Check Out What is Happening in Spokane

I realize this is not directly related to Seattle, but this is beyond comprehension.

Rogers, L. (August, 2009). "Blame math problem on administrators." Retrieved (09/04/2009) from the Betrayed Web site: http://betrayed-whyeducationisfailing.blogspot.com/2009/08/blame-math-problem-on-administrators.html


But this is even worse:

http://betrayed-whyeducationisfailing.blogspot.com/2009/08/fact-spokane-looks-bad-in-testing.html

My 5th year of teaching starts on Wednesday and I am jazzed up to get started. I did a week of AP training in late June, taught Summer School in July and have been preparing for the new year since August 1st. This will be my best year yet.

Comments

zb said…
What are we supposed to be horrified by -- a blog set up for the specific purpose of telling people "what's wrong with public education?" The tenor the header made me uninterested in reading any multi-page polemic that followed. If there were substances there, it's not going to reach me.
9/5/09, 6:53 AM
seattle citizen said…
ZB, here's what we are to be horrified by (from Mr. Chapman's Board testimony about his daughter, her principal, and her teacher):
The teacher Mr. Harrison excused Madison to use the bathroom after [principal] Pat Lynass had humiliated her [by telling Maddi, in front of her classmates, that failing the test would preclude advanced clsses, a lie] and she began to cry. Pat Lynass proceeded to follow Madison into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. She then continued to badger Maddi until she no longer wanted to go back into the classroom to finish the [WASL] test.
...Pat Lynass told me she did this because the district failed to meet its AYP for having low test scores, and she had to make sure the district wouldn't fall short of expectations again this year because federal funding was riding on these tests
...The district has targeted Mr. Harrison and, on the Channel 4 KXLY 6 o'clock News, has accused him of being a problem teacher
9/5/09, 8:28 AM
WenD said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
9/5/09, 9:39 AM
WenD said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
9/5/09, 9:49 AM
WenD said…
zb: I hear you. The blog handle might sound dramatic, but I read this as a report on harassment so severe that a teacher left, and OSPI did nothing. This is desperate and unprofessional behavior on the part of a principal. Isn't this the kind of desperation Randy Dorn was campaigning against when he defeated Terry Bergeson?

Without researching this, what are the precedents for principals handling tests and chasing kids into bathrooms? The father sounds credible, and in response, the local news did a FOX treatment and discredited the teacher instead of Patricia Lynass. The bully won, all because of a desperate testing culture, and Dorn did nothing.

In comments from the local news blog in Spokane, one parent describes "rebellion" on the part of the kids. If 14 opted out last year, it sounds like an unofficial WASL boycott is under way and Lynass retaliated. Where's the union on this?

Michael: Have a great year. My kids are excited about school too.
9/5/09, 9:51 AM
Melissa Westbrook said…
Michael, you have a great year. RBHS is lucky to have you.
9/5/09, 10:12 AM
Kim said…
Thanks for sharing Betrayals post. As a parent in Washington, I found the behaviour of the principal horrific, as well as the complete apathy shown by the board. If 'it's not going to reach' zb, good riddance. It bloody well reached me.
9/26/09, 3:36 PM
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