tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post8555029702941653400..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: What is the Civil Rights Issue of Our Time (and who knows the way forward)?Melissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82427878403434465112014-12-20T09:48:03.997-08:002014-12-20T09:48:03.997-08:00You are right Melissa. I am sorry I don't see ...You are right Melissa. I am sorry I don't see much value in talking about middle class values and paternalism.<br /><br />In my work, I see people at their worst. There's no stamp on their forehead telling me much. All I get is sex, possible age, possible name, kind of injuries, and possible history of what happened to them. If they survived their injuries,I get to see them recover and perhaps follow up in community/outpatient clinic. Sometimes I get to meet their families. What I see is people suffer, die, rally, survive, and even recover. And while money and status certainly affect their level of care and outcome to some extent, the individual experience going through all of this is remarkably similar regardless of their class, values, or paternalistic tendency.<br /><br />I don't understand what people mean when they say middle class values. Why are they so great that they become the standard of comparison? Are values different if you are poor or rich? Did the census poll for these values? I can see attaching descriptives to class of people is useful if you want to sell stuff. <br /><br />As for paternalism, good grief that exists at all levels of society in this world, from refugee camps to suburbia to country clubs. <br /><br />If people want to use these terms and other like it when discussing education, health care, wage disparity, etc. and study them to death. Great. You can make money writing about these problems, studying them, teaching about them, have convention to meet and share all these findings. Heck you can get elected or be a national voice with a platform. Whatever. Everything but fixing the problems. This is where I am losing patience. I can care less if you are an ed reformer or a Ravitch follower. It's not a debating point at the daily level when your problem is getting accommodation in the classroom or facing a principal over a fight. The outcome is how things are handled. It depends so much on people doing their job and being personally accountable for their actions. I suspect many people out there are like me who are sick of national debates. When I head to work which I must soon, I run into headwinds. It takes many skillful hands, some highly educated, others without a HS education or even fluency in English to get through these headwinds. The successful days are days when we all work well together and do our best even when the people we care for die. When we work, it's what in front of us that counts. During breaks, when we have time to shoot the breeze, sure a good debate over education, is this the civil right cause of our time or not, might be fine (though in all honesty, it's more let's hit so and so unit for cookies someone brought in :)<br /><br />reader<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91073441040799809472014-12-19T13:08:56.805-08:002014-12-19T13:08:56.805-08:00Bravo, Mary.Bravo, Mary.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-71339301425709856332014-12-19T08:26:57.657-08:002014-12-19T08:26:57.657-08:00They still collect the data. That was the Gates&#...They still collect the data. That was the Gates' $10M investment in an Academic Data Warehouse. They just choose not to share it. Much like they choose not to share a lot of things. Perhaps it's embargoed because scores dropped under Enfield and Banda. Only print good news, right?mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75811468640422282292014-12-19T08:21:17.016-08:002014-12-19T08:21:17.016-08:00We must continue to include our students with disa...We must continue to include our students with disabilities in the opportunity gap data. We have primarily focused on racial and ethnic disproportionality.......and we must continue to focus on all students who are discriminated against in our educational systems.<br /><br />The Seattle Public Schools Data Profile Summary that presented all data has been discontinued. This document must be published again. The general public must be able to access this data as in previous years. The School Board is aware that this Data Profile District Summary was discontinued in 2012. Director Carr said that she was looking into this. Please strongly encourage the Board and Superintendent to make this a PRIORITY. Thank you.Carol Simmonsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33750140973733047302014-12-18T16:16:52.521-08:002014-12-18T16:16:52.521-08:00On the one hand, in SPS, sped watcher has got it n...On the one hand, in SPS, sped watcher has got it nailed, because for the most part, kids with disabilities are not even mentioned by ed reformers. The opportunity gap? That's about kids of color or kids of immigrants. On the other hand, being black is not the old civil rights issue or the new civil rights issue. It's still the same issue. The question, as phrased, is wrong. We don't live in a post-racial society, and all the hand wringing by ed reformers really doesn't change any of that. What I would say is that students with disabilities, who are invisible, and student who are black, who are not invisible, still end up in the same place. Sped Watcher points to the use of restraint and seclusion, though, would point to a deeper human rights issue than even the provision of an adequate education. <br /><br />Despite what the district administrators have reported to the board, the use of restraint and seclusion occurs on a daily basis in almost every single elementary school in this district. It is not limited to emergencies. It is not being done according to procedure. It is routine, it is inhumane, it is not educational, and it is morally wrong. It is traumatizing to these kids, and just as traumatizing to their parents. It is a basic violation of human rights. It is the same disproportionate use of force displayed by police against black people. And it starts in kindergarten. For shame. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542105149501352547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55007108664016829532014-12-18T15:49:06.605-08:002014-12-18T15:49:06.605-08:00what mirmac1 said --
Janwhat mirmac1 said --<br /><br />JanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47420128226429402152014-12-18T15:18:30.760-08:002014-12-18T15:18:30.760-08:00sped watcher.
Nailed it.sped watcher.<br /><br />Nailed it.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18061141908632432002014-12-18T14:18:19.824-08:002014-12-18T14:18:19.824-08:00Lunchtime, you are now at what might a more delica...Lunchtime, you are now at what might a more delicate place in the discussion.<br /><br />Because you are talking about personal responsibility. That's a very tough place because it is the intersection of personal and group. <br /><br />I absolutely understand the era you describe. I grew up in Arizona, the land of Barry Goldwater (famously conservative). <br /><br />BUT, for example, no one wore their religion on their sleeve - it was a private matter. JFK was questioned about his religion and he was somewhat offended by the intrusion of the public into his private life.<br /><br />I think someone once said luck is when opportunity and preparation meet. No one can wait for something to come to them nor have something come, only to not be ready. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20979805240997967842014-12-18T13:44:35.656-08:002014-12-18T13:44:35.656-08:00I do understand Melissa. I'm not white and gro...I do understand Melissa. I'm not white and growing up in the South, I lived the social/color pecking order. 50++ years later, I'm still quite aware how people judge me based on my color. Speaking specifically of SPS, schools need more diverse group of educators (in all schools, not just ones with high FRL). It does not escape me with the passing of the civil rights act and desegregation of universities, many blacks and other ethnic groups along with women have so many other worthy professions to pursue. Today, teaching is not the desirable, well paying, nor respected profession it once was. In my parents' day, teaching or government jobs was were you find professional, well educated non-whites working. Besides my parents, my teachers were my role models and mentors. <br /><br />Finally, motivation and opportunity go hand in hand. People have to believe there is still such a thing. Is there?<br /><br />(lunchtime)reader<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24200027121601940242014-12-18T13:04:47.670-08:002014-12-18T13:04:47.670-08:00Charlene, yes, this could all backfire but it depe...Charlene, yes, this could all backfire but it depends on what is being taught to kids in terms of personal actions (rather than academics).<br /><br />Lunchtime, I understand what you are saying. The problem is that many African-Americans learn, early on, that they will be judged (on a daily basis) in ways that others will not be.<br /><br />It affects your outlook and your motivation. <br /><br />This is a huge issue.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-71826897553200979222014-12-18T12:20:16.439-08:002014-12-18T12:20:16.439-08:00What are "middle class values"? Are the...What are "middle class values"? Are these values class bound? I ask in all seriousness. I'm old and I think when I was young my parents were so busy working that we didn't have discussions about values. It didn't happen in school either and that was during court mandated school desegregation. My parents were thrifty and hardworking. They wanted a good education for their children. Many of my teachers were black (men and women) and teaching was a respected profession. It was desirable back then to be a teacher, a nurse, or to work in the government. <br /><br />My parents despite many challenging life experiences were generally positive people. They prized thrift, hardwork, education, good citizenship, good paying jobs, a home, stability, and family. By the time I was school age, we were middle class by income bracket. But I have to say neither of my parents derived these "values" because they achieved middle class status. I think it was because of who they were to begin with plus, as my dad would say, a lucky break here and there. <br /><br />Perhaps it's not class values or paternalism as much as outlook and character plus opportunity<br /> which matter. I realize my parents' world is slowly disappearing. In so many ways we are using class, race/ethnicity, religion, politics, credit rating, what we wear and where we shop, go to school and live to define who we are. It's easy data to gather and quantify. Data to separate people. Easy to marginalize and polarize. Government, coporations, schools, employers, neighbors are profiling by using <br />superficial artifacts of our lives. How accurate are these profiles? People make so, so many decisions based on these snapshots? Sometimes with deadly consequences.<br /><br />I think it's difficult to gauge a person's character, motive, and outlook. It takes time, face to face daily interaction to appreciate people's worth and their human condition. We've seemed to have lost that ability. Rather ironic despite the ease of mobility and social media connectivity, we've become more partitioned. It's this lack of care and where fear abounds which make opportunity (those lucky breaks) for the most vulnerable among us harder to find. <br /><br />lunchtime readerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70762032196797539992014-12-18T11:03:22.264-08:002014-12-18T11:03:22.264-08:00The middle class has a vested interest in the stat...The middle class has a vested interest in the status quo as it keeps them and their offspring out of the lower class. In fact, the middle class is the enemy of the lower class. The middle class exploits them as much as the upper class. Whether the fast food worker or store clerk in the US, or the garment worker in Pakistan or the electronic assembler in China; the global middle class is the problem, the lackey of the 1%, if you will.<br />As far as teaching poor non-white children middle class values, it can only help for those kids to understand their real oppressors.<br />Charlenenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61716675623858410452014-12-18T10:45:23.240-08:002014-12-18T10:45:23.240-08:00"US economic divide" could be the break ..."US economic divide" could be the break point for this country. <br /><br />"People who learn "middle class values" as defined by the 1 percent will be less likely to want to overthrow the order, even through the ballot box, that the 1 percent has established to protect itself."<br /><br />Very much in a nutshell for me. That Gates, Walton, Broad and all these 1% are the ones pushing much of ed reform (plus the unholy duo that is the Koch brothers) is what makes me lose sleep at night. <br /><br />Middle class values? Yes. But who and how are questions that have to be answered. <br /><br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70753475598555224492014-12-18T09:55:07.475-08:002014-12-18T09:55:07.475-08:00Ed voter asks:
"What's the point of busi...Ed voter asks:<br /><br />"What's the point of business people pushing middle class values on racial minorities and economic poor when many of those very same people support Federal policies that daily undermine the economic viability of the entire middle class? "<br />--<br />The answer is obvious to me. People who learn "middle class values" as defined by the 1 percent will be less likely to want to overthrow the order, even through the ballot box, that the 1 percent has established to protect itself.<br /><br />-- Ivan Weiss<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-51880189313707142792014-12-18T09:32:59.533-08:002014-12-18T09:32:59.533-08:00What's the point of business people pushing mi...What's the point of business people pushing middle class values on racial minorities and economic poor when many of those very same people support Federal policies that daily undermine the economic viability of the entire middle class? <br /><br />The US economic divide today is wider than ever and the middle class is losing viability at a terrifying rate. The WA Post is running a good series on this right now.<br /><br />Even if one believes the debatable point that KIPP et al offer better educational opportunities than the school around the corner for racial minorities or the poor, there is little hope that even with a college degree these students will vault from poverty into a strong middle class, let alone achieve a high economic standard of living.<br /><br />Our economic system is broken and our kids - even those starting out within the middle class - face declining prospects for their futures thanks to the interest and influence of the country's top wealth holders. Charter school solutions and teaching middle school value "solutions" are canards within the true economic remedies needed to staunch our decaying society. <br /><br />EdVoterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-59718775113100730562014-12-18T03:19:41.453-08:002014-12-18T03:19:41.453-08:00Racism is still a huge issue in our culture, and w...Racism is still a huge issue in our culture, and we must use the recent horrible events as a catalyst to push us into doing more about fostering equal treatment and opportunities for all.<br /><br />But we must also not ignore poverty. Poverty, for those of all skin colors, is a huge anchor on achieving both a good education and future good employment. Hungry and stressed out children do not learn well.<br /><br />It's sad that we still have so much work to do in creating a remotely fair society.<br /><br />-rhodaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12378803288573072232014-12-17T22:16:09.029-08:002014-12-17T22:16:09.029-08:00A lot to think about. Thank you for the well resea...A lot to think about. Thank you for the well researched post Melissa. <br /><br />-Downtown DadAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45689336604925600552014-12-17T22:03:26.339-08:002014-12-17T22:03:26.339-08:00Discrimination against people with disabilities is...Discrimination against people with disabilities is THE Civil Rights Issue of our times. Yes, there are lingering and festering racial issues. But nobody disputes that the usage of the N-word is unacceptable and hateful, and that racism is an evil. The R-word, well it's not a problem. Over and over the R-word is repeated in SPS, without a thought or care. "Ablism", that's ok. It doesn't matter that failure to address the basic issue of disabilities human rights costs our society, at every turn. Education, employment, medical care, homelessness, jail, etc. Despite all that, our basic government services refuse to address the problem. Special ed is the most mismanaged part of SPS, yet not one thing has been done to fix it. Not one thing. It's never mentioned in the achievement gap, there's never any point of accountability. Restraint and seclusion - those are all fine and good for our students with disabilities. When implemented on anyone else, they are a crime. The group MOST likely to receive restraint or seclusion are the disabled, yet the federal government doesn't investigate that. Special ed is simply a funding source to plunder - at all levels of SPS. At the highest level in SPS, we have a 3 directors who barely have ANY special education experience between them. They are all simply plundering the resource for their own benefit, and resume padding. The executive director has what? 2 or 3 years of teaching sped experience, and that's it. Does he even have a degree in special ed? We have a "school based" director - who has 0 experience in disabilities, 0 education in anything related to disabilities or special education, and was never very good with the population, who suddenly has a new found love of the disabled. Really???? Her new found love is somehow qualification for promotion? Sure it's great for a personal pay bump, and an easy leap to a directorship. And finally, we have a school psych, who has spent her career gatekeeping services. Nice trio. This crowd has decided that their own personal enrichment is of paramount importance - because, well, IAs for student services need to be curtailed in order to pay for an increased administration cost.... triplicated for all three. SPS has also decided that students with disabilities - don't need an assignment plan. The trio alone should decide the placement of students with disabilities. (IDEA says it's an IEP decision. But, SPS has fought this at every turn.) I could go on and on. Above that, we have the state level special education: OSPI. OSPI has done nothing for special education for decades. The ONLY our state director of special education has gotten involved - is when he was able to force SPS to spend it's special ed IDEA funds.... to hire his friends. After years of doing nothing, Doug Gil decided that special ed in SPS is soooo bad - they have to spends hundreds of thousands on his friends, TIERs for "consulting".<br /><br />All this should answer the question - what is the civil rights issue of our times.<br /><br />Sped WatcherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87035287172256882772014-12-17T18:30:50.741-08:002014-12-17T18:30:50.741-08:00Thank you, Melissa. I hope this will be a fruitful...Thank you, Melissa. I hope this will be a fruitful discussion.<br /><br />-- Ivan WeissAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com