Tuesday Open Thread
Following up on yesterday's Memorial Walk near Eckstein, the Mayor speaks out. Changes to NE 75th include these:
• Installing a flashing school zone beacon on Northeast 75th Street in front of the school
• SDOT will begin the process of evaluating and potentially installing a school zone speed camera on Northeast 75th Street
The Seattle Police Department will enforce traffic laws at this location, including:
• Use of the mobile speed van to monitor and cite speeders, in response to requests from the Eckstein school community
• Temporary use of a speed reader board to warn drivers of their speed
• Assignment of traffic officers to monitor that corridor (since January 16th)
What's on your mind?
• Installing a flashing school zone beacon on Northeast 75th Street in front of the school
• SDOT will begin the process of evaluating and potentially installing a school zone speed camera on Northeast 75th Street
The Seattle Police Department will enforce traffic laws at this location, including:
• Use of the mobile speed van to monitor and cite speeders, in response to requests from the Eckstein school community
• Temporary use of a speed reader board to warn drivers of their speed
• Assignment of traffic officers to monitor that corridor (since January 16th)
What's on your mind?
Comments
Ben
The agenda for Wednesday's board meeting includes a rather bureaucratic "technology plan" required by OSPI. It does not, in any way, look like a real plan to better use our limited IT funds. Buildings (and PTSAs) are left to their own devices to stock tablets, netbooks, projectors etc.
I know preparing a district technology plan is high on KSB's agenda. Let's hope it happens in a thoughtful, well-designed manner.
I do think there should be a speed camera there.
And, if ignition locks are required, they should confiscate the car and install the lock before they give it back.
Thinking that since SPS isn't a technology company, SPS will never do tech well. It hasn't so far and it doesn't look promising for the future. Too many complicated software and privacy concerns downtown. Too little funding for resources for school support.
In the absence of help from downtown, schools still cannot innovate with technology as they wish. They are actively told what they may or may not bring in on the network. Thus, I can't imagine schools leading instead of following the populace of this techsmart city.
Finally something being high on KSB's agenda doesn't seem to mean much. From what I have seen neither staff nor much of the board cares. Not commenting on the agenda itself, just the situation.
SavvyVoter
I do think there should be a speed camera there.
And, if ignition locks are required, they should confiscate the car and install the lock before they give it back.
oops, that was me
zb
Anyone know where I can track this down?
What do we expect when we base financial rewards on high test scores to the exclusion of so much else?
WSDWG
At one middle school, 86 percent of eighth-graders scored proficient in math, compared to 24 percent the year before. Prosecutors say that progress was a criminal mirage, Phillips reported.
Justina Collins says her daughter Nybria, now 15, has always struggled with reading. The single mother knew something was wrong when Nybria aced her standardized test in reading.
"Could someone explain to me how she could have passed or exceed a test, but fail throughout the whole entire year? ... When you hear it coming from the very ones that you look up to, to help educate your children, it's just sad and hurtful to know that we search and hope for the best for our kids, and that's what their oath is to provide the best education for them," Collins said.
Now watch the Ed Reform Cartels who push and hype these snake oil miracles blame it all on the teachers or my favorite, "a few bad apples."
How many times have we seen this movie? WSDWG
The world of public education was shocked recently by the story of former Atlanta public schools superintendent Beverly Hall. Lauded in 2009 as the National Superintendent of the Year, Hall and several of her senior staff were indicted for perpetrating a massive fraud, conspiring to manipulate school test scores.
And her ruby slippers and her little dog too! WSDWG
Salander
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/walton-family-foundation-announces-education-reformers-to-watch-200234671.html
reader
TraceyS
TraceyS
Rosenthal's handlers at the Times, including Lynne Varner (a Stand puppet) must have twisted his arm to write this non-story.
1. I didn't attend meetings that I was told by HR were optional
2. I didn't turn in lesson plans in the specified manner-even after the district curriculum specialist and the HRCT teacher both said it was impossible to complete these plans in the mandated format.
3. I did not meet with my supervisor to be told how to arrange my furniture.
4. I did not label areas in my (high school) classroom where "supplies" were to be kept even though I have no supplies.
5. Not all my students brought their books to class.
6. I resisted directives to use sticks to call on students.
7. etc, etc, etc
8.Oh, and I didn't give my students any rubrics even though they were posted on Fusion and given out in class
9.There was no evidence that I attended a Power Teacher training even though I signed the sign in sheet, submitted a clock hour form and was paid two hours for the time
Now the district is paying my salary and the salary of a substitute- the same substitute which I told the principal should NEVER be allowed to teach my classes as he has no social or academic expectations of students.
Way to lead HR and principals, Mr. Banda.
Salander
Yet another instance of capriciousness and total waste of waste of district money. The principal corps has total control of building funds and can use it in any wasteful action they want.
Everything the Times writes on education should be taken with a grain of salt. They have decided to go all in with the ed reform crowd and damn the data (or evidence). Sadly, their reporters (despite their denials) are sometimes along for the ride.
TS
A lesson to others.
Document, document, document via email.
For me, if it isn't in writing, it isn't a policy-directive-rule, etc.
Staffer
Staffer- I have 1500+ pages of documents-including emails that prove that administrators have no training so make up stuff as they go along and HR does the same.
All the documentation in the world does no good when there is a culture in which falsifications rule.
I hired an attorney to gather all this information but then the district just throws out more bs. Can't hit a moving target.
I would have had to pay an additional tens of thousands just to keep up with the hash they are slinging.
Eventually it comes down to justice being only for the wealthy.
Can you imagine one teacher winning any battle with the corruption that prevails in SSD?
Salander
Several parents have written letters of support on my behalf. However, the district responds that these are "personnel" matters not to be discussed
Ann Dornfeld at KUOW has interviewed teachers who have been forced out or targeted by district administrators. She has also obtained evidence that demonstrates senior teachers bear the brunt of illegal and unethical practices on the part of administrators and HR. There is ample grist for a class action law suit but the district has all of the public's money to play us with and we have none.
The Board and Banda are well aware of these practices put in place by MGJ and continuing over the course of three+ years.
There is no one left to which to appeal.
Salander
I'm also curious how the sticks work, but hate to make light of your situation by focusing on them.
I asked my union rep what the president, vice president and the director of the union do all day. He had no answer to my question.
I have had a couple of ethics complaints initiated by the City. SPS is allowed to "investigate" themselves and conclude that the laws do not apply to them.
Salander
REQUIRING that teachers all use a particular technique is totally wrongheaded, and to that extent I'm with Salander, but if a teacher chose to use this technique for their own reasons I wouldn't see anything silly about it.
Helen Schinske
Salander
Before the tech system broke down I posted everything on the Fusion pages.
Then I was dinged for not putting grades in the EGP grading system after it had been abandoned and another grading program put in its place. I update grades on this system daily even though when I go back the next day those grades are missing. Several times I have asked students to watch me putting their grades in. The next day they have completely vanished. This happened the other day with a student who had been absent and then submitted the work. This moved her grade from a D to an A. Thank goodness I checked her grade again before I was put on leave. Sure enough Powerless Teacher grading had eaten it. I shudder to think what will happen to my student grades and gpa now that I can not watch over this crappy system daily.
Salander
HP
The principal holds up two pieces of graded work and says, "These two student got the same grade but it is clear there is no grading criteria because the other student did not produce at the same level." I tried to explain the concept of assignments at alternative skill levels. My evaluation says, "_____ seems to know the needs of the students but only as the class as a whole." Also, "lesson plans do not include detailed data(MAP scores?) on every student's learning level." WTF! This is what a teacher knows and does. No teacher writes that stuff on their lesson plan for God's sake! Of course the administrator has actually never been a teacher so has to rely on the Teaching for Dummies Handbook AKA the Danielson Framework.
Salander
If a principal decides he doesn't like how you questioned him, or look, or approach a subject, he puts a target on your back and sics the incompetent HR apparatchiks on you.
Salander
If I didn't know better, I'd say that sounds like a sketch on SNL.
But it is our state's largest school district. depressing.
I lost my job in SPS last year and fought it through the channels I had. I tried to do everything that my principal wanted. The union was no help. The executive director of the region fully supported anything my principal did. It was a rough year.
I feel for you!
-ForcedOut
Sorry this happened to you as well. SPS continues the practice of forcing out teachers. Banda and the board are aware of it but they choose to do nothing. The community is aware of it but they choose to do nothing. I believe this is all driven by the reformer's agenda as well as the national disrespect for teachers that has now rooted itself in American culture.
I still believe strongly in the power of public education. It is sad that our nation does not.
Teachers are merely expendable trash in our throw away society. The public has spoken and they want something new and fresh and shiny. Experienced teachers are far past their sell by date. Our time as the back bone of a school system that has educated millions of young people who often come from nothing but grow up and gain confidence and knowledge is over.
Salander
No, the fix was in. The die cast. The principal wanted this older teacher gone and so it happened.