Friday Open Thread
Boy do I like public disclosure laws because that story out of LA about the iPad debacle only gets better/worse. I'll have another thread on that soon.
Kids and Uzis - I'm not sure there is anything that could better demonstrate a lack of common sense.
Very funny story from the Scary Mommy blog about going back to school in the 1970s (some of us were doing that) and going back today.
In a big "what were you thinking," the clothing store, Zara, had to withdraw this offensive t-shirt for kids.
Hey, maybe it's still useful to take notes...like with a pencil or pen. (Even the Cleveland Browns coach thinks so.) From the Washington Post.
There's a new high school space in town - Seattle Waldorf just opened its new high school building at Magnuson Park. Interestingly they absorbed another Waldorf high school in 2007 called Hazel Wolf High School
Oklahoma got denied its NCLB waiver so Washington State is not the only outcast.
According to the newest education ranking, Washington State ranks 15th in the country. They give WA state a "mixed" rating because it's 29th in spending but somehow has better outcomes than other states. (This supports my belief that legislators don't want to fund education more because hey, look how well we do in spite of the low dollars?)
What's on your mind?
Kids and Uzis - I'm not sure there is anything that could better demonstrate a lack of common sense.
Very funny story from the Scary Mommy blog about going back to school in the 1970s (some of us were doing that) and going back today.
In a big "what were you thinking," the clothing store, Zara, had to withdraw this offensive t-shirt for kids.
Hey, maybe it's still useful to take notes...like with a pencil or pen. (Even the Cleveland Browns coach thinks so.) From the Washington Post.
There's a new high school space in town - Seattle Waldorf just opened its new high school building at Magnuson Park. Interestingly they absorbed another Waldorf high school in 2007 called Hazel Wolf High School
Oklahoma got denied its NCLB waiver so Washington State is not the only outcast.
According to the newest education ranking, Washington State ranks 15th in the country. They give WA state a "mixed" rating because it's 29th in spending but somehow has better outcomes than other states. (This supports my belief that legislators don't want to fund education more because hey, look how well we do in spite of the low dollars?)
What's on your mind?
Comments
The new facility is lovely and close to many opportunities for outdoors activities. The facility while house up to around 125 students eventually.
HP
- Early Learning Center Southeast program is opening at the Van Asselt building.
-An Interagency program is moving into a separate wing of the Van Asselt building. (Additional Interagency programs are located at the Columbia building.)
First, HOW MUCH is this Early Center SE costing SPS? Who came up with that brainstorm?
Second, who had the brainstorm to site an Interagency program in the same building as special education preschoolers?!
It looks pretty straight-forward except for the first item about delivery model. They act like they don't know about the plan for Fairmount Park. Or am I the one who doesn't know the plan for Fairmount Park? What is the plan for the deliver model at Fairmount Park?
CR
Casey
The center is called an Early Learning Center, but looks more like a special education school at this time. Seems like a step backwards.
Casey
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2018513097_lastchance24m.html
-HS Parent
I greatly value the students and teachers at Interagency. I do not think it is appropriate to site it with a standalone preschool.
The district would argue that it's not a self-contained special ed school - it's a self-contained Pre-K school. There are no general ed Pre-K classrooms with which they could co-locate.
This is equivalent to placing a program for 18-21 year old special ed students at Lincoln. There are no general ed 18-21 students in the building.
I have to say that it really stinks that my 8th grader was forcibly moved to a new school. But now, my 8th grader is expected to take three busses and then get dropped off in front of "Dream Girls at Ricks." Am I missing something?
--future FP parent
I sure hope these curriculum specialists know what they're doing...
HIMSmom
I think part of the problem is that at least two different JAMS attendance area/walk zone maps have been published.
There was a map dated 1/10/2014, in which nearly all of the JAMS attendance area was within the walk zone.
A later map, dated 6/10/2014, and currently posted on the SPS School Directory and Growth Boundaries pages, shows a smaller walk zone for JAMS.
A big chunk of Maple Leaf falls in an area that was within the large JAMS walk zone on the 1/10/2014 map, but falls outside of the smaller walk zone in the 6/10/14 (updated) map.
From what I've heard, families who live between the old and new JAMS walk zone boundaries are being told that their child will not receive yellow bus service, even though they live outside of the currently-published walk zone.
Typically, if you live outside of a published walk zone your child should be eligible for transportation (at least that is how it seems to work for most schools), but as Lynn pointed out, the Transportation Service Standards state that transportation is provided if students live more than two miles away from their attendance-area middle school. In the case of JAMS, the new walk zone boundary does not seem to meet the 2-mile rule in all areas (perhaps it was altered due to walkability issues?), so it is all very, very confusing.
- North-end Mom
Yes, this is the City's toehold into the district to set up preschools in as many buildings as they can steal space from (and yes, I use that "steal" deliberately).
I'll have a thread on this issue next week but you might just consider the space, time and resources that will be taken from the district because, so far, that's EXACTLY what it looks like.
East-West Metro bus service is awful and not practical for getting from Maple Leaf to JAMS. Obviously transportation doesn't understand this.
HP
Thursday 9/4/14, 7-8pm South Seattle Community College 6737 Corson Ave S
“If you are a charter supporter in Seattle, now is the time to come and support Green Dot in their application for a 6-12 school in Seattle. If you are just curious about the model, this is an opportunity to hear from local Green Dot leadership and a Green Dot parent, student, and Community Director.”
Original invite
Green Dot’s application
A Green Dot Teacher’s Terrible Experience With TFA, Staff Turnover, Crazy Admin…
Bree Dusseault, ex-SPS, will be in charge of Green Dot Seattle
Questions to ask at the meeting:
Every Green Dot school in LA is almost %100 Black or Latino (most are %99) – will Green Dot serve other demographics in Seattle?
Why does Green Dot rely on poorly trained (“five week”) TFA people who are likely to move on? Some Green Dot schools are almost entirely staffed by TFA. What’s up with THAT?
To whom is Green Dot responsible? To what metrics? What is Green Dot required to do to maintain its charter?
Will the staff be union? What are the work load expectations and salary/benefit packages like?
What percent of Green Dot students are Special Education?
How many students, as a percentage, of students are either allowed to leave the school during the school year or are counseled out? To what public schools are those students then sent? – does Green Dot follow the travails of its exited students?
What elective classes are available for students?
What formative and summative assessments are used for Social Studies classes?
What is the evaluation procedure for Green Dot staff? What metrics are applicable? Or is it merely hire/fire at will, with absolute power held by the principal? What protections do staff members have to keep them from being arbitrarily fired?
Is the general public allowed to attend and comment at Green Dot meetings, as Green Dot is funded by public dollars?
Walk Zones only affect transportation eligibility for K-5 students. Middle school students are assumed to be able to safely cross any street.
Do we know if the district paid for a preschool portable for this buildign? Do we know if state dollars are being used for this purpose?
NEmom
I am now hearing that the old middle school walk zones were drawn at 2.0 miles (the cut off for transportation). The new middle school walk zones are drawn at 1.5 miles, because that is where Orca Card eligibility starts.
I may be wrong, but I bet most parents assumed that if their address fell outside of the pink walk zone boundary on the JAMS attendance area map their child would be getting a school bus ride to school.
- North-end Mom
Besides the east-west busing problems, there are also many students both inside and outside the walk zone that will have to cross Lake City Way. Since JAMS starts at 7:50 am, these 11-13 year-old students will be crossing a busy state highway in the dark for several months of the school year.
Also, many of the roads around JAMS do not have sidewalks, including on 34th Ave NE approaching the school. It's actually a narrow road with a deep ditch on one side.
Since parents just got their transportation letters this week, many of them are just now finding out what their limited options are.
Momof2
NEmom
Our child's bus stop has required crossing Lake City Way (at a very busy intersection) for the past few years. And yes, it was in the dark for several months as well. Letters to Transportation about safety did not result in any change.
The staggered starts of Hale and JAMS should help somewhat with traffic. How did JAK-8 deal with drop-off and pick-up routines?
just fyi
I'd love to know how they intend to enforce that.
Best solution for middle schoolers is probably to drop them at 120th and let them walk the sidewalk down 35th to 113th. That is just one block without a sidewalk and there's a decent shoulder on the south side of 113th.
Are they truly saying NO drop off on 34th? That does seem unrealistic. I would think it would be better to manage traffic flow rather that expect something that isn't realistic.....
- previous JA parent
I'm a little surprised JAMS thinks they need to ban dropoffs on 34th entirely. As a neighborhood school, they should be having fewer dropoffs than an option school, so if it wasn't a problem last year it shouldn't be a problem this year. Maybe I'm missing something.
How do a get a teacher to READ our child's IEP
BEFORE
school starts?????
There are accommodations that need to be in place DAY ONE otherwise he'll be too self-conscious to use them.
I emailed nicely saying how I'd like to meet BEFORE school starts to go over his IEP but I got an anew seer back like 'no time, but later...'
I doubt she'll read it because, apparently she's got 'no time'.
I've asked for this pre-start-of-school meeting every year, basically as a way to make sure the teacher has read his IEP before school starts, every year. And 3 times out of 4 I get turned down. I know it is a busy time. But, the school has low SpEd enrollment, and getting them to truly follow the IEP is really, really hard. And, I don't want to alienate teacher and principal and get reputation as the 'difficult one' because they have my kid for more hours of the day then me -- want to avoid phenomenon of negative transference.
Suggesting effective wording and specific strategy would be really helpful.
2E
NEmom
Closer to bell time, drop off on 34th at the Jane Addams building (for the K-8) was pretty crazy. I think it is wise of the JAMS administration to try to avoid that scenario.
I suspect that, due to the surprise lack of transportation some families are experiencing, and the difficult access some JAMS neighborhoods have to JAMS via Metro (like kids crossing Northgate Way to catch a bus, or multiple transfers), there will be quite a bit of parent drop-off traffic at JAMS, especially for the first couple of weeks.
Almost all of the JAMS attendance area falls within the 2.0 mile boundary for yellow bus eligibility (there are only a few pockets in the corners that don't), and the 2.0 mile transportation boundary extends well into the Eckstein service area. When you factor in all the APP kids from the Eckstein service area, JAMS is essentially draws from both the JAMS and Eckstein attendance areas (like Hazel Wolf K-8), but very few families qualify for transportation to the school (unlike Hazel Wolf K-8).
Kids living between 1.5 miles and 1.9 miles from the school will qualify for Orca cards, but if there are multiple transfers required or bus stops/walking routes that parents feel are unsafe, those with the means to do so will probably drive their kids to school.
- North-end Mom
“The Washington State Charter Schools Association invites you to a PUBLIC FORUM hosted by Green Dot – Join [them] in discussing Green Dot Public [sic] School’s application for a [planned 1200 student]6-12 charter school in South Seattle.”
Thursday 9/4/14, 7-8pm South Seattle Community College 6737 Corson Ave S
In case you missed it - article names names, explains ALEC, union busting, ineffective online "learning", etc.:
http://www.progressive.org/news/2014/08/187821/fbi-tracks-charter-schools
… Charter schools are such a racket, across the nation they are attracting special attention from the FBI, which is working with the Department of Education's inspector general to look into allegations of charter-school fraud. (more)
-districtWatcher
curricula. The Advanced Learning office should provide guidance and oversight on:
(1) consistent alignment of scope and sequence, curriculum and instructional materials for Highly
Capable sites and services
Two new positions created to accomplish this work: Curriculum Specialist for K-5 and
Curriculum Specialist for 6-12. Candidates will be interviewed in August 2014.
(2) specific mechanisms for evaluating AL programs and services, with metrics and checkpoints
Finalizing MOU with UW Research team to develop metrics for academic growth and other
impacts of participation in HCS – August-September 2014
(3) programs and services that emphasize rigorous and fast-paced instruction that is deep and
appropriately accelerated, providing differentiation without a ceiling. The District should provide
adequate staffing and funding to allow AL to fulfill this recommendation.
Hard to think that they could as it is way past the 11th hour for the WACs and they need to get something in place ASAP.
3inAPP
The 2-mile transportation boundary extends up to the Shoreline border along 145th (i.e. kids from Little Brook, up at 145th and 30th, do not qualify for transportation), and all the way to I-5 in the Pinehurst/Northgate area. Both of these areas have pockets of low-income and minority families.
With the geo-split these families lost both an assignment to the middle school they had been attending (Eckstein), AND they lost school bus transportation to middle school.
Driving their kids to school is not an option for many of these families. Hopefully the Orca cards will help, but it will be a big adjustment, when they are used to a bus to Eckstein.
- North-end Mom
The plan for 2014-15 is in place already.
The task force recommendations are directed at the Superintendent, not the Board. The Board's only opportunities to make decisions related to advanced learning are their vote on the annual plan and any requirements they include in a new advanced learning policy. They approved the plan for 2014-15 and Shauna Heath will write the new policy for them. In reality, we know that no Superintendent gets involved in advanced learning. We will get what Shauna Heath chooses to provide.
It's not clear how she'll enforce anything. Principals report to the Executive Directors and the EDs report to Michael Tolley (not Shauna.)
Combining a two mile walk with a 7:50 start time is definitely a burden on low-income families. The district isn't going to make any changes for this year. Maybe JAMS could arrange neighborhood walking groups? There might be safety in numbers in crossing the streets. I'd focus the rest of my energy on making sure the board knows what time middle school students have to get up to walk to school on time.
Perhaps the curriculum specialists will do an amazing job of creating a rigorous new curriculum that all HC sites will implement with reasonable fidelity, but that's a pretty big if at this point--and certainly doesn't help this coming year.
Am I missing something re: improvements for this year, or is your optimism more long term?
HIMSmom
-somewhat optimistic
I personally don't think that will produce any meaningful results. Enrollment in APP doesn't increase student test scores. They have to have excellent test scores to qualify for the program. HC students would take the most rigorous classes available in high school with or without the program. I can't imagine it would have any effect on college attendance either.
Are parents going to be able to opt their children out of this project?
school starts?????"
2E, you are an equal partner in your child's education, not a supplicant. I don't understand why you are being treated like a nuisance in waiting already. This type of strategy session should be taken for granted as a professional good practice by your school. It is understandable that you don't want to get the tag of "that type of parent" so why not call your Special Education Supervisor. Let them duke it out with the principal and/or principal's boss. Families need to be shielded from the blow back of simply asking for basic good practice.
IMHO
This general education teacher seems to be that type. You are unlikely to get any movement at all without being 'that kind of parent'. Sorry, but you will probably have to nag in person or by emailing the teacher and cc:ing the principal and special education teacher immediately. Even so, preparation for your child on the first day of school is unlikely, so start making backup plans.
Sped Mom
Maybe the statement, "Enrollment in APP doesn't increase student test scores" should be qualified as, "Enrollment in APP doesn't increase student test scores [on grade level tests].
Yes - that's what I'm saying. These kids had at least 95th percentile achievement scores before they entered the program. In my mind, the point of the program isn't to turn them into academic superstars. The program provides them with a place they can fit in socially, gives them an opportunity to deal with a challenge and to learn that it's OK to make a mistake. Without something like APP, these kids are at risk of losing their love of learning.
Maybe we're misunderstanding each other. What kind of test scores are you talking about?
test averse
" Schools participating in Amplify
interim benchmarks should NOT
assess students on MAP in grades 3-8
For all other schools MAP testing is
optional in grades 3-8. They may
optionally continue to use MAP for all
students (or) a subset of students
If schools do not use MAP they are
encouraged to use SBAC Interims in
the late winter/early spring (More
information about the SBAC option will
be provided as it becomes available)"
Looks like the district added "Amplify"..whatever that is.
Between Amplify and SBAC Interims, I think it is safe to say that assessments don't mean a damn thing.
Is anyone else upset that our children are continously being used for research??
It also looks like they will be scaling back on the math EOCs in middle school and only administering the Geometry EOCs to students that haven't passed the Algebra EOC (which is very, very few for those taking Algebra in 7th or lower).
test averse
Pilot
NEmom
In essence, the district did an end-run around the board. They purchased TWO different tests to avoid board approval.
Frankly, I"m having a problem with the amount of "pilot" tests and the manner in which there was an end-run around the board.
Long Island is reporting teacher effectiveness based upon socio-economic areas. I hope the board takes down the Academic Warehouse ASAP. These scores can and will be used to promote privatization. And..as we see, the district is throwing in a brand new test that hasn't been assessed.
Throw in Common Core and the system is completely screwed-up.
What will these tests mean?? Nothing, but the data banks will be filled with informtion for someone, or some organization, to spin for their agenda.
My understanding was that middle schoolers got yellow school bus service - when did this change? Are students at other middle schools required to use metro buses or is it just the new JAMS?
I think this puts an unfair burden on safety conscious parents, and parents of younger/less mature/less confident kids who expected transportation but will now have to make other arrangements to get the kids to school . Some parents of savvy tweens may be comfortable with it but to my mind it is not right nor safe to expect all 11-13 year olds to handle to our urban metro bus system and safely and confidently navigate multiple bus transfers.
There is no way in hell my 11 year old daughter (she will be 11 in 6th grade) will be riding a metro bus alone in this city!
No way Jose (or Larry)
(Answering for the second time)
The portable placement at Graham Hill this summer was/is to support implementation of the Access SpEd delivery model. Not for pre-school.
Author notes opportunity for Amplify to make other money from curriculum as a result of this. Author concludes with this:
"Amplify is no benevolence association. It is a business.
Just a reminder of [Rupert] Murdoch’s comment upon his purchasing Wireless Generation [now Amplify]in 2010. Pay attention to how he begins his comment:
'When it comes to K through 12 education, we see a $500 billion sector in the U.S. alone that is waiting desperately to be transformed by big breakthroughs that extend the reach of great teaching,' said News Corporation Chairman and CEO, Rupert Murdoch in a statement.
When it comes to K-12 education, Rupert Murdoch “sees a $500 billion sector” first.
The 'great teaching' part is not what is foremost in his mind."
Personnel investigation. If it looks like she will get fired or suspended without pay, there will be necessary meeting and hearings before a decision is made. There may also be negotiations to have her resign instead of being disciplined or fired. Or of others are involved, it could drag on. Will also depend on if it the investigation is done in-house or they hire an outside person.
"Does the acting special education director have any special education background? School starts in three days."
Per the announcement, he was an Assistant Sp Ed Director in Olympia before coming to Seattle to be an AP and then a Principal. Which is more experience than Marni Campbell had, and roughly the same as Zee had (though she had never been a principal or the overall leader of anything before coming to Seattle).
-SWWS
-Lemons
Amplify "wins" contract with SBAC, which is a consortium founded on Gates' CCSS.
Murdoch and Klein and Gates are bringing Amplify assessments into our schools without the Board's approval.
Ah, democracy, eh, swk?
The city is promoting a preschool initiative and Teaching Strategies Gold is being proposed for assessments.
I've learned that Teaching Strategies Gold also offers a plethora of online curriculum for toddlers (and infants!), assessments and professional development. How about this one: "generate comprehensive reports that can be customized easily and shared with family members and other stakeholders; to learn more about this state-of-the-art feature, download our Teaching Strategies GOLD online Reports Brochure. (PDF)"
To date, the city's preschool initiative campaign has $27K and has spent $36K to unlisted source.
Will see individuals involved with Teaching Strategies Gold fund the preschool initiative?
The city is promoting a preschool initiative and Teaching Strategies Gold is being proposed for assessments.
I've learned that Teaching Strategies Gold also offers a plethora of online curriculum for toddlers (and infants!), assessments and professional development. How about this one: "generate comprehensive reports that can be customized easily and shared with family members and other stakeholders; to learn more about this state-of-the-art feature, download our Teaching Strategies GOLD online Reports Brochure. (PDF)"
To date, the city's preschool initiative campaign has $27K and has spent $36K to unlisted source.
Will see individuals involved with Teaching Strategies Gold fund the preschool initiative?
WTF SWWS? Have you not been here long?
More qualified than Marni Campbell? That's a new low bar for qualifications. Are we now looking for someone less qualified than Marni? Well, it looks like we might have found him! Jessee has 4 whole years of teaching experience. And what? A principal for 2 (or something). And "assistant director of spcecial ed" in Olympia. What type of job is that anyway? That's something like the million do-nothing "consulting teachers" (who neither consult nor teach) we have here in Seattle. Because everyone figured out that they don't consult or teach, they're called "program managers" (but we have no programs, remember??? only services). Or maybe his job was more like: "supervisor" - who only supervise the program-managemer/consulting- teachers, who really do nothing except play kick-the-can with students. And now what was he? Executive Director of Leadership? That's like Leader of Leader. Err. Sounds like a whole lot of nothing. We don't need a twenty-something career climber, using special ed as his stepping stone.
Zee was a former principal. So, that's something.
It would be good to know when it will be settled. But truly - we don't want Jessee. We don't want ANY of Zee's "hires".
Start over. Please. Families don your firesuits. Indeed special ed is as bad as it's been in decades. It's every family for themselves.
Old Dog.
Then SPS thought he was principal material, where he served 7 years.
According to FOIA document, the principal at Graham Hill was asking for TWO portables. One portable for special ed and another portable for pre-school.
Graham Hill has a small amount of students that attend preschool and preschool at that location is important. However, voters approved $232M in Family and Ed. dollars to support low income schools. The city was essentially threatened to withhold Family and Ed. dollars unless the district put a preschool on that property. It is time for the city to stop holding the district hostage..."Give us what we want..or else!!".
I highly suspect the city will try and transfer prek costs to district.
I did find it quite odd that the Times' article skipped that issue. (If someone said to me, "the director is on leave and there's an interim," my next questions would be "why" and "is she coming back." If those had been asked, the reporter would have said so.
But clearly, it's not such a big deal to the district (no matter what words they mouth).
I said this at the comment sections at the Times - the district is not managed or run well. They will NEVER get ahead as a district until they get basics like:
- transportation
- Special Ed-
- bilingual
- enrollment
- facilities
Never. When people (see politicians and business types) wring their hands and ask why? Well, there's your answer. The schools succeed in spite of the district. But on those issues, no school can fight those battles.
That the senior management is now doing end runs around the Board to get what they want and not bother clearly explaining what they are doing? - nah.
I personally am weary of this and I have no idea why the Board is doing nothing (and I mean truly almost nothing). But then again, I am in a position where it doesn't affect me directly (except as a taxpayer, I don't appreciate this lack of oversight and responsible spending of dollars).
Some commenters are spot on: there is no time to meet and review every students IEP before the start of school (if ever, sadly) given the mandatory meetings, in services, etc. So, at the very least, suggest the IEP case manager provide the various teachers with the IEP at a glance. That gives the goals in a nutshell.
I have been a SPED staffer for more than 14 years. When we change schools and pick up a brand new caseload, we have NO school time to review files. That has to happen on our own time.
Sped Staffer
Seattle parent
Could you email me at sld.advocte.seattle@gmail.com
I would like to use you as a witness for a hearing in October.
SLD Advocate
"Is the new Van Assault program maybe the one (social skills sessions?) that replaces itinerant teaching services? "
Yikes! What do you mean? " What happened to the itinerant program....or, um, service? That is the program that sent SPS sped teachers to work with preschoolers with special needs out in the community preschool/childcares that they currently attend - to support them and their teachers, keep them with their peers.
That way the kids could remain in their community mainstreamed, integrated, blended (eg with typically developing peers) instead of attending "self-contained" (only kids with special needs) preschools in the elementary schools.
I guess I missed the memo on that....(communication?)
l.c.
First, I if this is true, Blanford's behavior is beyond unprofessional. It is weird and possibly political.
Second, what is Blanford.
-------------------
To No Way Jose/Larry,
I totally agree with you, and I am the parent of a soon-to-be high schooler. There is just no way I will feel comfortable sending her on a Metro bus to or from school in this city anytime soon. I speak from experience - it is simply not safe, and leaves children (even HS aged kids) vulnerable to all sorts of unsavory and potentially damaging approaches or assaults. It is very unfortunate that SPS has to put kids through this kind of experience to get to or from school. I had yellow bus service all the way through 12th grade when I was young, and am very sorry indeed that SPS cannot provide that for its students. Safe, accessible transportation should be a basic right for all students, along the lines of pencils and paper. Urban Metro bus service in any major U.S. city is simply not safe for school-aged children. Period.
------------------
For what it's worth, I totally agree. The only thing that makes it even remotely reasonable for some kids is that students congregate at the bus stops on the main routes to and from high schools.
That's not the case for kids at the end of the runs, or less-traveled routes. It's also means it's not safe for kids at some schools to stay after school, because they lose the safety of being in a group of students on the way home. If you have kids at Roosevelt or Ballard you might not understand the issues. If you have kids at Garfield or Beach, you're far more likely to understand.
All this said, I believe it was the School Board, under the direction of Michael DeBell, that made this policy change, not staff. As such, I believe any changes to this policy would need to come from the Board. You might want to consider registering your dissatisfaction with them.
The fact that Metro usage is now bleeding down into middle school, with kids as young as 11 years old expected to get on buses with random adult strangers is unconscionable. It feels like the district is sending these young kids on an un-chaperoned (or poorly chaperoned, if you get my drift) field trip.
Unfortunately, as it seems to happen with everything else in SPS, changes regarding safety don't seem to get anyone's attention until something BAD happens. If then. The Garfield sexual assault obviously comes to mind.
She just started college in Portland and it has given her the courage to use their transit system to go into downtown.
I hear the special ed option (travel to private/community preschools) option is being replaced with specific site services but don't know any details. I guess it isn't that different than if you receive/elect to receive PT/OT/etc on an itinerant basis and have to take your child to an elementary for itinerant services. I guess it depends how they are doing it and that I don't know, but it sure doesn't seem like a good option to me. There is no information on any of the preschool options/qualifications/etc on SPS's site (to be fair, not on virtually any school district I have ever looked at though either) so who knows what the program/services are.
Seattle Parent
That said, many children - in the U.S. and throughout the world - ride public transit. Every day. Safely.
As LInh-Co said, kids gain independence by taking a public bus. And, the ORCA card is good for ALL rides, not just to school. Learning to ride public transit creates awareness in students that there are truly other options than driving to school in high school. (Of course you can walk or bike but frankly, I think biking is worse for danger.)
That awareness carries over into adulthood.
I was raised in a isolated, rural area and the only kids who got bus service lived very far away from the high school. The rest of us had to figure it out (no public transit). I would have liked that option.
Just ask your atty to poll sped staff, including related service staff. It is very common practice to NOT provide staff time to review files. Much as I would like to be brave enough to publicly be a witness to this sad and unprofessional fact, I also have bills to pay and an offspring in college. We ARE bullied into going along with what Charlie calls, "A Culture of Lawlessness."
That being said, I personally do try to read pertinent info re: my students. I DO want to provide them with the best services possible.
Sped Staffer
HP
Every bus ride made safely to school in a major metropolitan area is made through luck, in my opinion. Too many things can, and do, go wrong, and then it can be life-scarring. There is a time and place to learn street smarts, and that is not in middle or high school on the way to or back from school.
We expect many things from our students, but they cannot be expected to use their minds freely and fully if they are constantly on the alert for dangers, missed connections, pickpockets, strangers following them home from bus stops, etc, etc, etc...
Those are street smarts gained, quite possibly, at the expense of book smarts. Which do we want for our students at SPS?
My incoming 6th grader is 11 but looks about 8 or 9. No way Metro is appropriate.
I am sure in the best case scenario riding a Metro bus to school as a school-aged student is a great independence and confidence boosting experience. Until it isn't.
Every bus ride made safely to school in a major metropolitan area is made through luck, in my opinion. Too many things can, and do, go wrong, and then it can be life-scarring. There is a time and place to learn street smarts, and that is not in middle or high school on the way to or back from school.
We expect many things from our students, but they cannot be expected to use their minds freely and fully if they are constantly on the alert for dangers, missed connections, pickpockets, strangers following them home from bus stops, etc, etc, etc...
Those are street smarts gained, quite possibly, at the expense of book smarts. Which do we want for our students at SPS?
Anonymous said...
I am sure in the best case scenario riding a Metro bus to school as a school-aged student is a great independence and confidence boosting experience. Until it isn't.
Every bus ride made safely to school in a major metropolitan area is made through luck, in my opinion. Too many things can, and do, go wrong, and then it can be life-scarring. There is a time and place to learn street smarts, and that is not in middle or high school on the way to or back from school.
We expect many things from our students, but they cannot be expected to use their minds freely and fully if they are constantly on the alert for dangers, missed connections, pickpockets, strangers following them home from bus stops, etc, etc, etc...
Those are street smarts gained, quite possibly, at the expense of book smarts. Which do we want for our students at SPS?
I agree with this post. Others may have their own views, but the big issue is: where do we draw the line?
If it's a good idea to make your kid more "street-wise" at 9th grade, then wouldn't it be an even better idea to make your kid street-wise in 8th grade? or 7th? or as we're talking about above, 6th?
If Aurora Ave is a good place to build this skill set, then wouldn't it be even better to make your kid transfer in Pioneer Square? They're bound to learn some really serious lessons there!
Sarcasm aside, I hope the point is made that these situations are very dependent on specifics. If you have a kid that looks 2-3 years younger than their age vs. 2-3 years older than their age, you have different worries. Aurora for a high schooler making a transfer is a different situation than waiting for the bus at Rainier Beach, which is different still from a middle schooler going anywhere on a regular basis on public transit.
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