Friday Open Thread
On the pot watch:
- here's what Superintendent Randy Dorn had to say about the legalization of pot and public schools:
The passage of I-502 changes nothing in public schools in Washington state. Certain drugs, including marijuana, continue to be illegal on school property and to anyone younger than 21 years old.
To receive federal funds, districts must abide by the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act and must have a Drug and Tobacco-Free Workplace and a similar student policy in place.
Each district’s policy has a number of common requirements about marijuana and other drugs, such as not allowing any student to:
I-502 changes state law but has no effect on federal law.
Some people think that a medical marijuana card is similar to a prescription for a controlled substance and can be brought to schools or the workplace. That is false. Having a medical marijuana card does not mean a student, or an employee, or anyone for that matter, can bring marijuana on school grounds.
Students need to be engaged and prepared for school. Marijuana doesn’t allow them to be either of those things. Marijuana dulls the brain. It can lead to paranoia, short-term memory loss and depression. And for those under 21, it is illegal.
- President Obama announced this morning that the Feds would NOT be coming after Washington State or any other state that has legalized pot. They don't have the time or the resources for small-scale use of pot.
What's on your mind?
- here's what Superintendent Randy Dorn had to say about the legalization of pot and public schools:
The passage of I-502 changes nothing in public schools in Washington state. Certain drugs, including marijuana, continue to be illegal on school property and to anyone younger than 21 years old.
To receive federal funds, districts must abide by the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act and must have a Drug and Tobacco-Free Workplace and a similar student policy in place.
Each district’s policy has a number of common requirements about marijuana and other drugs, such as not allowing any student to:
- Be under the influence
- Possess
- Distribute
- Manufacture
I-502 changes state law but has no effect on federal law.
Some people think that a medical marijuana card is similar to a prescription for a controlled substance and can be brought to schools or the workplace. That is false. Having a medical marijuana card does not mean a student, or an employee, or anyone for that matter, can bring marijuana on school grounds.
Students need to be engaged and prepared for school. Marijuana doesn’t allow them to be either of those things. Marijuana dulls the brain. It can lead to paranoia, short-term memory loss and depression. And for those under 21, it is illegal.
What's on your mind?
Comments
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Final-hearing-in-Seattle-on-coal-export-terminal-183433671.html?tab=video&c=y
Mavmom
"Beyond the 'fiscal cliff,' America's kids need more – not less – government spending"
http://www.k12.wa.us/Communications/PressReleases2012/DornProposesChanges-Assessment.aspx
Students in the class of 2015 are required to pass five exit exams to graduate from high school:
Reading High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE)
Writing HSPE
Biology End-of-Course (EOC) exam
Algebra I EOC
Geometry EOC
In January, Dorn will propose to the Legislature that we reduce the five required tests to three:
Reading/writing HSPE
Biology EOC
Algebra I EOC
very upset
Mag Mom
I started studying gun violence 20 years ago in public health school and I can barely get my mind around the fact that we are so blase in this country and accept mass shootings as the price we pay to uphold the 2nd amendment.
So that I don't belabor my point, I just wanted to post something the Brady Campaign says:
What matters is not what we do after the sensational tragedies. It's what we do between them.
I couldn't agree more. We can't change our systems in a reactionary way after each horrific event. But we must, simply must, do the necessary and hard work required to reduce gun violence. The causes are multi-factorial and will require interdisciplinary solutions beyond the criminal justice system. We can put up cameras and make school visitors sign in but I'm afraid it won't be enough until we as a society grapple with our gun obsession and find some sort of balance between rights and risks.
I am with you. In the last month alone there have been two bank robberies in Magnolia within one or two blocks from one of the schools. I remain unconvinced that SPS has good procedures in place to keep intruders out OR to keep kids safe inside when armed bank robbers are still on the loose.
--Another Mag mom
"The city school district plans to close 37 public schools to address budget cuts, declining enrollment and enduring achievement gaps.
The closures would account for about 15 percent of the city's nearly 250 schools, and include about 10 high schools. The overhaul comes after tens of thousands of students moved to public charter schools over the past decade, contributing to sharp enrollment declines in traditional public schools. The district had to borrow $300 million this year alone to pay its bills."
--Another Mag mom
Let's assume for the moment that we have a locked fence all around the playground. Anyone entering or leaving the grounds has to go through the building. Unless the entrance is through the office and you have a locked door with a gatekeeper, someone can still walk into the building, turn away from the office, and have basically full access. If you do have a gatekeeper, there are substantial additional burdens to going to your child's school to volunteer or even pick up your kid at the end of the day. Any way you look at it, there are big crowds of parents and kids at the beginning or end of the day. Heck, unless you change the perimeter fence to an opaque wall, even chain link doesn't really protect kids on the playground.
None of this is to say that we can't do anything. I just think that the protection needs to be handled outside the school walls rather than inside. Unfortunately, it's hard to run school security like a bank, even though the school has far more precious contents.
To more directly address SPS' response to gun violence, there was the West Seattle shootings incident a little while ago. Any feedback from that community about the response?
Do you know if the local Magnolia schools did a lock down during those 2 bank robberies?
concerned
wwmom
I agree with Eric B that keeping intruders out of the schools is difficult. But as wwmom has noted, it can be done. However, there is a significant culture change that has to happen. And changes have to be done in a way as to not instill fear in children or intimidate them. Or discourage all the parent participation that SPS schools cannot survive (literally) without. That being said, it will likely take a tragedy here for any changes to happen.
--Another Mag mom
Building a Showcase Campus, Using an I.O.U.
While this is about Colleges the parallels to the SPS are certainly present. Deferred building maintenance, Poor use of building funds like Garfield's Raj Mahal remodel. Bloated administrative spending etc. and improved financial efficiency.
The comments are especially informative.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/12/16/1167685/-Charter-schools-don-t-perform-as-advertised-but-try-getting-their-advocates-to-admit-that?detail=hide
-whim