Friday Open Thread
For anyone who thinks women are doing just fine, here's yet another example that might interest those of you who have girls who are athletes.
When 12-year-old McKenna Peterson opened her new Dick’s Sporting Goods basketball catalogue recently, the Arizona basketball player and superfan was frustrated to find a glaring misstep: The only girl in the catalogue’s pages wasn’t actually playing basketball — she was sitting in the stands.
I note that the Microsoft CEO has tried to backpedal on his statement about women and raises but now he says that HE got this "generic" advice about "good karma" and raises from his mentors and had "followed it in his own career." Sure he did. That's how he got to be CEO and that's how it works in business.
Those of you concerned about bell times and teen sleeping habits, you should read this. I have a high school friend who is now a doctor and researcher at Tulane and his work is around sleep. I am convinced he is right about the issue of darkness and sleep. I am also convinced of this:
Many people believe their sleep is already adequate, but they are often not aware, or can no longer remember, what a truly good night’s sleep feels like. In order to correct your circadian rhythm and get optimal amounts of sleep, you should avoid blue light for 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.
I think many teens (and young adults) sleep with their phones/laptops, on and next to their beds, and use them into the night. Might be worth trying to cut back on if your teen is having sleep issues.
FREE Side-by-Side Concert at Chief Sealth High School tonight
Seattle Symphony Performs at Chief Sealth High School
2600 SW Thistle St, Seattle, WA 98126
7PM
Saturday Community meetings - (Both of these directors have said that attendance at their meetings is low so if you want a Board member's undivided attention, you might consider attending one tomorrow.)
Director Blanford from 10:00-11:30 am at Capital Hill library
Director Martin-Morris from 10-11:30 am at NE Library
What's on your mind?
When 12-year-old McKenna Peterson opened her new Dick’s Sporting Goods basketball catalogue recently, the Arizona basketball player and superfan was frustrated to find a glaring misstep: The only girl in the catalogue’s pages wasn’t actually playing basketball — she was sitting in the stands.
I note that the Microsoft CEO has tried to backpedal on his statement about women and raises but now he says that HE got this "generic" advice about "good karma" and raises from his mentors and had "followed it in his own career." Sure he did. That's how he got to be CEO and that's how it works in business.
Those of you concerned about bell times and teen sleeping habits, you should read this. I have a high school friend who is now a doctor and researcher at Tulane and his work is around sleep. I am convinced he is right about the issue of darkness and sleep. I am also convinced of this:
Many people believe their sleep is already adequate, but they are often not aware, or can no longer remember, what a truly good night’s sleep feels like. In order to correct your circadian rhythm and get optimal amounts of sleep, you should avoid blue light for 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.
I think many teens (and young adults) sleep with their phones/laptops, on and next to their beds, and use them into the night. Might be worth trying to cut back on if your teen is having sleep issues.
FREE Side-by-Side Concert at Chief Sealth High School tonight
Seattle Symphony Performs at Chief Sealth High School
2600 SW Thistle St, Seattle, WA 98126
7PM
Saturday Community meetings - (Both of these directors have said that attendance at their meetings is low so if you want a Board member's undivided attention, you might consider attending one tomorrow.)
Director Blanford from 10:00-11:30 am at Capital Hill library
Director Martin-Morris from 10-11:30 am at NE Library
What's on your mind?
Comments
If 1B passes, will the city control student data? Will the city have the ability to provide data to various entities including the Gates Foundation?
Research 101 first rule: Who gets the data and what will they do with it.
Let's face it: The city is working hand in hand with the Gates Foundation to push prek.
"When ready, we will release the updated enrollment numbers to the public via our website. In regards to the capacity of High Schools, this is not a static number, as it depends on the program placement at each of the schools. We work directly with Capital Planning to plan for mitigation of any intermediate term capacity issues in a 5 year projection document, which we post online as well. With annual implementation of Boundary changes, we had baseline projections formed but have yet to finalize a new set of five year projections this year. These data are usually ready by May, thus we will release the five-year projections in May of 2015. Both Capital Planning and Enrollment Planning have directed their efforts to address short-term and long-term enrollment situations."
I guess that would make the projections just in time for last minute changes over the summer, eh?
On a related note, I just saw that the Growth Boundaries FAQ for 2015-16 has been recently updated. A response dated 9/22/14 includes this: "No additional high school capacity will be added until the renovation of the Lincoln Building is complete. The estimated date is 2019."
It appears nobody is too worried about a short-term HS capacity problem. I hope they know better than we do...
HIMSmom
If you don't want to vote for 1B, which I agree wholeheartedly that you should not, just do so.
--- swk
I think inidvidiuals will vote for 1A because they are afraid of 1B.
I get people's opposition to 1B. I share that opposition. But frankly, 1A is much worse.
I am praying that neither pass.
--- swk
Again, I do plan to read the entire text of both initiatives before voting. I may be in the minority, but I do think that one of these should pass and that 1B even with its flaws is better than nothing.
--- swk
Wheels within wheels as is often the case with the ed reform crowd around here.
reader47
That is my understanding from working with the state on a school-supporting fundraising foundation.
Poetry on Buses, one of King County’s most beloved public art programs, is back!
The poems will come to life – on the bus and online – this fall. Come to the Launch Party, a celebration of poetry and music at the Moore Theatre, on Nov 10. It’s free and all ages.
The Poetry on the Bus gala is Monday, November 10 at the Moore Theater.
Poetry on the buses
I think one measure might kill at the polls or the whole thing could go down in flames.
Eric, I do want to address one thing you said.
You said voting for one is better than doing nothing.
First, voting for anything on a ballot just because it's for kids does a disservice to those on a fixed income (like seniors) or the working poor. There is no "free" preschool - we will pay taxes for it.
As someone who examines every single education ballot measure carefully, I am always aware of what it might mean to taxpayers.
Second, nothing? Perhaps you are not aware that there are many, many preschool classes in SPS facilities. As well, we are now paying taxes - for preschool services - as we speak. Why? Because $61M of the Families and Education levy IS for preschool services.
No 1A
There is some context missing in my statement. I think that it is a good public policy decision to have universal preschool. Unless there are irreparable flaws in BOTH initiatives, I expect that I'll vote Yes on the first question. I've seen the arguments back on forth on both, and I recognize that reasonable people can disagree on this.
My thinking on the tactical vote for 1A is that the changes to the system 1A makes are incomplete, simply because 1A backers expected to have an up or down vote on both initiatives, not an either-or. Because the system is incomplete, it will require additional legislative action from the City Council (and possibly voters) to set in place the revenue stream and other policy sections that are presently in 1B. That allows another opportunity to try to convince city leaders to fix the flaws presently in 1B.
Eric, this is a prelude to universal preschool. There is nothing universal about this pilot program - at least nothing they can say definitively.
Also, I will vote No to the first question but vote for 1A (as you can vote for one or the other even if you vote "no" on the first question).
My belief is that more low-income children - from birth to five - will have better outcomes from better trained, supported and paid caregivers and teachers than will 1B. As I asked last night, who knows, for certain, which one would help the most children? I don't for sure and I don't think anyone else does.
As for money, the Families and Education Levy has $30M set aside for special programs. If 1A wins, they say the mandates in their measure would be about $3-4M to enact (there is some dispute over that 10% of income issue).
Also, amen on your tax analysis. But until that changes, I have to think of all the taxpayers.
1A wants prek works to make $15?hr. Are these individuals working for the city?
But sooner or later, everyone on minimum wage will make $15 a hour.
I'm writing up the part two of the School Board meeting and that question of who works for who within Seattle Schools and any new preschool classrooms came up. Got some vague answers there.
I'll be selecting 1A because it is a step in the right direction, but personally I think they should be paid more than $15/hour. If this means spending some taxpayer money to keep preschool affordable, that's fine with me (and that is what 1B should have been about, not foisting a particular curriculum - and assessments - on 4 year olds!!)
-Montlake Dad
--- swk
Seen It
In my local public school, the very expensive private preschool, located in one the the dedicated school childcare spaces, as of a year ago, paid many of it's classroom employees $10.00 and hour and NO/zero benefits or sick leave. Perhaps they are not "head" teachers, but most have college degrees (BA)) and are as important and involved with the children as the "head" teacher, who, btw, didn't seem to be around that often. I found that appalling.
Casey
It's hard to understand how children can be "our most precious resource" when as a society there seems to be little concern for those managing it.
Glad I left
Not enough details on 1B - what curriculum, how will 'assessment' be done, who will manage/have access to data, and WHERE will these programs be located.
-no on 1B
All those concerns you raise? All true.
P.S. Families and the kids, especially, refer to all preschool staff as "teachers" but few of them are in fact the teachers.
--- swk
Thanks for that.
--- swk
Okay, I may be missing something but isn't $15 an hour a law that will come into play in a couple of years? 1A only brings it in sooner.
I will also say what I said at the Horizon House forum.
There will never been 100% of kids coming into kindergarten "ready" or having been in preschool.
There will ALWAYS be people who - for family reasons, culture or religious reasons - put their child into home-based care that may or may not be licensed. No law will change that (and 1B freely admits theirs is voluntary).
But yes, there will be some increases in expenses, and thus some increases in tuition, I will not try to deny that. 1A would be a lot better if it came with a funding source for the "10% of income tuition cap" that it mentions. If the city council refuses to provide money to subsidize that, it may require another ballot measure to force their hand.
-Montlake Dad