tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post6715303143271250809..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Leadership in Seattle Public SchoolsMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27099371269484983862007-01-29T08:34:00.000-08:002007-01-29T08:34:00.000-08:00Regarding West Woodland. It is a second grade tea...Regarding West Woodland. It is a second grade teacher at West Woodland. A little boy got a concussion from "falling out of his chair and hitting his desk." The teacher didn't take him to the nurse or clean up the blood but said, something like show your mommy what happens when you don't know how to sit in your chair.<br /><br />She is the worst--throw her out!!! <br />They also have a K teacher who shames all the kids. Beware touring parents. How come we can't get rid of these inept teachers???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10763678999411990722007-01-25T14:09:00.000-08:002007-01-25T14:09:00.000-08:00Good for them! Vote with your feet if the staff is...Good for them! Vote with your feet if the staff is sub-parAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-71786930115564508572007-01-24T13:27:00.000-08:002007-01-24T13:27:00.000-08:00Can anyone speak to the issue at West Woodland? My...Can anyone speak to the issue at West Woodland? My understanding is that several families have pulled their children from a second-grade class after complaints about the teacher were ignored.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78510702555980280032007-01-20T10:15:00.000-08:002007-01-20T10:15:00.000-08:00Yeah, it was such an inviting meeting. "no new inf...Yeah, it was such an inviting meeting. "no new information" "personal information" How about "just don't bother becasue she wont tell you anything?"<br /><br />What I would have liked to have been told was that Carla will be available to answer questions. She for confidentiality reasons, she may not be able to answer all your questions, but she will do her best. <br /><br />Doesn't that seem more inviting and a better way to manage and operate our schools?<br /><br />Why put off parents when you don't have to? Why wait a month and a half to make yourself available and then send the message that there is really no reason to come to a meeting? How stupid is this district?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-84653519566955666582007-01-19T15:50:00.000-08:002007-01-19T15:50:00.000-08:00Six folks showed. Ah, the power of the BLOGOSPHERE...Six folks showed. Ah, the power of the BLOGOSPHERE! Now go to bed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75539189564950181042007-01-18T15:33:00.000-08:002007-01-18T15:33:00.000-08:00In response to parent request, Carla Santorno has ...In response to parent request, Carla Santorno has scheduled a meeting from 6:00-7:00 pm on January 18th to meet with parents who would like to speak to her. There will be no new information shared that evening. As this is a personnel issue, she has given you as much information as she can.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42109606011651012972007-01-18T13:59:00.000-08:002007-01-18T13:59:00.000-08:00Wow, I am new to this blog. Everone kept saying t...Wow, I am new to this blog. Everone kept saying there was a blog on Whittier...and I guess this is it. It took me a hour to read all this. <br />I sure hope we can get all this out in the open.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58288586730912402422007-01-18T07:50:00.000-08:002007-01-18T07:50:00.000-08:00I was at the Whittier PTA meeting last night and I...I was at the Whittier PTA meeting last night and I asked them to discuss some of the things that are being claimed and spoken about in this blog.<br /><br />I said that I feel it is best to get things out and open them up for discussion. The PTA said, it is not their business, it is not their job to advocate for the children at the school and it is not their place to discuss the Coberly situation.<br /> <br />When I tried to bring up some of the issues that people were mentioning about not feeling welcome, and about the Spectrum issues, they said they are too busy to deal with it or think about it.<br /><br />So to those of you who wrote about your issues (I wrote before and defended the PTA). I think maybe you are right. I am sorry to say I thought they would have handled things more openly.<br /><br />What this tells me is we need more people at these meeting to remind them that it is our PTA (attendance was very low), and we are not going to let our school shut us out. Please try and come back to the meetings---your school needs you now more than ever. <br /><br />CS-Whittier ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-13023538028334426252007-01-15T13:22:00.000-08:002007-01-15T13:22:00.000-08:00"Actually, the child doesn't need to make any comm..."Actually, the child doesn't need to make any comments at all. Sounds like you are arguing what the child should say if not "disgusting." <br /><br />How about not saying anything at all?"<br /><br />Exactly. My point was that you CAN'T say such a thing in ANY words without it being an insult. "Inappropriate" can carry a pile of emotional weight, every bit as much as "disgusting." It's also far more judgmental, not less, as the implication is that the behavior in question is against some code of conduct, whereas "disgusting" is about a personal, visceral reaction. (I don't myself see a penny's worth of difference between "icky" and "disgusting," and am puzzled why anyone thinks "icky" would be a normal childish reaction and "disgusting" wouldn't.)<br /><br />In any case, my point about exhitionists' motives was that they try to make people feel various unpleasant emotions, and it's no more correct to say you SHOULD feel those emotions than to say you SHOULD give a robber your money. You may not be able to help feeling those emotions, any more than you can always help losing your money to a robber, but the very fact that that's what they want you to do is a good reason for trying not to. People with healthy senses of self, particularly sexual self, will be more resilient about handling such encounters.<br /><br />I base this analysis partly on http://www.uplink.com.au/lawlibrary/Documents/Docs/Doc81.html<br /><br />“Lefton (1997) notes that feelings of anger, hostility, shame, doubt, or a deep sense of inadequacy are often present in people who suffer from this sexually deviant disorder, which in turn produces a compulsive need to prove themselves by frightening others. It is suggested by Kapardis (1994) that by this crude insistence upon virility, the exhibitionist hopes to produce a response within the victim that will insure them that even though they cannot command love, at least they are powerful enough to produce some kind of reaction.”Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-64021370514117930622007-01-14T19:36:00.000-08:002007-01-14T19:36:00.000-08:00It could be having to deal with strong women teach...It could be having to deal with strong women teachers all day was just too much and he let loose on the strong women parents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-71606421509657964992007-01-14T16:39:00.000-08:002007-01-14T16:39:00.000-08:00Kind of an interesting take there. I am a very st...Kind of an interesting take there. I am a very strong woman and like Mr. Coberly. But, he and I have had our differences . . . and they get pretty brutal! <br /><br />Never thought of it that way before. Still, he's been a very good principal. Sometimes parents and teachers see the actions of principals differently. <br /><br />Can't speak for all teachers but Alex has made teaching at Whittier much better for me. He tends not to take favorites or give over power to a few teachers. I've taught at several schools and he's been the best at that. Also, he has turned our office staff around. They are much friendlier than in the past. <br /><br />I see so many positive contributions. He's quirky but his tenure has provided many good changes at Whittier.<br /><br />Just speaking for myself here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77867485339740485042007-01-14T11:46:00.000-08:002007-01-14T11:46:00.000-08:00Thanks Sally Jo for writing this. This is the num...Thanks Sally Jo for writing this. This is the number one word we group of parents came up with about a year ago when we were trying to figure out why we feel so disappointed after working with him on different school issues.<br /><br />It is Bullying. I do not think that he does this to everyone, just like I doubt he "flashed" at every woman in every car.<br /><br />Something about us women must set him off. In my group of moms we are all pretty liberal and educated and well-read and most of us have advanced degrees. In other words pretty strong women who do have opinions on things. <br /><br />I am also friendly with other moms who really like him. I would describe these moms as overly nice, polite, apologetic, and more passive. I think the truth is he doesn't know how to deal with strong women.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18760376610224985332007-01-13T22:28:00.000-08:002007-01-13T22:28:00.000-08:00Actually, the child doesn't need to make any comme...Actually, the child doesn't need to make any comments at all. Sounds like you are arguing what the child should say if not "disgusting." <br /><br />How about not saying anything at all?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47960725487491797702007-01-13T22:27:00.000-08:002007-01-13T22:27:00.000-08:00They wouldn't likely have said that now would th...They wouldn't likely have said that now would they. Because such words are unaccompanied by strong emotions. They would have looked at the lunch and said that looks icky or what is that. But, the word disgusting wouldn't have entered the conversation. And icky is a word that children tend to leave behind quite early. Quite possibly, they wouldn't have judged it at all. <br /><br />Parents teach children to make emotional judgments. Parents who refrain from that practice usually have children who also refrain from judging others and their customs.<br /><br />Knowing how to make correct choices is different than judging people. <br /><br />That should be obvious on its face.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50234893159278702922007-01-13T18:25:00.000-08:002007-01-13T18:25:00.000-08:00"Words like "inappropriate" and "private" are much..."Words like "inappropriate" and "private" are much less emotional. I once heard a child in a school lunchroom tell another child her lunch was "disgusting" because it was an Asian lunch with unfamiliar foods. That child was just repeating words she heard her parents use and her feelings at looking at the food matched what she saw on her parent's faces when they used that word. That could be your child."<br /><br />So, it would have been a whole lot better if the child had said "Your lunch is inappropriate"? or "Please eat that lunch in private"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91535766140492361302007-01-13T17:27:00.000-08:002007-01-13T17:27:00.000-08:00Sally Jo: Sounds as though you're the one with PTS...Sally Jo: Sounds as though you're the one with PTSD. Listen to NPR or whatever... just ask the tribal elders what their word for "resentments".<br />Resentment is like drinking poison and hoping the OTHER fellow dies!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9603613679114049192007-01-13T06:15:00.000-08:002007-01-13T06:15:00.000-08:00Hello,
Just Another Whittier Teacher is correct. ...Hello,<br /><br />Just Another Whittier Teacher is correct. There are two sides to every story. I wrote responding to the poster that alluded to Mr. Coberly being a bully. I should have been more clear. The last thing I want is this blog to become a Sally Jo -vs- Alex Coberly blog. I wanted to relate that yes, I feel that Alex did bully me. I left specifics out on purpose.<br /><br />Getting through all this will be difficult for the students, staff, and parents of Whittier. I feel for all of you. But I have no doubt that you will all rise above this with integrity and dignity. It's the Whittier Way!<br /><br />Love,<br />Sally JoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24591244201584973672007-01-13T02:03:00.000-08:002007-01-13T02:03:00.000-08:00Take Sally Jo's post with a grain of salt. There a...Take Sally Jo's post with a grain of salt. There are two sides to every story.<br /><br />I wish the best for her. Her new home sounds beautiful and peaceful. <br /><br /><br /><i>Just another Whittier teacher.</i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40701135782035341792007-01-12T23:44:00.000-08:002007-01-12T23:44:00.000-08:00Alex was a bully. I speak from experience.
Hi, I ...Alex was a bully. I speak from experience.<br /><br />Hi, I am Sally Jo and after much thought, decided to write.<br /><br />I successfully taught at Whittier over 10 years with four principals with whom I never had problems with. Then Alex arrived. To this day I don't know why he disliked me and he used every kind of bullying behavior towards me for two years before I gave up and quit. I hated leaving Seattle and my friends, but mostly my teacher friends from Whittier. Seattle had been my home for 52 years. It was very scary to jump off that cliff and fly to somewhere I had never been before.<br /><br />I love where I live and teach now. It is the exact opposite of Seattle. The school has no PTA. The rural students are mostly poor, living on reservations. Hot water and a flush toilet is a luxury to many of my students. 92% are on free or reduced lunch. But these kids are (mostly) the sweetest kids around. They don't go home to play with a gamebox. They herd sheep, carry water, chop wood. The climate is desert, but we are tucked under the Zuni Mountains and the mountains, stone arches, rock art, and cliff dwellings abound. The Navajo language is spoken fluuently by most adults. The only radio station I receive is spoken in Navajo. How bizarrely (?) wonderful to hear Carl Castle on NPR translated into Navajo! My community's population is 400 and the nearest town for groceries is a 90 mile roundtrip. I live 10 miles up a dirt road in a log home and it's simply gorgeous.<br /><br />But Mr. Coberly gives me nightmares. When I saw his mug on the KING 5 news site, I about gagged. He turns my stomach. I want to go to a wedding this spring in Seattle, but I will not go if he is invited. I fear each time I am called to the office; real fear, thinking Mr. Coberly found the name of my school and called the principal to tell lies about me. I shouldn't have these fears but he haunts me. Is this PTSD?<br /><br />I know that some Whittier staff feel that Alex has grown and matured since I've left. They can think that. I left when he was young and immature and a bully and that's how I will remember him.<br /><br />I, for one, hope he gets thrown in the slammer. I just want Alex Coberly to go away, for my peace of mind.<br /><br />Writing this has helped me.<br />Sally JoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-73056576390980208192007-01-12T22:02:00.000-08:002007-01-12T22:02:00.000-08:00The word "disgusting" is an extremely emotional te...The word "disgusting" is an extremely emotional term and its meaning somewhat ambiguous. Yes, children will generalize - they do that all the time. <br /><br />Leave such pejoratives out of the conversation. They'll get it without internalizing all the emotions such words engender. Try to be more objective in your judgments. <br /><br />Words like "inappropriate" and "private" are much less emotional. I once heard a child in a school lunchroom tell another child her lunch was "disgusting" because it was an Asian lunch with unfamiliar foods. That child was just repeating words she heard her parents use and her feelings at looking at the food matched what she saw on her parent's faces when they used that word. That could be your child.<br /><br />Take a lesson from the excellent poster above who uses "inappropraite." No emotions there. That's a child that will grow up without the need to judge everyone and everything.<br /><br />Your child will thank you for it some day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-21657250348403958772007-01-12T14:21:00.000-08:002007-01-12T14:21:00.000-08:00"Also, let's not teach them to think their bodies ..."Also, let's not teach them to think their bodies are disgusting."<br /><br />Huh? I don't see how you get that attitude out of what I said, which I thought implied quite the opposite. I said exhibitionists get a kick out of disgusting and disturbing others. I said NOTHING about whether naked bodies were disgusting or disturbing when in a more ordinary situation. I didn't even say whether people SHOULD be disgusted or disturbed by seeing an exhibitionist. Just because the exhibitionist tries to manipulate people's feelings doesn't mean it always works. <br /><br />You might as well say that if I told my child that a guy who went around grabbing people's shirts and shaking his fist in their faces was obviously trying to intimidate them, that I was trying to teach my child to be ashamed of his hand and his shirt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77021808790141131452007-01-11T08:10:00.000-08:002007-01-11T08:10:00.000-08:00Wow - You said pretty much all I would want to say...Wow - You said pretty much all I would want to say. And now I can break away from my addiction to this post. This has all been sad, bizarre and so NOT the Whittier Way. I wish all Whittier families the best as they move on. And that most definitely includes the Coberlys.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57403386961002371032007-01-11T03:21:00.000-08:002007-01-11T03:21:00.000-08:00Great post and an even better way to inform your k...Great post and an even better way to inform your kids! Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-34075708810848350352007-01-11T01:31:00.000-08:002007-01-11T01:31:00.000-08:00I told my 9 year old son that Mr. Coberly did some...I told my 9 year old son that Mr. Coberly did something outside of school that was inappropriate, I'm not sure what he did but he won't be coming back. He could care less--what does that have to do with his science lab or tetherball game at lunch?<br /><br />I have a feeling that that kids who are upset and maybe obsessing over what happened are getting those vibes from their parents. Believe me I am completely creeped out by his actions (exactly how does he know he didn't flash a 16 year old girl?) and disgusted by his lack of judgement. But there is no reason to taint my son's perception of principals or his school by Coberly's actions. Rant and rave with your friends, spouse, co-workers, other parents but have discretion around your kids. <br /><br />I'm sure his teacher has not let this situation affect her class at all. They've got more important busineess to attend to. <br /><br />My husband and I have never "liked" Mr. Coberly. We felt he was inappropriately sarcastic at school events and didn't respect the kids enough. He had no reverence for occasion or milestones that are so special to young kids. He wrote some bizarre school and PTA newsletter articles too. But we thought he wasn't doing any harm and Whittier's teachers are wonderful. He truly has caused great harm by his lack of judgement and self control now. <br /><br />BUT we know how great the school support staff and teachers are. The PTA is also great. Those people spend a ton of time and really pour their hearts into raising money and advocating for the school. We've seen the same people from Whittier step up to roles in middle and high school in Ballard and I for one am very thankful for them. We help out when we can but aren't active volunteers and we're always welcomed when we can help. <br /><br />My son was 4th on the Spectrum list one year and moved to 1st on the list the next. I know there was no room in the class until the class jumped in size the next year and he got in then. I was never worried because a) my daughter didn't get in Spectrum but got in ap classes in middle and high school and b) I loved his teachers those two wait-list years...they were the best possible teachers he could have those years. <br /><br />Any other parent notice the irony of the PTA newsletter being named the WildFlash? <br /><br />We've got great students, great parents and we'll find a great new principal. AND now, thanks to TV news, my grandmother finally remembers the name of her great-grandchildren's school!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-84201045689482584932007-01-10T22:54:00.000-08:002007-01-10T22:54:00.000-08:00RE: Anonymous
Regarding the post about infightin...RE: Anonymous<br /><br />Regarding the post about infighting among parents, backstabbing, etc that has been the hallmark of this and other blog sites...THANK YOU for your thoughtful and wise comments. <br /><br />Obviously, the Principal, the school, a teacher, the PTA, the decor (?) has offended at least one person on this blog so profoundly, even before the recent events hit the media, that they still have not gotten over it(I refer to what seems to be multiple postings by one person, who, for their own mental health, needs to move on)<br /><br />Whittier is a good school - it is constantly changing and evolving - like ANY other public or private school in ANY city.<br /><br />People who seem to think that the school, the PTA, the teachers are going to be all things wonderful to them, need to realize that public schools have to serve more than just your family or small social group: they need to serve ALL the children in the school. This may result in periods of time where you may not be completely happy with a program, a teacher or class. Things usually even out in the end, and parents learn to relax a little bit as the kids get older. IF the parents are committed to the education of their child, you will all succeed.<br /><br />Touring Parents: I hope you tour all the schools you can, and truly wish you the best in your decision making process. Good Luck.<br /><br />As for Alex - his career is shot, his family is suffering. He will not be back, Whittier will survive, and, hopefully, we can all choose to move forward, and stop looking backwards.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com