tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post6860888821844736797..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Danny Westneat Nails It AgainMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18952411798486310352011-05-19T19:32:12.773-07:002011-05-19T19:32:12.773-07:00Mr. Howard is a scumbag he is known to be a big li...Mr. Howard is a scumbag he is known to be a big liar. I know first hand that he will lie to cover himself, and Ammon McWashingtn will back him know matter what. Just like him not admitting that he okayed for the AD to teach the 3-person spanish class that's a lie because Howard has his hand in every decision that is made at Garfield. The school district need to fire the scumbag there has been to many incidents with sports at Garfield and everytime he lie to cover himself..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2260736879702886772011-05-16T22:33:23.523-07:002011-05-16T22:33:23.523-07:00Newish to Seattle said: Tim Eyman and the voters o...<i>Newish to Seattle said: Tim Eyman and the voters of this state who won't raise the funds for decent schools</i><br /><br />I'm not sure I agree with you about the voters and Tim Eyman. The voters of Seattle have been asked, time and time again, to tax themselves for schools and, time and time again, we have thrown hundreds of millions of dollars into the coffers. In addition, hundreds of thousands of dollars are raised by PTAs each year, to fund things that haven't been funded.<br /><br />That said, I think the administration has squandered millions in the way they run the district. A million here for an unproven "Stem" program, instead of building your own, a million or two there to pay for things that have nothing to do with our children (Pottergate), teacher coaches instead of classroom teachers, more administration than any other district . . . yes, the whole country is going through some tough financial times. But that's when you want people who are fiscally responsible and no one on this board has shown any strength.<br /><br />The very first thing you fund are the classes and teachers. If you have to start cutting, you cut AWAY from the classrooms first. If you want to make an argument that a class that only attracts 3 students, say a remedial spanish class for a star athlete, should never have been funded, especially when you're cutting programs that attract hundreds of kids, that's one thing. But cutting AP courses at one of the premiere high schools in the state without even offering the students left twisting alternatives?<br /><br />Vote out the four . . . cut administration costs . . . build on successful programs . . . reward creativity in teaching and funding.<br /><br />The people of Seattle pay A LOT OF TAXES towards the schools; how 'bout rewarding them by listening to some of their suggestions?<br /><br />stuStuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11769983958729170219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88115456013559326462011-05-16T22:18:23.856-07:002011-05-16T22:18:23.856-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Stuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11769983958729170219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82893224816782289262011-05-16T20:27:39.571-07:002011-05-16T20:27:39.571-07:00What a pathetic city this is. We claim to be a wo...What a pathetic city this is. We claim to be a world class city but we can't even offer our best public high school students the same opportunities that thousands of podunk towns across America do. Obviously most of the blame lies with Tim Eyman and the voters of this state who won't raise the funds for decent schools and with an administration that wastes so much $ on central admin bs. But beyond that we all need to assess our values. If times really are this tight, why are we spending a single cent on athletics or bands or pep events or field trips without first ensuring that there are appropriate math courses available for all students. As my kids get older, jobs in the states that still value education are going to look more and more enticing.<br /><br />--Newish to Seattle and already out of patienceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10900507423637356822011-05-16T18:40:24.712-07:002011-05-16T18:40:24.712-07:00First thought when I read that AP classes were bei...First thought when I read that AP classes were being cut at Garfield was that it was a cloaked move to make the school less desireable to a segment of the students attending and drive down enrollment.<br /><br />Other than Ingrahm have any other HSs in the city upped their AP offerings?StepJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11375599834945035820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72508916415248386952011-05-16T17:59:19.123-07:002011-05-16T17:59:19.123-07:00No - it not a choice between core classes(APP or r...No - it not a choice between core classes(APP or remedial). At worst it is a false choice based on unrealistic enrollment nubers. At best it is a choice between core classes at any level and noncore classes - photography, drama, art. I hate to put anything that gets kids involed in school on the chopping block. But if push comes to shove, noncore class, classes needed for graduation or going to the college of your choice for anyone (athlete, scholar, artist, etc...) should be cut first.<br /><br />ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82611225068566627962011-05-16T17:11:05.324-07:002011-05-16T17:11:05.324-07:00Correction."THEY" are not funded. (athle...Correction."THEY" are not funded. (athletics and Activities.Thinking of the underdogsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-29861492165041431192011-05-16T17:09:13.708-07:002011-05-16T17:09:13.708-07:00DJ,
athletics and activities are funded through A...DJ,<br /><br />athletics and activities are funded through ASB and directly from the district Athletic office. THE ARE NOT FUNDED as part of a buildings academic budget. <br /><br />If you believe that to not be true call the district athletic office or any high school.<br /><br />So again. APP funded classes vs. The rest of the regular or sped population? Sounds like a catch 22!Thinking of the underdogsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69513394958376628952011-05-16T16:56:34.854-07:002011-05-16T16:56:34.854-07:00Thinking of the underdogs, that is a false choice,...Thinking of the underdogs, that is a false choice, a red herring, and a cynical ploy. Is Garfield offering things (sports, extracurricular activites, elective courses that are non-academic) that it pays for still? If so, it is not APP vs. remedial education.djhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01720927162286657378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-64527583333148664652011-05-16T16:48:47.085-07:002011-05-16T16:48:47.085-07:00Budgets have been cut at all the schools. With al...Budgets have been cut at all the schools. With all schools making cuts that directly affect students (thanks Olchefske). As painful as it may be APP, should GHS cut classes for students who need additional help (not star athletes) to save a class students can take in college? <br /><br />Oh, and if the school board 6-7 years ago hadn't kicked pop machines and snacks out of SP high schools, totalling roughly 30-40K per year, while students at the high schools go off campus and buy the stuff right near their schools EVERYDAY, that revenue would be able to help pay for athletics and activities.thinking of the underdogs.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53878426980049780952011-05-16T16:38:06.591-07:002011-05-16T16:38:06.591-07:00Who someone's related to has nothing to do wit...Who someone's related to has nothing to do with the fiction of a school. GHS used to be a two tiered school. Top floor where APP students had majority of their classes and sometimes teachers paid for br PTSA for APP students' classes, a predominately white program. There was no public outcry about that injustice. Ted Howard changed that while many of his predecessors did not! Derse, Chow, McWashington and Roberts. Many comments seem biased in that people don't like his change of just serving the APP families and what they want.<br /><br />While the Wroten situation is an issue, surely the district would have had to pay a lot inpersonal damages to the three students that the Athletic Director gave grades to if it had prevented any of them from an education at the next level, regardless of whether or not they were to only attend one year of college. In athletic terms that would have been a "slam dunk" legal win. A student should not be done harm regardless of who they are or what we feel about them because adults made a mistake. That's the unwritten oath educators take.Some factsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53998537533846582262011-05-16T09:28:19.486-07:002011-05-16T09:28:19.486-07:00Stu, I'm just speculating, but maybe it's ...<b>Stu</b>, I'm just speculating, but maybe it's related to the indivisibility of capacity: They have a certain number of Math teachers who have to teach math (but not necessarily AP Calc B/C), too many kids 9th-12th want/need to take math. They want to keep their graduation rate up, so they have to make sure kids close to the edge get first crack at the given math teachers. They Could hire more math teachers to cover the advanced kids, but they also have a bunch of (I don't know) basket weaving teachers whose classes aren't 100% full. They can't make those teachers cover Calc, and they can't fire them and hire math teachers because quite a few students do want (or even need) to take basket weaving.<br /><br />They blow off the advanced classes because they figure the kids registered for them will graduate one way or another (either they do Running Start, or they sign up for basket weaving.)<br /><br />If we as a society valued education more (income tax anyone?), then all of our kids could get an appropriate education. As is, we are left to do triage and balance one kid's (perceived) wants over another's needs. (Given that their goal is graduation, not having every kid reach their potential.)Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18444916440000921599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-14007590228346497762011-05-16T08:33:48.908-07:002011-05-16T08:33:48.908-07:00I note that Dr. Susan Enfield is appearing at the ...I note that Dr. Susan Enfield is appearing at the CPPS annual meeting (6:30-8:30 on Tues, May 24, at Lincoln H.S. libary), where the topic is parent engagement and the opportunity to make a difference in the schools. Perhaps this would be a forum to ask questions about how parents can effectively advocate for the District providing appropriate course offerings for all students.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66784266353553191402011-05-16T01:04:12.762-07:002011-05-16T01:04:12.762-07:00To repeat a question asked here a couple of times ...To repeat a question asked here a couple of times . . . <br /><br />If all students must take the same number of classes at GHS, how is cutting the AP class saving money? Don't those students have to be in another classroom with another teacher?<br /><br />Am I missing something?<br /><br />stuStuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11769983958729170219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75496491253499087582011-05-15T23:52:15.250-07:002011-05-15T23:52:15.250-07:00"I understand that HS and college calculus pa..."I understand that HS and college calculus pacing is not exactly comparable: AB and BC calculus (2 years) is accepted as equivalent to 3 semesters of calculus for most colleges."<br /><br />I would be surprised if a school counted AB+BC as three semesters. AT UW it is two quarters. That means students who are used to the slower high school pace, who might have taken BC Calc as an 11th grader, start at UW in third quarter calculus, multivariable calculus and it can and does kick their butts.Dorothy Nevillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17108759281089768738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90734717732462342612011-05-15T21:45:54.806-07:002011-05-15T21:45:54.806-07:00"But it would be a shame if these kids are be..."But it would be a shame if these kids are being threatened in order to create a fake emergency that gets TFA into the schools."<br /><br /><br />RIFs are out, how many at GHS?Po3noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87116921966091986012011-05-15T21:26:45.303-07:002011-05-15T21:26:45.303-07:00Maybe Bill Gates can fund BC calculus at Garfield....Maybe Bill Gates can fund BC calculus at Garfield.djhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01720927162286657378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44641713764622129832011-05-15T21:20:55.061-07:002011-05-15T21:20:55.061-07:00Syd, we still have the question of who is paying f...Syd, we still have the question of who is paying for TFA recruits if they are not math/science degree-based?<br /><br />I mean, really, I know the answer - Gates will funnel it through one entity or another. But it seems odd to have this dragged out this long. Why the mystery? <br /><br />Or will the district actually show some spine and ONLY hire TFA math/science recruits?Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44799129951265017442011-05-15T21:19:19.692-07:002011-05-15T21:19:19.692-07:00APP students do not necessarily have HS credit if ...APP students do not necessarily have HS credit if they've taken HS level classes in middle school (Physical Science, Biology, Algebra I and Geometry). <br /><br />It's my understanding that they get placed in higher level classes starting in 9th grade, but only have credit if they've requested it. As we're seeing with the class cutbacks, it may actually harm students to take the HS credit for middle school classes. <br /><br />-parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86382191096479015222011-05-15T21:16:22.611-07:002011-05-15T21:16:22.611-07:00The more I think about it, the more I think cuttin...The more I think about it, the more I think cutting the science and math sections offered is related to getting TFA staff into the school. The district has estimated GHS to have lower enrollment next year than this year, something that is almost impossible to believe. As well, TFA did say they were hoping to place science and math graduates in Seattle.Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715140880268606856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88949033528825049782011-05-15T21:12:33.117-07:002011-05-15T21:12:33.117-07:00GHS had, I believe, 18 National Merit Scholar semi...GHS had, I believe, 18 National Merit Scholar semifinalists. Of that 5 became National Merit Scholars. That is pretty amazing and is comparable to other years. <br /><br />I understand that HS and college calculus pacing is not exactly comparable: AB and BC calculus (2 years) is accepted as equivalent to 3 semesters of calculus for most colleges. So, the HS students get one more semester to get through the work. I still think the high school students should at least get to take a test to place into the appropriate semester of calculus, and not have to automatically start at the beginning again.Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715140880268606856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-41319075363335723112011-05-15T20:23:43.363-07:002011-05-15T20:23:43.363-07:00Is Garfield cutting these kids back to a 4 or 5 pe...Is Garfield cutting these kids back to a 4 or 5 period day because they don't want to offer so many AP classes? If they are continuing to offer them a 6 period day, then I do not see how this saves money. They are going to pay some teacher to teach a class that period. <br /><br />high school parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-4917161520591702022011-05-15T19:17:29.846-07:002011-05-15T19:17:29.846-07:00Five National Merit scholars is not that great, ac...Five National Merit scholars is not that great, actually. For the kids it is and congratulations to them. For Garfield, however, that is a pretty low number. <br />Yes, the shine is ebbing.<br /><br /><br />GHSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49223821290688071172011-05-15T18:50:53.869-07:002011-05-15T18:50:53.869-07:00Syd,
AB calculus is not the equivalent of a year ...Syd,<br /><br />AB calculus is not the equivalent of a year of college calculus.... at best it is a semester ... or perhaps one quarter depending on the school.<br /><br />The premiere Science and Engineering School on the West Coast... Harvey Mudd (SAT MATH average of those accepted is 790) will only allow students to start above beginning Calculus if they score a "5" on the "BC Calc" exam ... and then do well on the Harvey Mudd placement exam.<br /><br />Please notice that as the number of students attending college has risen over the last 20 years and the percentage of students entering college with AP Calculus credit has increased ..... The absolute number of students enrolled in second year calculus has dropped and the absolute number of engineering graduates has dropped .... and we best not even think about native born USA students in second year calculus.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9658603819491613052011-05-15T17:52:05.503-07:002011-05-15T17:52:05.503-07:00How do we know that there will be room for 60 kids...How do we know that there will be room for 60 kids in the calculus class at the community college? That is a big group, and the community college probably has budget cuts as well. <br /><br />Also, we have been told that the community college will not accept the AB calculus for placement. They will have to take that first year over again.Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715140880268606856noreply@blogger.com