Odds and Ends
Forgot to mention the last Director Community meeting for this school year:
Director Betty Patu, 10 am-noon at Tully's, at Rainier and Genesee
So apparently, the John Marshall building is being rented to a group called Applied Scholastics Academy of Seattle. They use the "works" of L. Ron Hubbard who started (invented) Scienctology. Here's what they say:
I see you mention L. Ron Hubbard in your materials. Who is he and what does he have to do with Applied Scholastics Academy of Seattle?
L. Ron Hubbard was an American philosopher and educator who extensively researched the field of learning, and identified barriers to study that individuals face when trying to learn something new. More importantly, he developed methods to overcome these barriers that any person can apply. Mr. Hubbard’s written works on education and child development are applied within the school’s program and are directly related to our success in helping students and families.
They state it is not a religious school.
The school’s policy is one of respect for the religious beliefs of others and nothing of a religious nature is required of students or families.
But
The Church of Scientology and its members have been extremely assistive in the areas of support, volunteering and finance in order to help Applied Scholastics to achieve its purpose of providing strong and effective educational methods to any who thirst for knowledge throughout the world.
Here's what Wiki says about Applied Scholastics:
It is a member organization of the Clear Expansion Committee, which is a geographical grouping of Scientology entities with the aim of clearing the entire community and eventually building a Scientology world.
And the books they use don't link it any religion, some of them of course include Hubbard's name on the cover and have a directory of Scienctology churches in the U.S.
Hmm, not sure what to make of this but maybe it will be a good thing if the district needs the building back.
Lastly, over at the League of Education Voters, they announced a merger with the New School Foundation (which funds and guides South Shore preK-8). I'm not sure what to make of this as one is a local group and one a state group with some topic overlap.
They also, in their news roundup, talk about how great education reform is going in Illinois and link to a group called Advance Illinois. As Seattle Citizen pointed out in another thread, our friends at the Gates Foundation are big supporters as are other good groups like the John D. and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation.
The article outlines the various items it took to get the reform they apparently want. They mention creating their group. But what drew my attention to the article was this line (emphasis mine):
And the arrival of a national PAC, Stand for Children, willing to give meaningful dollars to reform-minded legislators helped deepen the pressure for change.
Ah, meaningful dollars, the mother's milk of elected officials. I'm thinking those meaningful dollars are akin to the ones spent by big oil or cigarette companies or any other group that can shove enough money at legislators to sway their vote.
They also said this (emphasis mine):
Strategic outside pressure, coupled with effective leadership at a moment of catalytic opportunity, has given Illinois students a very real chance at better outcomes.
Really? You want a lot of out-of-state people coming into your state with an agenda and telling your elected officials what YOUR children need and should be doing in school. What happened to local control?
At least they're honest about what it will take to get what they want.
Director Betty Patu, 10 am-noon at Tully's, at Rainier and Genesee
So apparently, the John Marshall building is being rented to a group called Applied Scholastics Academy of Seattle. They use the "works" of L. Ron Hubbard who started (invented) Scienctology. Here's what they say:
I see you mention L. Ron Hubbard in your materials. Who is he and what does he have to do with Applied Scholastics Academy of Seattle?
L. Ron Hubbard was an American philosopher and educator who extensively researched the field of learning, and identified barriers to study that individuals face when trying to learn something new. More importantly, he developed methods to overcome these barriers that any person can apply. Mr. Hubbard’s written works on education and child development are applied within the school’s program and are directly related to our success in helping students and families.
They state it is not a religious school.
The school’s policy is one of respect for the religious beliefs of others and nothing of a religious nature is required of students or families.
But
The Church of Scientology and its members have been extremely assistive in the areas of support, volunteering and finance in order to help Applied Scholastics to achieve its purpose of providing strong and effective educational methods to any who thirst for knowledge throughout the world.
Here's what Wiki says about Applied Scholastics:
It is a member organization of the Clear Expansion Committee, which is a geographical grouping of Scientology entities with the aim of clearing the entire community and eventually building a Scientology world.
And the books they use don't link it any religion, some of them of course include Hubbard's name on the cover and have a directory of Scienctology churches in the U.S.
Hmm, not sure what to make of this but maybe it will be a good thing if the district needs the building back.
Lastly, over at the League of Education Voters, they announced a merger with the New School Foundation (which funds and guides South Shore preK-8). I'm not sure what to make of this as one is a local group and one a state group with some topic overlap.
They also, in their news roundup, talk about how great education reform is going in Illinois and link to a group called Advance Illinois. As Seattle Citizen pointed out in another thread, our friends at the Gates Foundation are big supporters as are other good groups like the John D. and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation.
The article outlines the various items it took to get the reform they apparently want. They mention creating their group. But what drew my attention to the article was this line (emphasis mine):
And the arrival of a national PAC, Stand for Children, willing to give meaningful dollars to reform-minded legislators helped deepen the pressure for change.
Ah, meaningful dollars, the mother's milk of elected officials. I'm thinking those meaningful dollars are akin to the ones spent by big oil or cigarette companies or any other group that can shove enough money at legislators to sway their vote.
They also said this (emphasis mine):
Strategic outside pressure, coupled with effective leadership at a moment of catalytic opportunity, has given Illinois students a very real chance at better outcomes.
Really? You want a lot of out-of-state people coming into your state with an agenda and telling your elected officials what YOUR children need and should be doing in school. What happened to local control?
At least they're honest about what it will take to get what they want.
Comments
Rep. Sharon Santos (House Ed Chair from the 37th) refused to schedule it for a timely hearing.
Randy Dorn was to give a report to the legislators on or before Jan1, 2011. He finally provided that report on the last day of January. There was a hearing a few days later of a Friday. By Tuesday (4 days later) Rep. Brad Klippert had dropped a Bill HB 1891 for the delay of the Common Core State Standards.
Santos refused to schedule a hearing because HB 1891 was not submitted in time.
Dorn was 30 days late in carrying out a law written specifically for him..... and Santos facilitates this pseudo-fraud.
HB 1891 which was to delay the adoption of the Coming Core Standards for at least two years, was discarded. The CCSS will require local school districts to come up with $165 million over the next 5 years..... Side-note: $165 million would pay for 330 teachers per year for those 5 years.
This is NUTS ... but MW thanks for the explanation. I get it now:
And the arrival of a national PAC, Stand for Children, willing to give meaningful dollars to reform-minded legislators helped deepen the pressure for change.
Ah, meaningful dollars, the mother's milk of elected officials. I'm thinking those meaningful dollars are akin to the ones spent by big oil or cigarette companies or any other group that can shove enough money at legislators to sway their vote.
----------
Check the academic results for Seattle Schools in the 37th district ... and Santos is the House Education Committee chair. .... Well at least She and Eric Pettigrew should be rolling in the donated campaign dough for their reelections.
And your LONG link ("I see you mention L. Ron Hubbard in your materials. Who is he and what does he have to do with Applied Scholastics Academy of Seattle?") doesn't work - it takes the user to the "blogger.com" sign up page...
Hey, and a cool WV - "dagmar"...!
There are three organizations currently named as occupying the Marshall building. Three have signs out front: Applied Scholastic Academy, Seattle Girl's Choir, and the Seattle Area German American School you reference.
ASA's website says they are at Marshall.
As to where in the building, that is unknown to me (and probably everybody else except the district leasing agent.) My guess is that SGC uses the auditorium, while the two schools use one or more classrooms, probably on the first floor as they are both, I think, quite small.
Here is ASA's website. Here is their FAQ sheet page, which has the information about Hubbard that Melissa referenced, as well as telling us that the Church of Scientology has been "extremely assistive" in setting up the school, but that they are not a religious school.
"stagping" - another cool WV...
I wonder what's on the third floor of Marshall. Pidgeons, most likely. Someone told a story of being in a third floor room, hearing a commotion behind a bookcase, moving the bookcase and be startled by a pidgeon flying out. Turns out there are some sort ventilation chimneys, about a foot square, running up the inside walls from each classroom. This one had a cover, up at roof level, blown off...One wonders: If the third floor is empty, and we've certainly had some winds in the last three years...It's pidgeon heaven!
WV has merely this to reommend about that: stlittes, whom I believe is the saint of low-calorie beer.
http://fairgamestop.org/scientology-in-education.html