tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post4927575658714127434..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Ethnic Studies in Seattle SchoolsMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54272776740294345812017-03-21T10:00:44.141-07:002017-03-21T10:00:44.141-07:00What is next for this proposal given budget realit...What is next for this proposal given budget realities? Will this be looked at along side all the other "opportunity gap/diversity and inclusion" efforts and incorporated wisely so there is a thoughtful plan across the k-12 system, or is this going to be another one-off effort sucking budget away from any possibility of a thoughtful districtwide strategy to move the needle? What bad programs will die so this can happen? What good programs will end so this can happen? What programs that have been promised for years will be pushed lower on the priority list so this can happen? Has this been vetted?<br /><br />Headless ChickensAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70086859958020380542017-03-13T14:29:43.049-07:002017-03-13T14:29:43.049-07:00Oy-- I agree that should be the direction, and I d...Oy-- I agree that should be the direction, and I do also think many teachers are already doing this as well. <br />-HDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47604438911325855712017-03-13T13:38:39.387-07:002017-03-13T13:38:39.387-07:00Oy, the minutes from the last C&I meeting wher...Oy, the minutes from the last C&I meeting where some teachers came in to discuss this quoted them as saying that they had been incorporating this into their classes so apparently, it can be done.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49693553247705572742017-03-13T13:18:35.070-07:002017-03-13T13:18:35.070-07:00One of the cited benefits of ethnic studies course...One of the cited benefits of ethnic studies courses is that it increases outcomes for minority students who have tended to be lower performing in school. I guess the theory is that if you teach them about their own people they will be more engaged, thus more likely to attend school and do what's needed to succeed. The ethnic studies class is validating in some way. <br /><br />If that's the case, what we we do here? Would we try for a single, all-in-one ethnic studies class that addresses African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans? Would we have a variety of classes, and people could pick and choose? Would we have an Asian American studies class, or would people be opposed to that since Asians, overall, tend to do well in SPS? What about White studies--or is the presumption that everything else taught at school is already white studies? (Is that a valid presumption? My student's English class read mostly non-white authors, but that was in another district.)<br /><br />Then there's all the non-race stuff, like gender, sexuality, religion, ability, etc. It's complex, and from what I've seen, our teachers and schools aren't really prepared to handle that level of complexity. <br /><br />Why not try to work more diversity into existing classes? Require that history classes, for example, teach more than one side of an issue. Require that English classes adopt reading lists that reflect diverse authors and viewpoints. Add art classes that focus on ethnic or multicultural arts. Foreign language classes already include cultural components, and students will be taking more of these under the new graduation requirements already. We don't need another separate requirement at this time. <br /><br />oyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75488937539124583572017-03-13T13:11:45.549-07:002017-03-13T13:11:45.549-07:00HD, I agree. I understand that being white in this...HD, I agree. I understand that being white in this country gives you a different security level which is huge. But, despite trying to act like there is no class system in the U.S., we all know there is. I think poor/lower middle class white people are why we have Trump. They see the world changing without bringing them along.<br /><br />Everyone worries for their children and their future and their opportunities. Poor white people are no different.<br /><br />Pink, having raised two teens and, of course, having been one, I can say I think the world is different for teenagers. It is more broadly-based with opportunities to learn in all directions. In some ways I believe this is great. In others, I think it can invite confusion at a confusing time. I wish all parents the strength and patience and skillset to figure that out for today's teens. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10798394282781433762017-03-13T12:28:38.250-07:002017-03-13T12:28:38.250-07:00I am very progressive (in that I believe in a stro...I am very progressive (in that I believe in a strong public safety net, fully funded education, healthcare for all, ending the school to prison pipeline etc.. and I am concerned with the movement mentioned in the article above. Here is a video that discusses how it is impacting feminists and lesbians, if I were to post this under my own name I feel like I would be vilified and possibly harmed, now that apparently threatening violence is preferred to continuing the discourse. I really worry about the transing (and sterilizing) of young women who may likely to be lesbians or otherwise non gender conforming. I think I would have been transed if I was a teen now.<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnrOLhx6L3c&feature=youtu.be<br /><br />-pinkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5079051649955383442017-03-13T12:24:35.612-07:002017-03-13T12:24:35.612-07:00Outsider-- Good article. My concern is that these ...Outsider-- Good article. My concern is that these issues which are actually really complex in nature, grey etc. get over really over-simplified in the discourse. In addition lumping groups of people into a category (for example "white"), assuming people share identical cultural, economic etc histories etc is highly inaccurate. I have an undergraduate and graduate degree in the social sciences. It is much more complex.<br />- HDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-84338144064575300672017-03-13T10:47:31.025-07:002017-03-13T10:47:31.025-07:00I would recommend a recent article by Andrew Sulli...I would recommend a recent article by Andrew Sullivan entitled "Is Intersectionality a Religion?" (http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/03/is-intersectionality-a-religion.html?mid=full-rss-di) Sullivan is writing about the recent attack on Charles Murray and his hosts by a PC mob at Middlebury College. It's relevant to the topic here.Outsidernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8771703780751691382017-03-13T09:28:43.735-07:002017-03-13T09:28:43.735-07:00I think this agenda is already being informally pu...I think this agenda is already being informally pursued in SPS. My Hamilton kid came home from school the other day and asked me "Why are white people so bad?". When I probed a bit to understand where this was coming from, I found out that one of the kid's teachers is well known for ranting about white Christians being responsible for the majority of the worlds' problems. <br /><br />And people wonder why Trump was elected.<br /><br />Fed Up with PCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-64251925036675049042017-03-12T20:44:21.753-07:002017-03-12T20:44:21.753-07:00We're actually 3 recent mandated SS classes be...We're actually 3 recent mandated SS classes behind already. The "Since time Immemorial" http://www.k12.wa.us/IndianEd/TribalSovereignty/ is hardly present yet and the WA state history H.S. requirement is being taught in Middle School since it couldn't be fit in any other way. You're out of luck if you transfer into H.S. from elsewhere or fail the test back in M.S. In addition, the state added another .5 credit of required Civics on just last year bringing the total up to 3 years.<br /><br />I don't think there is any slack in the schedule to add yet another mandated additional class on (and the WA state history should be first in line since its crazy for a state requirement to not even be offered.) I'd argue these topics are best situated in a a general US history class anyway as part of the curriculum during the entire year. <br />-Concerned<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72992813208846466892017-03-12T20:27:01.088-07:002017-03-12T20:27:01.088-07:00The district is in absolutely NO position to add a...The district is in absolutely NO position to add a new graduation requirement when they have already delayed plans to figure out how to deliver classes that will meet the new 24-credit graduation requirement. The first cohort subject to that requirement starts high school this fall, with no plan on the horizon. If SPS can't manage to deal with the state-required stuff, how could they possibly start adding new requirements instead? <br /><br />Or is this all part of the plan to increase equity by limiting access to advanced courses, making kids take a GE ethnic studies class instead of an AP history class? <br /><br />DisAPPointedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58950095420545032322017-03-12T18:26:40.675-07:002017-03-12T18:26:40.675-07:00Too narrow, well, the NAACP does point out that so...Too narrow, well, the NAACP does point out that some ethnic studies do include beyond race. Again, that's part of the whole issue. You can say you want ethnic studies and then you have to define it. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12746978217573200322017-03-12T17:29:56.406-07:002017-03-12T17:29:56.406-07:00Why only incorporate ethnic studies? When I was in...Why only incorporate ethnic studies? When I was in college we had race, class, gender etc. classes. It was not just ethnic studies. What about gender, 50% of students are female? What about socio-economic class? What about gender identity? People who check the white box may also come from ethnicities (Jews, S. Italians/Sicilians,Greeks, Maltese, Turks, N African/Middle Eastern) who were marginalized and experienced discrimination in the US. Will it also include their histories? We are currently experiencing hateful language about Jews and the holocaust written on synagogues in Seattle. How much education do kids get about diverse ethnic groups? <br />- Too narrow Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-32739347202073680772017-03-12T16:26:40.807-07:002017-03-12T16:26:40.807-07:00According to a recent Atlantic article, "If a...According to a recent <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/please-support-us/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theatlantic.com%2Feducation%2Farchive%2F2015%2F12%2Fwhen-grit-isnt-enough%2F418269%2F#seen" rel="nofollow">Atlantic article</a>, "If a hypothetical classroom of 30 children were based on current demographics in the United States, this is how the students in that classroom would live: Seven would live in poverty, 11 would be non-white, six wouldn’t speak English as a first language, six wouldn’t be reared by their biological parents, one would be homeless, and six would be victims of abuse." We should add to that that five of them would need advanced learning services. And at least three of them would be gay. Two of them would have diabetes. Four of them would have IEPs. Seven of them will drop out, and 23 will graduate high school. 18 of them would go on to take at least some college classes<br /><br />I completely agree that ethnic studies should be taught to all SPS students. Ideally it would be part of language arts and history and social studies. Because ideally, the district would be selecting inclusive texts. But until we can diversify our teachers and our curricula, we should definitely include this as its own course. Because our students are already diversified. And this is too important not to include while we wait until it can be done just right. <br /><br />If only the district had spent the time it devoted to dismantling Spectrum working on this. South Mamanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12890382082319113582017-03-12T16:03:25.009-07:002017-03-12T16:03:25.009-07:00I'd suggest the concerns went beyond the perso...I'd suggest the concerns went beyond the personal and were just as much about what wasn't taught (a significant amount of history) as what was taught.<br /><br />-lost yearAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-73249553703140972782017-03-12T15:54:08.793-07:002017-03-12T15:54:08.793-07:00Unclear,
I was at Hamilton that year and he was n...Unclear,<br /><br />I was at Hamilton that year and he was not used to teaching Middle Schoolers and while the staff liked him they were happy to see him go. He is that way and that is what led to the entire drama at Center School.<br /><br />He is a Teacher you love or not. Period. That is the case with many Teachers it does not make them bad or good just well normal. Sometimes playing to the middle is not easy and in High School that personality works well, less so in Middle School which requires half elementary and half not. It is a tough balance<br /><br />Frankly I find Greenberg annoying but as a Teacher at Center School I think he was quite effective. I can separate personal from professional but that is not something SPS or Seattle does well. We like everyone to be just like us!<br /><br />- Old Timer Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16896435060035223152017-03-12T13:20:24.875-07:002017-03-12T13:20:24.875-07:00Native American curriculum: Mandated. Not funded...Native American curriculum: Mandated. Not funded. Textbooks still barely mention Tribes. Does your school?<br /><br />http://www.thestranger.com/news/feature/2015/06/24/22438654/teaching-tribal-history-is-finally-required-in-washington-public-schools<br /><br />…In May <2015>, Governor Jay Inslee signed a groundbreaking piece of legislation that mandates Washington kids learn history, culture, and government with input from the state's 29 federally recognized tribes. It goes into effect July 24, just in time for the start of the next school year.<br /><br />… Washington's law didn't set aside any funding. Whatever funding there is comes from the tribes themselves, private organizations, and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's internal budget.<br /><br />-McClureWatcher<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87853592897130742532017-03-12T13:18:36.083-07:002017-03-12T13:18:36.083-07:00How would another graduation requirement square wi...How would another graduation requirement square with Core 24? With the current schedule students already have significantly reduced flexibility, and a new requirement would cause more problems. <br /><br />By the way, my student had Jon Greenberg that year he was at Hamilton. His LA/SS class was very focused on race and gender and social justice, to the point that my student and their friends were sick of it. They hated the constant preaching and perceived self-righteousness, and thought he pushed his point way too hard. Maybe he was used to working with students who require a lot of repetition, or maybe students who don't think about the world as deeply or something, I don't know. In any case, he turned many of them off, and made my own kid resentful. There's a fine balance between teaching and preaching, and not many teachers can get it right. We would need a well-vetted curriculum and some strong teacher training to make this work.<br /><br />UnclearAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43822398189451994222017-03-12T13:12:03.130-07:002017-03-12T13:12:03.130-07:00I feel concerned about "gender studies" ...I feel concerned about "gender studies" as I feel like the current trend is to conflate sex role stereotypes with gender, which is a cultural construct. There is no such thing as a pink lady brain and blue man brain. I think this part of the curriculum does not belong in ethnic studies (unless it relates to the handling of the issues in different cultures), but in biology and psychology and health classes.<br /><br /><br />-pinkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com