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-39305958921708709862013-08-16T11:46:27.789-07:002013-08-16T11:46:27.789-07:00Mary, where can I get one of those t-shirts!Mary, where can I get one of those t-shirts!mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57575941857513468562013-08-16T11:40:21.434-07:002013-08-16T11:40:21.434-07:00RE Disproportionate Discipline:
The federal Depart...RE Disproportionate Discipline:<br />The federal Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights investigation of disproportionate discipline against blacks was part of a federal mandate. It was what is called a "Proactive Investigation." It was not triggered by any complaints here nor was it triggered by any particular knowledge of statistics. The DOE knows it will find disproportionate discipline in its investigation which will take three years or so, and at some point the district will enter into a voluntary resolution plan. <br /><br />At a meeting two weeks ago at Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club and sponsored by the OSC, Superintendent Banda said that he had invited the ACLU to help them with their disproportionate disclipline issue. I have written Banda an email asking for more information on that. <br /><br />What the OSC and other groups should be agitating for, rather than insinuating themselves into the bargaining process, is for Superintendent Banda to agree to a voluntary agreement with the DOE sooner rather than later. He's going to have to do it at some point, and as a way of improving the educational outcomes of black, native american, special education, ELL, students in poverty and foster students, he should get to work right now. Period. That is what I am going to testify about at that meeting. <br /><br />I plan on wearing a "Not with OSC" t-shirt. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542105149501352547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61067829209831596102013-08-16T11:21:07.600-07:002013-08-16T11:21:07.600-07:00Well, I would sign up to testify and call their ma...Well, I would sign up to testify and call their manipulation out. But that's just me.<br /><br />Or, my sign would say "Negotiate fairly with students and teachers in mind" or "Don't be wimps!" or something like that.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49053520744932201622013-08-16T11:07:41.048-07:002013-08-16T11:07:41.048-07:00So, if you don't want to be associated with th...So, if you don't want to be associated with the Our Schools and LEV crowd, what should you wear or what signs should you carry?<br /><br />GMGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20587562923509384962013-08-16T10:22:09.029-07:002013-08-16T10:22:09.029-07:00As we learned from this Alliance/OSC report on the...As we learned from this Alliance/OSC report on <i>their</i> Strategic Plan (with SPS just a piece of the puzzle)...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/141199577/BMG-Report-All4Ed-SPS-StratPlan-Grant52309-11-2-12" rel="nofollow">Pg 12 - In the Community Engagement (CE) work, the Alliance had the opportunity and the challenge to build a program from scratch <i>(comment: that would by OSC)</i>. The challenges included:<br /> <br />•Clarity of purpose:<br /> <br />It was difficult at times to determine exactly what the purpose was for this work and to meaningfully communicate to a variety of diverse communities. Over time we learned that outreach was much stronger when it was <b>issue driven</b>; but to be successful the foundational relationships had to already be in place.</a><br /><br />We now know the Feds embarked on its review of SPS disproportionality of discipline at the request of outside parties. Now we hear this:<br /><br /><i>"The League of Education Voters has been working to end disproportionality in school discipline. One of the avenues we have tried to influence is the teacher contract. While district policies can change every year, once a teacher contract is negotiated it's usually firmly rooted in place for 2-3+ years. <b>We are doing one last push to ask SPS to include positive discipline practices in the teacher contract AND to actually implement Article II- "Partnership to Close the Achievement Gap."</b> The teacher's union and the school district are finalizing contract negotiations this month.<br /><br />We are trying to get as many youth, parents, and community leaders to the August 21st Seattle School Board meeting." </i><br /><br />These folks' shameless, opportunistic misuse of a serious issue to push their union-busting, ed reform crap really makes me mad!mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65705762251987928402013-08-16T09:58:14.854-07:002013-08-16T09:58:14.854-07:00Yeah, I remember the Our Schools group during the ...Yeah, I remember the Our Schools group during the last contract. They dressed up kids in matching <br />t-shirts and basically used them as window dressing for their corporate message.<br /><br />I saw a few former students (the good part) in those t-shirts. I was so confused--"What are you doing here?" I asked. They said that some people wanted them to come to the meeting, they got a ride, so here they were. <br /><br />These were not white kids, in case you didn't already figure that out.<br /><br />It was disgraceful.<br /><br />--enough alreadyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com