tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post6367697098869639280..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: End of 2012 - Wrap-up and Hopes and Predictions for 2013Melissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-63169670820074120482013-01-02T13:14:44.388-08:002013-01-02T13:14:44.388-08:00OOPS - So sorry I didn't text-bleep when I cop...OOPS - So sorry I didn't text-bleep when I copied/pasted from The Stranger the previous post.Rufus Xnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-28458989267163174562013-01-02T13:13:04.028-08:002013-01-02T13:13:04.028-08:00From the Stranger's annual regrets, "What...From the Stranger's annual regrets, "What They Really Think of Us":<br /><br /><i>Nick Hanauer—entrepreneur, venture capitalist, idealist, charter schools lover—regrets that we called charter schools "divisive," "ineffective," and worse as we encouraged people (in vain) to vote "No" on Initiative 1240:<br /><br />"I don't often disagree with the political positions The Stranger takes, but you guys do fuck up occasionally, and choosing not to endorse charter schools was one of those times. I regret the fact that you refused to acknowledge that we have a public school system that is insanely, deeply resistant to change, innovation, and accountability. A system that is designed almost exclusively to serve the interests of adults working in the system, and which has been consistently shafting the most vulnerable kids for decades. I regret that The Stranger, which usually stands for change, innovation, and progress, took the stupid, reflexively conservative position against those things in this case, all to protect the status quo. I regret that you proved that far lefties can be just as narrow and backward as far righties. I predict the following: We will open some charter schools, and they will blow away the conventional schools in our city. I further predict that even you—dear Stranger staff—will eventually breed. And when you do, and your children are of school age, YOU will be desperate to get YOUR kids into the charter schools that YOU have thus far maligned. And then the regret will be yours. I look forward to seeing that."</i>Rufus Xnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-35258559632753170382013-01-01T14:03:04.099-08:002013-01-01T14:03:04.099-08:00A shout out to the contributors --teachers, paren...A shout out to the contributors --teachers, parents, staff -- and author of the Seattle Times article on Special Education (Oct 2012), "Not-so-special treatment in Seattle of special education"<br />http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019484765_specialed21m.html. <br /><br />A hope that the new superintendent and the school board will find the political will to make changes and listen to the right people. To my mind, that wouldn't be the SEA or PASS. <br /><br />Reader Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57701397166897616152013-01-01T11:45:13.510-08:002013-01-01T11:45:13.510-08:00Ah, but their replacements could be better. Ah, but their replacements could be better. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-73510011770012763552013-01-01T10:19:49.149-08:002013-01-01T10:19:49.149-08:00I wish both men were serious about ed reform for p...I wish both men were serious about ed reform for public school kids by implementing a better math curriculum. The delay in changing the discovery math approach has been terrible.<br /><br />If they go on the Charter Commission they will lead a handful of schools, instead of benefitting many more students in SPS.<br /><br />S parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30134622866450413542012-12-31T14:34:12.462-08:002012-12-31T14:34:12.462-08:00Po3, absolutely no inside scoop but they are every...Po3, absolutely no inside scoop but they are everywhere in all other state education elections and commissions. I expect it to be no different here. (I will be seeing the Commission applicants list so I'll let you know.)<br /><br />Why would DeBell and Martin-Morris go charter? Well, it's the direction both are going in for sure. Both lean ed reform. DeBell is something of a lame duck what with not being the Board President and planning to leave in November. Maybe it might make sense for him to leave to another job that would position him for some other elective office. <br /><br />Martin-Morris seems bored and somewhat detached. I'm reading that as maybe he is restless (and I know his interest in public education has been a big part of his life so the Charter Commission might be the next thing). <br /><br />Whoever gets in on the ground floor of the Charter Commission is going to help set the guidelines for how they operate and how fast they get set up. It's a pretty big deal.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15998396869853631902012-12-31T12:49:49.478-08:002012-12-31T12:49:49.478-08:00"Look for the first TFA-affiliated candidate ..."Look for the first TFA-affiliated candidate to run for Seattle School Board."<br /><br />Any inside scoop on this prediction?<br /><br />Also wondering why you think DeBell amd Martin-Morris would "go charter?"<br /><br />Personally, I think charters are going to fall flat in WA state. It would be ironic to see two directors give up their school board positions for a commission that I believe will fizzle out.<br /><br />Po3noreply@blogger.com