tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post4556540189503974619..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Can School Districts Use Race in Enrollment Policies?Melissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2594246623292759912016-11-01T22:45:14.042-07:002016-11-01T22:45:14.042-07:00
off topic :
MW YOU ARE AMAZING! truly an asset...<br /><br />off topic : <br /><br />MW YOU ARE AMAZING! truly an asset for seattle. cm is ok too. <br /><br /><br />ncAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37044738697607548562016-11-01T21:22:58.947-07:002016-11-01T21:22:58.947-07:00Readers, I deleted a number of comments for two re...Readers, I deleted a number of comments for two reasons.<br /><br />One was linkage to a blog that will not be named here nor linked here. The writer of that blog speaks with little authority or research. As well, he wrote a very hurtful thread against me about my racial background and upbringing. <br /><br />I'm not giving that blog any help with links or references here. Any made will be deleted.<br /><br />Two, I suspect that one of the commenters was the writer of that blog. Again, those comments will be deleted.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45486599440143548332016-11-01T20:33:55.759-07:002016-11-01T20:33:55.759-07:00Interesting informative comments in Seattle Times ...Interesting informative comments in Seattle Times and in Seattle weekly<br />GHSmomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22214393440084407812016-11-01T20:24:03.100-07:002016-11-01T20:24:03.100-07:00Mine was deleted too. I only quoted the articles, ...Mine was deleted too. I only quoted the articles, and questioned the assumptions made by Tad Pole, since Tad Pole continues to present biased interpretations as statement of facts. I don't see why my evidence-based rebuttals were deleted while Tad's assumption-based original posts were left, but whatever. It's Melissa's prerogative. <br /><br />rumor millAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-83973770722629711462016-11-01T18:35:37.319-07:002016-11-01T18:35:37.319-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Observernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80828996872202617182016-11-01T18:09:25.277-07:002016-11-01T18:09:25.277-07:00There seems to me to be considerable dissatisfacti...There seems to me to be considerable dissatisfaction with Emerson's Principal among a high proportion of parents of all colors. Also, the staff and former staff have posted some pretty significant complaints. However, claiming institutional racism does sell newspapers.<br /><br />-ResearchingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67030338370352753902016-11-01T17:19:50.149-07:002016-11-01T17:19:50.149-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65253208931896604922016-11-01T16:17:59.272-07:002016-11-01T16:17:59.272-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Observernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66742077074581791882016-11-01T15:10:21.684-07:002016-11-01T15:10:21.684-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-17825272956186616052016-11-01T14:12:05.040-07:002016-11-01T14:12:05.040-07:00here's the Weekly story:
http://www.seattlewe...here's the Weekly story:<br /><br />http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/parents-protest-suspension-of-south-seattle-principal-considered-an-advocate-of-racial-equity/<br /><br />"As a result, there’s also some concern that Drake is not being treated in the same way that white administrators are in the district when parents launch complaints against them. For example, another Seattle elementary administrator has been under investigation for allegations of racism from 75 families of color for some time, says Rita Green, Education Chair of the Seattle/King County NAACP. That person has not been suspended. “You tell me there’s not a problem with that. It’s part of the current and ongoing institutional racism within Seattle Public Schools: If you are parents of color, you are viewed as lesser. That’s why your complaints don’t get as much priority.”"<br /><br />Wow, pretty damning stuff. <br /><br />Institutional racism in SPS.<br /><br />Rita is very well respected in the community and that's strong language.<br /><br />Tad PoleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47902730852657731562016-11-01T13:47:52.265-07:002016-11-01T13:47:52.265-07:00Seattle Weekly has the story. Seems to confirm the...Seattle Weekly has the story. Seems to confirm the Times.<br />Sounds like whites exerting privilege. Rita Green is quoted in the story.<br /><br />White person<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-17927603499172362202016-11-01T13:02:58.239-07:002016-11-01T13:02:58.239-07:00I'm no burying anything. I'm planning to c...I'm no burying anything. I'm planning to combine this with issues with principals at other schools. I actually know more about the Emerson situation than is printed in the Times so stay tuned.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25726753368394883642016-11-01T12:23:02.436-07:002016-11-01T12:23:02.436-07:00Lynn, do you have a son in 6th? The link you provi...Lynn, do you have a son in 6th? The link you provided is not going to the survey, but to a login page with a child's name on it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30219090177936140512016-11-01T11:47:54.537-07:002016-11-01T11:47:54.537-07:00Readers question even the linked articles above be...Readers question even the linked articles above because they come from other cities. I think an important step in working toward equity for all Seattle students would be:<br /><br />1. Some Seattle-specific statistics about achievement gaps, funding disparities, etc. Facts that are published, like, in a broadsheet format. Disparities by Race in Seattle Schools or something.<br /><br />2. Education for well-meaning but clueless parents and citizens who have not previously been involved in promoting a racially equitable society. A crash course or timeline of civil rights advances and setbacks throughout the nation's history. From a Seattle perspective (many residents have moved here from all kinds of different places, some of them not even in the U.S.)<br /><br />3. A primer for Seattle residents on what Ferguson (and the eye-opening of many Americans regarding policing and justice system disparities) means in terms of schools. Are there disparities in the way kids are treated in schools based on race? If so, what are they? Don't assume people know. Explain to people.<br /><br />4. Moral leadership. How can we work toward a more just and equitable society that values all children? How can we undo institutional racism. We need a movement. Is BLM the best-fit movement for this? If people want to work for change, how can we do it? Can we send someone a letter? Who? What should the letter say? Can we volunteer for an organization? Can we send someone money? Buying BLM t-shirts and wearing them to school one day is not enough to achieve societal change.<br /><br />White Parent Northnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61701994686239908922016-11-01T11:04:01.079-07:002016-11-01T11:04:01.079-07:00The discussion around Emerson brings up so many is...The discussion around Emerson brings up so many issues. Not knowing the details, but reading the Seattle Times comment posted above, you have to think there were valid concerns. As a parent who has spoken up about school situations that don't seem quite right, I have to say I am frequently alone. Even if other parents share the same concerns, very few are willing to speak up. If no one speaks up there is little chance a situation will improve. Of course speaking up may not even improve the situation. So what's a parent to do? Schools want involved parents, but not too involved.<br /><br />-involved parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-60369127808925474882016-11-01T11:02:02.338-07:002016-11-01T11:02:02.338-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-14679272032756926652016-11-01T11:01:55.414-07:002016-11-01T11:01:55.414-07:00I say that because the Times is reporting somethin...I say that because the Times is reporting something - in a vague kind of way - about a school and its principal. I've gotten some people very upset when I did that in other stories and got accused of starting rumors. <br /><br />Again, I have a thread to come on some other similar issues because I do believe they are news-worthy but it does feel sometimes that I get taken to task over stories that other media do end up reporting.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66374343254535324772016-11-01T10:33:49.824-07:002016-11-01T10:33:49.824-07:00"I do find it interesting that no one is comp..."I do find it interesting that no one is complaining about the story because if I had broken it - and I could have - I'm sure some readers would take me to task." Why do you say that, Melissa?Observernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91345750777908391662016-11-01T09:17:15.231-07:002016-11-01T09:17:15.231-07:00I'm debating whether to eliminate these commen...I'm debating whether to eliminate these comments on Emerson. Naturally, any news like this does bring out people from different sides plus those who only know what they read. I do find it interesting that no one is complaining about the story because if I had broken it - and I could have - I'm sure some readers would take me to task. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24910476547414605452016-11-01T08:38:52.348-07:002016-11-01T08:38:52.348-07:00@ Tad Pole,
Thanks for trying to further explain ...@ Tad Pole,<br /><br />Thanks for trying to further explain yourself, but you still don't seem to get it. I encourage you to step back and reread your own words and think about the assumptions you're making and the biases that underlie them. How about this from your explanation: "...it sounded like white parents and teachers were mad about something or thought something unfair."<br /><br />Really? What I read was that the principal's absence came "around the time" that "some people say" there were "racially motivated attacks" against the principal. Was the suspension at all related to those rumored attacks? The article doesn't say. Were they really racially motivated attacks, if there were "attacks" at all? Or maybe there were instead "complaints," or even just a single complaint, based on educational concerns? Based on the article, that's an equally fair interpretation.<br /><br />You closed with "OSPI lists Emerson at 6% white and the white parents got the teacher suspended?" Huh? It was "the white parents" that did it--all 6%? I'm not sure why the demographics of the school are an issue at all, unless you're saying that a parent of a particular race shouldn't complain unless their demographic represents at least a certain minimum threshold in a school, but that doesn't seem like it would make sense. It only takes one person to lodge a complaint that could result in a principal's suspension, and the complaint can come from someone of the same or different race and be equally valid or not. <br /><br />I have zero knowledge of what actually happened here, so I'm not spouting off about who did what. You also seem to have no knowledge of what actually happened here, and yet... <br /><br />rumor millAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74279530214578407202016-11-01T08:25:18.459-07:002016-11-01T08:25:18.459-07:00Word of warning, pledges, chants, heavy signage th...Word of warning, pledges, chants, heavy signage throughout the buildings are not good signs. They evoke an odd militaristic bend that also evokes the school image as one school to prison pipeline; that is a common trajectory that dominates struggling schools in the South. Uniforms, dress codes, eye control are another means of management. Lots of acronyms.. SLANT, you see these also in Charter Schools. <br /><br />If I did not know better I would presume Dr. Drake is Southern. In over 20 years of Teaching the South dominates in Doctorate diplomas and in turn most of them Administer schools and almost all exhibit those traits. These are the last places you want to emulate as they use strong subjugation as a means of compliance, much like the military. <br /><br />And the verbal abuse for staff and students is another constant. <br /><br />- Southern Man Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74532364564550668372016-11-01T08:10:58.421-07:002016-11-01T08:10:58.421-07:00Tad Pole-- Do you understand how your assumptions ...Tad Pole-- Do you understand how your assumptions (bias) led to an automatic assumption that "white parent and teachers" were at fault? Your quick assumption could have led to some bad rumors. This is a problem.<br />-question assumptions Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68379984251249804342016-10-31T21:53:54.594-07:002016-10-31T21:53:54.594-07:00I'll be having a thread about issues around ra...I'll be having a thread about issues around race at several schools. Emerson seems to have real issues especially since they have had principal churn for several years and, seemingly for a school under OSPI designation for under-achievement, not enough attention from the district. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-21987803320223610272016-10-31T21:47:32.317-07:002016-10-31T21:47:32.317-07:00Sounds like the problems at Emerson may have been ...Sounds like the problems at Emerson may have been serious: from the comments section<br /><br />"Emerson Alumni<br />As a former staff member at Emerson I can say that from experience Dr. Drake has no moral compass and verbally abuses her staff. As a former music teacher she could never answer a single question about curriculum or education in general. I lived in fear every day I worked for her. The majority of the staff left last year and it has nothing to do with race. It has to do with the way she treats people and the show she puts on for visitors. If you interview any ex-staff member they can tell you horrible stories. I cried when I read that she was getting her job back. She is not fit to lead a school, especially a struggling one. She has not improve the school and has made students hate learning. <br /><br /> Dr. Drake dictated that students only get taught reading, writing, and math. When we made it clear that science was a state standard she reluctantly allowed it. Dr. Drake refused to get involved in any discipline matters no matter how serious. Emerson uses a reading intervention program that is meant only for struggling readers and small groups. It is NOT a curriculum. I had at least 5 readers that were well above grade level. They kept getting booted out of the program by the software so Dr. Drake and Tasha James frequently altered the student's scores to be lower so that they would qualify. Teachers frequently asked for permission to challenge the students that were reading above grade level and it was always denied. She frequently used large group events to put on a show. Students had to gather in the gym every morning and chant with her military style. She used an entire staff meeting to show us a Ted Talks video about strong principals to inform us that we were not showing enough respect and appreciation for her. She did not learn any kids names the whole time I was there and frequently called kids by the wrong names.<br /><br /> When she made schedule changes that made it so special education students weren't receiving their legally required minutes she would tell me to email her about it. She would never do anything to right the problem no matter how many times people asked. This is ILLEGAL!!! Dr. Drake and Tasha James work fewer hours than anyone at that school. If you ever needed to talk to either one of them before or after school, they were gone. The teachers that I worked with cared deeply about the children, worked endless hours and shed many tears. I think about the children I left behind every day. After reading this I hope that all Dr. Drake's unethical choices come to light. I hope that the children can get the ability to be children back and I hope that the staff can go to work without being afraid. Those children deserve so much more. They deserve to do an art project or social studies. They deserve to be challenged and they deserve the opportunity to be kids. I felt like I worked at a juvenile detention center instead of a school. I will never forget Dr. Drake and I still get sick thinking about working for her. I am grateful that since working for her I have gotten the opportunity to work for an administration that is knowledgeable, ethical, and respectful."<br /><br />Momof2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55755084729766513422016-10-31T21:41:24.898-07:002016-10-31T21:41:24.898-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Lynnnoreply@blogger.com