Positive PR for Seattle Public Schools

In contrast to the Seattle Times, the Seattle Weekly has provided more balanced and in-depth coverage of Seattle Public Schools. Last week, Nina Shapiro wrote an interesting article about Trish Millines-Dziko, TAF and Rainier Beach (Schooling the District). This week, she provides some positive PR for the Cleveland High School in her article, Southern Exposure, tying the issues of perception of quality, race, and choice together, and relating these issues to the current Supreme Court case on using race as a tie-breaker.

Comments

Melissa Westbrook said…
There was an interesting comment in this article by a teacher. He stated something to the effect that kids at Cleveland have to be self-motivated to get to (or ask for) rigor at Cleveland (as opposed to Garfield or Roosevelt where is more readily available).

Most of you probably don't have teens yet or maybe not even middle schoolers. Maybe it's my son or the people I know but frankly self-motivation is a HUGE issue. It's about wanting to take on rigor, wanting to do more than just "do" the homework, and showing intellectual curiosity. (The last one is my biggest issue with Bush - I don't think he's dumb but his lack of intellectual curiousity has hurt this country no end.)

I don't know if it's the 3 Bimbos of the Apocalypse (Paris, Lyndsay and Brittney), rap stars, professional athletes or what but many otherwise bright kids just want to phone it in. (Yes, there are many kids out there working hard but not as many as I remember from my high school days.) They seem to think that, at the end of their college lives, a bright shiny job with a bright shiny car (and an iPod and X-Box) will be just waiting outside the dorm door.

Just one Mom's rant but ask your friends with teens about the motivation issue. (One note; many states don't have our state's requirement of a senior project and community service. Maybe the kids just feel bogged down by those things plus regular coursework and passing the WASL.)
12/14/06, 2:53 PM
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