tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post3196792543020568671..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Discussion; How Far Should Santuary Go in SPS?Melissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87557784933241144392017-05-13T16:37:16.293-07:002017-05-13T16:37:16.293-07:00PO, Paranoid much?
WTAFPO, Paranoid much?<br /><br />WTAFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1220014676477857472017-05-12T12:46:43.478-07:002017-05-12T12:46:43.478-07:00far-fetched...how so?
POfar-fetched...how so?<br /><br />POAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72491761611228170772017-05-12T12:21:09.631-07:002017-05-12T12:21:09.631-07:00PO, that is so far-fetched, it's just not beli...PO, that is so far-fetched, it's just not believable. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82820802035171391402017-05-12T11:37:06.477-07:002017-05-12T11:37:06.477-07:00Most of these type of actions are to stir up suppo...Most of these type of actions are to stir up support against TRUMP in 2020. Many current high schools students will be voting in 2020 and the opposition's hope is the students will think back and remember when TRUMP ruined their trip. <br /><br />You can see many of these programing tactics taking place across the US. Somewhere in the Kent's SD decision is a operative working against TRUMP and they don't care who gets hurt along the way. This appears to have BAMN's finger prints all over it.<br /><br />POAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-21742479622972168362017-05-12T11:27:56.974-07:002017-05-12T11:27:56.974-07:00We should have plenty as to afford to help all chi...We should have plenty as to afford to help all children. I think issues arise when there needs to be accommodations outside of our customary offerings. Right or wrong it can viewed as disruptive. It's a slippery slope.<br /><br />PO Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-64970273334246717212017-05-12T11:13:11.253-07:002017-05-12T11:13:11.253-07:00Melissa,
I agree, "all children" within...Melissa,<br /><br />I agree, "all children" within the state are to be educated. That's not just Washington State says, that's what the U.S. Supreme Court said 35 years ago.<br /><br />The question is, why if that's been the law of the land for 35 years, does Kent need to suddenly ban international trips midway through the school year after plans have been made and money raised?<br /><br />If these trips were part of a core public school curriculum, clearly there would be an issue, but they are not. If these trips were illegal, you would think someone would have sued sometime during the last 35 years since the Supreme Court ruled, but they have not.<br /><br />This was just as much an issue when Obama was president, and Clinton was President, as it is now that Trump is president. Trump may have highlighted the issue of unauthorized immigration, but he has done nothing to change the fact that a student without a U.S. passport can't get on an airplane for a school trip to Japan and then expect to return to the U.S. Nothing has changed.<br /><br />The fact that Kent would change this midyear seems hard to justify.<br /><br /><br />NE Parentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54623639278114028412017-05-12T09:20:46.997-07:002017-05-12T09:20:46.997-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91027807530004472672017-05-11T20:21:52.613-07:002017-05-11T20:21:52.613-07:00The WA state constitution - beyond making public e...The WA state constitution - beyond making public education the "paramount duty" to "amply supply" also says ALL children within the borders of the state are to be educated. Not citizens, but all children. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1012804666068111072017-05-11T16:59:48.746-07:002017-05-11T16:59:48.746-07:00"The perimeters of the strike zone enforcemen..."The perimeters of the strike zone enforcement are being changed in the eighth inning. In the meantime, children have been born and are currently in our schools."<br /><br />Actually, if the children were born in the U.S., then they are U.S. citizens and eligible for a U.S. passport. This is an issue with children born outside the U.S. that are not authorized to be in the U.S.<br /><br />The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 in Plyler v. Doe in 1982 that unauthorized students have a right to attend school in the U.S. So I would assume that if an international trip were a required or integral part of a public K-12 curriculum, the district could potentially be sued. But that ruling was 35 years ago and students have been going on international trips ever since without issue. These trips are always optional. And with the exception of Canada, a passport has long been required.<br /><br />Thus the question of why now? For 35 years Kent doesn't bother to change its policy. But 5 months after Trump becomes president, it's now suddenly necessary to change the policy mid-year after money has been raised and trips planned? <br /><br />Seems pretty hard to justify.<br /><br />NE Parentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70279386424077304222017-05-11T14:52:18.459-07:002017-05-11T14:52:18.459-07:00"Schools should stay out of practicing politi..."Schools should stay out of practicing politics." NO. Practically every action or omission of action can be expected to have a political effect. I agree that schools should not be making gratuitous political statements, but it is absolutely impossible to operate a school without encountering political issues.<br /><br />I do not understand why any public school should provide international field trips. I have always thought that non-school organizations should provide those types of valuable cultural experiences, which are not part of the responsibility of the school, any more than it would be to operate a Little League baseball league or a YMCA.<br /><br />IreneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82987795090216776452017-05-11T14:38:56.423-07:002017-05-11T14:38:56.423-07:00So... food allergies. Food allergies only resulted...So... food allergies. Food allergies only resulted in <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/meredith-broussard/food-allergy-deaths-less_b_151462.html" rel="nofollow">11 deaths nationwide</a> the last year numbers are available for. And peanuts are absolutely not the only thing children are allergic to. Kids also die of allergies to milk, eggs, tree nuts, wheat, soy and fish. So, why don't we ban milk in schools? Why don't we ban wheat and soy in schools? To protect children with allergies. Probably the pro-dairy, pro-wheat, pro-soy lobbying groups have more money than the pro-pharmaceutical companies that sell EpiPens for treating anaphylactic shock. <br /><br />In other words, this debate has nothing to do with children. It's yet another instance of kids being used as political pawns for someone else's interests.<br /><br />Do kids need to participate in school related international travel to get a good education? No. Does studying something long and hard enough that it makes sense to do an international trip to perform or compete or use your hard-earned academic skills benefit kids? You betcha. So if some kids want to perform opera in Italy or use their Spanish in a mock trial in Argentina or compete in the World Junior Chess Championship in India... more power to them.<br /><br />We can't keep every possible thing that every child is allergic to out of schools. And more than that, we demonstrably have zero interest in keeping most of the stuff kids are seriously allergic to out of schools. And we can't keep all children from going anywhere (to compete, or perform, or learn (travel is educational)). <br /><br />Every child is different. They should all have the opportunity to get a great education. But we absolutely can't treat all children exactly the same. Nor would it benefit them. They all need different things. They unique human beings. <br /><br />I can't believe we even waste our time talking about this junk when the school library holdings suck as bad as some of them do and our legislators are busy complaining about dandelions and primping for their hometown photoshoots instead of freaking funding basic education for all students.Dan deLionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90603109603965315752017-05-11T13:34:22.648-07:002017-05-11T13:34:22.648-07:00I never implied not including disabled students. I...I never implied not including disabled students. If a non disabled athlete can't make a hoop with a 10 foot setup should the hoop be lowered down to a height that works for them? That's is what I meant.<br /><br />Your point is well taken and makes you wonder how long sports can remain "survival of the fittest" in the current PC public school environment. <br /><br />POAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57376425341721010992017-05-11T12:27:53.506-07:002017-05-11T12:27:53.506-07:00Can't take a school trip to NY by air either t...Can't take a school trip to NY by air either then. Students who are 18 or older are required to provide ID to board a plane. Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53628667612028140342017-05-11T12:10:13.181-07:002017-05-11T12:10:13.181-07:00@ Jeez, sounds like survival of the fittest. Or m...@ Jeez, sounds like survival of the fittest. Or maybe, in your book, the most worthy? Why stop there? A kid needs a wheelchair, should the school be forced to spend money on a ramp when there are perfectly good stairs? A kid is slow in math, should they have to hire an extra teacher to work with those who can't keep up? <br /><br />Yes, I think people do give up trips in order to remain in this country (I assume you meant the US, although I'm sure not everyone in the world agrees this is the greatest on earth), but I doubt they all do so "gladly." And c'mon, they are treading on others???? Children whose parents brought them here as babies, and who want to go on a high school trip with their class, are "treading on others" if they, what, are disappointed? It's not even them making the policies to ban international trip--it's well-meaning administrators who understand that all the same educational goals can be achieved via a more inclusive trip instead. Backlash because schools can go to NY but not Canada? Backlash because a school might ban peanuts? Maybe backlash because everyone isn't like me and I can't always get my way and that's not fair? <br /><br />I'm sure in most cases we are clever enough to come up with compromises and rules that work ok for all. <br /><br />O CanadaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20899454792786460392017-05-11T10:31:06.227-07:002017-05-11T10:31:06.227-07:00"As a teacher, I want to teach, not work for ..."As a teacher, I want to teach, not work for ICE." A little grand standing with your morning coffee?<br /><br />JeezAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-13354896593475138852017-05-11T10:29:40.157-07:002017-05-11T10:29:40.157-07:00Schools should stay out of practicing politics. Th...Schools should stay out of practicing politics. They should provide a balanced unbiased non subjective leaning experience for all, but there are a few exceptions.<br /><br />A kid can't make shots when the hoop is at 10 feet should they lower the hoop for everyone to 3 feet or else ban hoops? A kid is allergic to peanuts, should a school ban peanuts in all school lunches? What about other allergins? A 17 year old band member has a DUI conviction and can't travel to Canada, should the school cancel all trips to Canada? <br /><br />Actions have consequences and sometimes those consequences extend to family and friends. I think someone would gladly give up a trip in order to illegally remain in the greatest country on earth. If you keep treading on others you are going to create a backlash.<br /><br />JeezAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27183248784656189412017-05-11T09:09:23.501-07:002017-05-11T09:09:23.501-07:00I thought the parent interviewed on KUOW said ther...I thought the parent interviewed on KUOW said there had been fundraisers for low-income students? As I listened to the story, and without giving it much deep thought, I felt the district should have let them go this year as they did not get enough notice. Then change the policy for next year and beyond: only domestic trips. Minimizes the likelihood of problems, exclusion, and keeps teachers one more step away from having info they may be forced to disclose when Jeff Sessions comes knocking. As a teacher, I want to teach, not work for ICE.<br /><br />asdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82967034893529982572017-05-11T07:17:25.093-07:002017-05-11T07:17:25.093-07:00And again, I would hope that Kent would also exami...And again, I would hope that Kent would also examine the issue of the exclusion of low-income students. That, too, is an equity issue.<br /><br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22878111055069975752017-05-11T04:18:43.979-07:002017-05-11T04:18:43.979-07:00Westside,
Your law-and-order approach sounds good...Westside,<br /><br />Your law-and-order approach sounds good on paper. The reality is that, for years,<br />many "legals" have partaken in the often low-wage services of the "illegals"-- whether<br />it be a restaurant, hotel, home health aide, house cleaner and, prolifically, the cheaper costs of the food we eat.<br /><br />The perimeters of the strike zone enforcement are being changed in the eighth inning. In the meantime, children have been born and are currently in our schools.<br /><br />It's not a black or white issue. Changes need to be made, but not without admitting that all of us have benefitted from the prior approach and usually were/are not concerned about enforcement in that real time.<br /><br />Anyone who has not partaken in the low wages of an undocumented worker can take the trips, which would be no one.<br /><br />That's how it would work in a black and white world.<br /><br />FWIW<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-14078182006712324582017-05-10T23:07:46.600-07:002017-05-10T23:07:46.600-07:00I can understand why Kent cancelled cross-border t...I can understand why Kent cancelled cross-border travel. It is just too stressful... Major issues like not being able to get back to the U.S. or having your computer or phone searched, any of those things would lead to a ton of problems. What chaperone or teacher would want to take on these added responsibilities? <br /><br />-NPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54796469214825724612017-05-10T19:05:50.954-07:002017-05-10T19:05:50.954-07:00I agree with O Canada. I'm glad that we are lo...I agree with O Canada. I'm glad that we are looking at these issues - recognizing our own blind spots - if students think a Japan trip is valuable, then do it through Youth For Understanding (I did in 1986) or any other forum. This is a public school. They can go to wonderful band competitions throughout our state, Oregon, many other places. They don't need to make more expensive and more exclusive - thankfully, we're aware now of how this can exclude all kinds of people. Even just ones whose parents never got the paperwork for the travel together (hey, that can be kind of hard for merely divorced parents to accomplish). <br /><br />Do we have to set up all these ways to exclude people? No. <br /><br />I applaud Kent's decision - it is far better to cancel the trip than have someone sobbing at the border. <br /><br />And let me say, you can be a lawful resident of this country - even a citizen - and be detained based upon your religion or ethnic background while trying to reenter. If you don't know that, you haven't been reading much news. <br /><br />-- Math Counts Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12995692938349821732017-05-10T18:16:55.056-07:002017-05-10T18:16:55.056-07:00The KUOW piece said the group was going to a compe...The KUOW piece said the group was going to a competition in the U.S. instead.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91583501239549612842017-05-10T18:15:36.139-07:002017-05-10T18:15:36.139-07:00I no longer feel an obligation to lie for and supp...I no longer feel an obligation to lie for and support an illegal population. It is blatantly inequitable to expect students to suffer due to what has become a generational tradition: flaunting immigration law, knowing the consequences, bringing your children anyway, then realizing the consequences from laws on the books will now be enforced. <br /><br />When Kent Schools changed their race and equity policy they made a political decision. Is this their statement in favor of the costly practice of sanctuary or are they afraid of being sued? A little of both? We can argue all day about the amount of revenue generated by illegal workers vs the much larger outlay of tax dollars to pay for the increasing costs of education, healthcare and incarceration generated by illegal populations. What matters is how we define fair. It's unfair to deny a trip to students who can travel only because some of their classmates are taking a risk by attempting to cross an international border. It's not the fault of the students. That's on their parents and past presidents who refused to enforce immigration law. <br /><br />I grew up on the southern border. Our community routinely welcomed immigrants from Mexico. Whether they were sponsored by churches or relatives, they came to make a life for themselves and especially their children. No one from this generation settled for anything less than citizenship. None were rich. All were working class. They did everything necessary to ensure that their children had a secure future. <br /><br />WestsideAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74161781291949875502017-05-10T17:37:17.490-07:002017-05-10T17:37:17.490-07:00When my daughter was in high school , there were d...When my daughter was in high school , there were domestic trips that were so popular that they had a lottery system to select who would attend. <br />She was not chosen, which was very disappointing, especially as she had worked to be able to afford the trip, and it seemed a big part of the class. <br />Why would they have it set up like that?<br />If it is considered valuable, everyone should have an opportunity.<br />Jet City momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804841958585043967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-14566228584374939022017-05-10T16:42:35.509-07:002017-05-10T16:42:35.509-07:00The issue is that people are more aware of equity ...The issue is that people are more aware of equity issues now than they were in the past. Have undocumented kids always been unable to go? Yes. Maybe people knew why, or maybe the kids/families made up excuses. Same with poor kids--maybe some had access to scholarships to attend, but others probably came up with excuses as to why they couldn't go, to save face. Most parents, teachers, and administrators seem to have been fine with that, probably convincing themselves it wasn't really happening or rationalizing it as such a good educational experience that even if a small number of kids had to miss it, the benefits to the others outweighed that. <br /><br />But really? Does the band need to go to Canada in order to have a good musical experience? Aren't there competitions and exciting newbplaces to visit within our country? I doubt that students from most other US states feel they need to take a field trip to Canada, so I'm sure there are options. Or if it's so important that kids have an opportunity to visit Canada, organize an optional, extracurricular field trip, so that a few students aren't excluded from their class performances--and so that kids NOT in band have the option of that educational experience, too. <br /><br />Public school field trips should be accessible to all. There's no entitlement to international travel. I bet there are a lot of schools that don't even have any/many domestic field trips--or decent music programs. It's sad to suddenly lose the Canada trip they'd been planning, but hopefully the students will see the bigger picture. The parents, too, since they set the tone... if parents are whining that it's not fair, that's a bad sign.<br /><br />O Canada <br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com