Friday Open Thread
There will be a memorial tomorrow for Ballard High School teacher, Megan Vogel, a Golden Apple award-winner.
From Ballard High School: “She is missed by her family, friends, colleagues and the hundreds of BHS students and graduates that she had a profound impact on. We will join together this Saturday, August 25th from 1-3 pm in the BHS Performing Arts Center for a Celebration of Megan’s life. In lieu of flowers, please bring live plants to remember Ms. Vogel’s connection to the living world.”
For more, visit the Facebook page that was created in her memory.
I also apologize for not noting the recent passing of Louise McKinney, a longtime educator, in our city. From the Times:
Louise McKinney was a philanthropist, patron of the arts and longtime educator who believed that all children were capable of learning, no matter their station in life.
As a teacher and later principal at a number of Seattle schools, she prodded and nudged institutions to do right by kids — especially African-American youth — and established scholarships to ensure that the brightest among them got a fair shot.
I also want to give a shout-out to Talbot Hill Elementary in Renton where they were recently awarded a "Coolest School" honor by Scholastic Parent and Child magazine. Talbot Hill is a Title One school that uses an innovative student government program throughout the school day that integrates academics with civics. (Another example of innovation in our state - Washington state and Washington State districts are not in a "status quo" by any means.)
What's on your mind?
From Ballard High School: “She is missed by her family, friends, colleagues and the hundreds of BHS students and graduates that she had a profound impact on. We will join together this Saturday, August 25th from 1-3 pm in the BHS Performing Arts Center for a Celebration of Megan’s life. In lieu of flowers, please bring live plants to remember Ms. Vogel’s connection to the living world.”
For more, visit the Facebook page that was created in her memory.
I also apologize for not noting the recent passing of Louise McKinney, a longtime educator, in our city. From the Times:
Louise McKinney was a philanthropist, patron of the arts and longtime educator who believed that all children were capable of learning, no matter their station in life.
As a teacher and later principal at a number of Seattle schools, she prodded and nudged institutions to do right by kids — especially African-American youth — and established scholarships to ensure that the brightest among them got a fair shot.
I also want to give a shout-out to Talbot Hill Elementary in Renton where they were recently awarded a "Coolest School" honor by Scholastic Parent and Child magazine. Talbot Hill is a Title One school that uses an innovative student government program throughout the school day that integrates academics with civics. (Another example of innovation in our state - Washington state and Washington State districts are not in a "status quo" by any means.)
What's on your mind?
Comments
Parent educator
Have you tried emailing your principal to find out what's happening?
Ben
I don't get it. I thought "no money means no money"
Don't get it.
Must've been record profits last year...
It is disgusting to see what principals, mid and upper level managers are making.
We know that with their paltry skill sets they would make a quarter of their outrageous salaries in any other job placement.
I really don't understand why the public tolerates this while their children are crammed into ever expanding classes as teaching staff are continually cut because "there is no money".
It is up to parents to change this scam.
Urban Legend
Yes, teachers should be professionally paid. But why not a lower starting wage with a rapidly increasing schedule for those who prove themselves and stick with it since so many don't?
I guess I should just be happy that new teachers are doing well. But it sure took a long time for me. Those of us caught in the middle waited an extra long time for that eventual bump up which happened finally with the previous contract - I think the previous one. I noticed a significant raise finally. But it took fifteen of my current twenty years to get there. So keep in mind that your average experienced teacher wasn't making any huge salary when he/she started and certainly not $41,000 after two years. It just ain't so.
n...
If it makes you feel better, with inflation 42,000 in 2010 is equal to a salary of $ 25,000 in 1991
Shouldn't a teacher understand inflation?
I'd like to see your source for that kind of inflation. Except for the housing bubble, I thought inflation had been fairly limited.
Guess I'm kind of hard a** about it. Sorry.
n...
Flippancy doesn't replace citing a source.
n...
http://www.free-online-calculator-use.com/salary-inflation-calculator.html
http://cost.jsc.nasa.gov/inflate.html
Also wanted to add that my kid was at Lafayette in kindy last year and class sizes were small and I think again this year because they just added a 4th kindergarten. I believe 2 of the classes were at 23-25 last year and two were at 18-20. It would not surprise me if this year is similar. 32 is huge. Wow. I hope those teachers have some help!
Hopeful Mom
It's a tough spot but I can't see the district changing its mind if it is about Special Ed.
On the other hand, if it is just about a couple of space in Gen Ed, maybe. You could write directly to Tracy Libros but that's about all that can be done. If you are willing to wait a couple of weeks into school, both the district and the school will have a better idea as things shake out.
The district has FINALLY figured out that SpEd kids have a right to attend the school they would regularly be assigned, but for their disability. Facilities has, heretofore, NOT taken SpEd kids into account when calculating capacity and planning for future buildings. I say kudos to the District. Unfortunately, too often principals would like to either a) push our kids out; b) pretend they're not there; c) keep them locked into self-contained despite the requirement to give them meaningful opportunities to interact with their typically developing peers, and teach them in the least restrictive environment (yes, that means regular classrooms, as well as lunch and recess).
I will contact Tracy Libros and just get confirmation that we won't get in. Hey, at least I can finally buy school supplies.
Thanks. Hopeful Mom
It exaggerates a bit for comic effect.
The average yearly starting salary offer for workers who graduated from college with a bachelor's degree in the spring of 2010 was $48,288 according to the 2010 Fall Salary Survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). The Average New Grad's Salary | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_7431135_average-new-grad_s-salary.html#ixzz24bKIOAf2
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IMHO
Read more: The Average New Grad's Salary | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_7431135
_average-new-grad_s-salary.html#ixzz24bKIOAf2
$42K after two years does not seem like a huge salary.
Not from around here
My complaint isn't so much that new teachers are paid appropriately but that there was a group of us stuck in the middle who waited an awfully long time for that professional paycheck.
Again, just bad timing.
E-K: I didn't respond because I have no adequate rebuttal to your cost-of-living indexes or calculators other than to say those are general and can be argued on their merits by schooled economists who look at it by various sectors. No, I'm not one of them. But I know housing prices can inflate it just as gas prices will inflate our current index. So, I concede that you are correct as far as it goes. You point to a standard way of calculating inflation generally.
n...
Logistically, you should just be able to inform the attendance office that you are going on vacation. There is a code for vacation that is different from 'unexcused'.
On another note, something to think about is the effect an extended absence can have on your student's learning. Opportunities to travel can be amazing, and family connections are invaluable. However, some students are dramatically impacted by missing that much school, others can manage it pretty well and pick-up skills without much issue. It depends a lot on your child, how much you are able to provide support for the missed learning, when you will be gone and which units will be missed.
Your student's teacher might be willing to put together some work or activities to help bridge the gap. Speaking as a teacher, this is often difficult to do because we don't teach with worksheets or packets. When those materials used they are to practice skills and strategies from interactive lessons.
I've always appreciated it when families let me know quite a bit ahead of time, a month or so, to give me a heads up about the absences and then follow up a week before leaving. It's worth asking the teacher if they think the absences will be a hardship for the student.
If the teacher agrees to provide special materials for you, please have your child complete them. The teacher will have put time into preparing them so your student can re-enter school as smoothly as possible.
-one teacher
You could go to your child's teacher with an academic plan of how you will support learning while you are gone. I can't see a teacher saying "sure I'll make up lessons for two weeks for your child" but if you come to him or her with a plan, the teacher says okay, the principal may go along.
That said, it's probably not as bad at elementary but it will go on your child's record. I'm not sure how the district processes that but your child's grade will likely suffer in some way that you cannot undo. Only you know if that matters in the long run.
You could go to your child's teacher with an academic plan of how you will support learning while you are gone. I can't see a teacher saying "sure I'll make up lessons for two weeks for your child" but if you come to him or her with a plan, the teacher says okay, the principal may go along.
That said, it's probably not as bad at elementary but it will go on your child's record. I'm not sure how the district processes that but your child's grade will likely suffer in some way that you cannot undo. Only you know if that matters in the long run.
At our school, the principal does code vacations as unexcused. Also, parents are expected to create a learning plan. She has thankfully let teachers off the hook for such a plan. In my experience, plans created by teachers have about a fifty percent chance of actually getting done. Some parents are vigilant and others are not.
Traveling is so valuable - esp. overseas. Reading and writing can certainly be maintained if parents consistently monitor journaling activities and demand that daily reading continue. "Monitoring" of course means demanding excellence and paying attention to writing skills including conventions. The reading should encompass different genres. Comic books, Matt Holm or Captain Underpants will not satisfy expectations.
Math is a different story. Losing a year of math can be very difficult to catch up unless parents look over the grade level expectatioins and feel comfortable they can teach those skills themselves.
Perhaps looking over a copy of common core standards or taking one with you would give you a guide to how to help your child keep up. If you have confidence in your ability to supplement your child's learning in those areas, you're probably okay.
This is what I tell my parents. Not all teachers will agree with me. Different strokes and all.
n...
-sped parent
Go for it! 10 school days is nothing in the big picture compared to what your student will absorb and observe. We have done this many times and our kids always have bounced back (academically fine & culturally enriched beyond measure).
Nuts & bolts- Read the new SPS Board Policy 3121 & specifically the Superintendent Procedure 3121SP. Planned excused absences specifically include "educational trips or other special one-time events", and your request should reflect this definition, as well as include the "educational plan" (a journal at any age is a great start, and add in practical math ie currency conversions, maps with distances etc.).
"2. Planned absences are excused when the parent submits a request to the
Principal or Assistant Principal at least three school days before the
start of the planned absence and the Principal or Assistant Principal
approves the absence. Planned absences may include, but are not
limited to, medical appointments, religious events or holidays,
educational trips or other special one-time events. The school principal
has the authority to determine whether a specific request for a planned
absence is to be excused. Long-term excused absences or a succession
of long short-term absences over the school year may affect whether
the student will be promoted. Schools and parents/guardians are
encouraged to develop educational plans for students to mitigate loss
of instructional time caused by planned absences."
Finally, it is in the school's (and the district's) best interest to accept your trip as an excused absence, because there is a push for state funding to be cut for unexcused absences, and OSPI is carefully monitoring these absences.
(the policy's mention of "mitigate loss of instructional time" really amuses me as the district ironically requires our students to miss 6 full days + 5 half days in elementary school from the state required 180 days as a required cut from instructional time each year)
The gen ed/spec seat issue is an assumption I made based on a short conversation I had with a staff person and not necessarily what happened or what is really going on behind the scenes. I can see the can of worms I opened by trying to do what is best for my child and asking for advice here. I do think it is interesting that some schools can have 32 kids in a class while others limit it to 25. I guess that is left up to the staff at the school, so our not getting in is most likely due to the desire at this specific school, to keep class sizes low and not necessarily the special ed issue. Great for the kids at the school, but not so great if you are hoping to get into the school. Again, I am just trying to do what is best for my child. I don't think anyone is out to steal general ed seats from special ed kids who need them and want to participate in as many general ed activities as they can. I am sure the staff at the school feel the same way and any assumption otherwise was wrongly implied by me.
Thanks, Hopeful Mom
Don't take our comments as rebukes. Your question simply gave sped Parent and me an opportunity to inform others about what has happened, and continues to happen at SPS. Like you, we want the best for our children, but often find principals who are ignorant of the law and best practice. Having attended a number of the Facility Master Plan, building specifications, and capacity management meetings, I am pleased to note that some at SPS are finally acknowledging that they can no longer ignore SpEd building needs.
If, in fact, the school in question is K-5 STEM at Boren, then I am particularly bemused. The principal actually applied to be the head of special education, instead landing this other gig. By opening the waitlist despite full enrollment, she would have virtually guaranteed overfilled classrooms when our kids tried to claim their general ed seat.
RBHS will have to train her in cultural competency...
been there
Mercer Middle School named high progress "Reward School" - making the prestigious list of the top-performing, most-improved Title 1 schools in the state...As a high-progress Reward School, Mercer scored in the top 10 percent of Title I schools in reading and math (combined) on state assessments for its “all students” group.
It's amazing how changing the math curriculum can help improve math performance.
parent