Rainier Beach High School and Books
"I am intentionally being OT here to point out that the thread for helping ot purchase textbooks for Rainier Beach seems to have been forgotten or at least neglected."
Fun fact: Charlie and are not being paid for either blogging or attending multiple SPS meetings. Wanted to make sure that was understood.
I haven't forgotten about RBHS and the book issue. I haven't neglected it either. I've exchanged e-mails and phone calls with Mr. Gary, the Alliance and a couple of RBHS teachers.
Please understand. Any of you can write a check and send it to RBHS anytime you would like. However, there are nuances to doing this correctly. I would like to do my best to make sure that any money sent is easy for RBHS staff to access and that it is used for the stated purpose for which it is given.
If anyone doesn't like how I am handling this, I will pass this project onto you.
Fun fact: Charlie and are not being paid for either blogging or attending multiple SPS meetings. Wanted to make sure that was understood.
I haven't forgotten about RBHS and the book issue. I haven't neglected it either. I've exchanged e-mails and phone calls with Mr. Gary, the Alliance and a couple of RBHS teachers.
Please understand. Any of you can write a check and send it to RBHS anytime you would like. However, there are nuances to doing this correctly. I would like to do my best to make sure that any money sent is easy for RBHS staff to access and that it is used for the stated purpose for which it is given.
If anyone doesn't like how I am handling this, I will pass this project onto you.
Comments
From police blotter:
Residents of Tent City 3, recently located adjacent to Rainier Beach high school, accuse students from the high school of beating, robbing and brutalizing some of the homeless during the month of October (2009). About the most recent attack, one "resident" of Tent City 3 stated, ". . . this wasn't the first assault . . . Two weeks earlier, another man was brutally attacked and robbed by another group of men in their teens and early twenties. '[He] just got out of hospital two days ago,' . . . Kelly says Tent City residents had to walk behind Rainier Beach High School to get to the camp, and often saw a "big pack of 5 to 20" teens hanging around an abandoned building near the school. “They were claiming that as their territory,” Kelly says, adding that he believes Tent City residents were specifically targeted. 'There’s no question they knew who we were,' he says."
Yesterday and today, disturbances between students at RBHS were serious enough that medical help was needed and police arrested one or more perpetrators.
Regardless of the new SAP, if the new boundaries mean I have to send my kids to south end high schools, I'll move.
Thank you also to the regular commenters- your knowledge and contributions are appreciated as well.
No doubt ... as posted else where look at WASL scores but more importantly classroom disruptions and vandalism.
The district lives in "Public Relations" land and steadfastly refuses to deal with reality.
Sorry but I see NO evidence the Superintendent's plans are working or will ever work. Massive spending, no accountability and no positive results. "Centralization" does NOT work and will not work.
Charlie and Melissa spearhead one of the few vehicles that takes on this well funded but educationally ineffective "PR" machine known as the Central Administration.
A big congratulations to those working in the schools for their continued efforts in spite of chaotic direction from above.
Thanks to Charlie and Melissa for asking the hard questions and keeping the things that SPS hope will go away if ignored.
Thanks for relating more about the RBHS situation.
The public schools put a lot of energy into "Public Relations".
Thus the public is generally happy with the schools.
Grade inflation and social promotion coupled with the "PR" keep a large portion of the adult voting population happy as clams (and just as observant).
Congratulations and thanks are in order for those teaching in adverse circumstances. The question remains: "What are the school directors directing ... a public relations campaign or a school system?"
Looking at the relevant data it is clear a "Public Relations" effort is the primary focus NOT academic improvement.
How could the Directors allow the Superintendent to miss a quarterly report about the strategic plan?
Quite easily because it does not matter. It is just like those school improvement plans ... these are only efforts to fulfill mindless bureaucratic requirements and totally disconnected from reality.
My earlier post was in no way focused on you. It was meant as a general question to all posting here. I do not assume that if someone brings up an issue, it is for you or Charlie to solve. My point was that we all carry a responsibility for what we want to see changed in regards to schools.
I very much appreciate that you are working on RBHS books. I had no idea what was going on behind the scenes as there were no further posts on the orignal thread.
I wonder, did Harium ask these questions and was told there is no issue? Or did not ask the questions so is not informed at this time? He says he's looking into it.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch....
just let us know when something is set up and we can get the word out.
and thank you!
Mr. Dempsey I could not agree more. A very good friend of mine works as a teacher at RBHS. She needs the job and does not make waves and call attention by complaining, she is gratified to see that others have called attention to the problems SPS ignores, while she quietly is looking for a teaching job in public education. Not only is afraid of her students, but is encouraged to pad grades with extra points for showing up on time, more for having a pen or pencil, having parents attend open house. She also says that athletes are often allowed to skate by.
I would very much like for this teacher to come forward and talk to me. I do not give credit for being on time, or having a pencil or anything of the such. Given my position as ther ONLY teacher of Algebra 2 in the school, ANY athlete that harbors dreams of a D1 scholarship has to take and pass my class. I have had MANY D1 athletes fail my class. NO ONE has ever asked me to change a grade or allow ANY athlete to skate by. Just so all of you know, that was policy BEFORE I had a contiuning contract and will remain that way till the day I stop teaching. NO ONE will ever slide in my class and NO will ever get a favor or a break because of who they are or their ability to run fast or jump high.
I would very much like to talk to this person. If your friend is uncomfortable approaching me at school, they can always talk to me away from school in any environment they choose. It is this sort of thing that allows the unfair image of RBHS to linger and I am not going to let something like this sit and fester.
Can you confirm or dispel any of the rumors, and comments, we have read recently about the out of control classroom behavior of students at RBHS? It seems like you run a pretty tight ship in your class. Have you had any serious behavior issues in your classes? Have any other teachers?
I was slightly misinformed when I posted about one of the three incidents The stabbing incidence with the two girls happened in May 2009. The choking incident has not been reported yet (if ever), though you can find that the fire department did respond to the Rainier Beach High School on November 3. One of the many links to the story about the homeless attacks on the residents of Tent City 3 located until recently adjacent to RBHS is http://www.seattlecrime.com/2009/10/30/homeless-targeted-in-south-seattle-attacks
Mr. Rice, from everything I hear, you are well-respected and an exceptional teacher. But the school also has a much higher than average teacher turnover rate, leading me to believe that you are the exception to the rule.
Regarding everything else, I'm sorry to say, but my friend will not come forward. As a matter of fact, that I said anything here has made her pretty angry. I promised that I'd leave it alone.