Friday Open Thread
It's Friday.
That means a new Open Thread for your thoughts. It also means another Friday Memo will become public.
What's happening in your school?
That means a new Open Thread for your thoughts. It also means another Friday Memo will become public.
What's happening in your school?
Comments
The article points out that enrollment in teaching programs in general is also down, but not as much as TFA's fall. TFA folk insist it's not because of their philosophy, but rather, because the rebounding economy gives students more lucrative options.
Hmm, I say.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/a-pupil-points-a-finger-a-teacher-is-fired-his-life-rerouted-now-can-they-be-buddies/2015/01/21/5fa7368e-8000-11e4-9f38-95a187e4c1f7_story.html
- WOW
This type of thing happens all the time to teachers.
As a male teacher, I've heard stories about false allegations for years and I personally know five male teachers at different schools who were put on unpaid leave for six months to a year so the Seattle School District could "investigate". In each cases, the reports of teachers shoving, slapping or the deliberately suggestive "touching" were all disposed of as "unfounded" and teachers returned to work.
But, all those teachers have been permanently damaged... their reputations, their dedication to their job, their lives, their happiness... gone.
Yes, abuse does happen and it's beyond horrific when it does. But the public has no idea how many innocent people have sacrificed by students and parents with an axe to grind. There is never a consequence to those making false reports.
In my 25 years I've had one deranged, vengeful parent who made an anonymous accusation against me, but I could prove beyond a shadow of a doubt they were lying (with help from the union, colleagues, lawyers, etc.)
I wonder what comprises the term "investigation" and its relationship to due process.
I have spoken many many Teachers in SPD who have had numerous accounts and accusations that make no sense.
Apparently in the district you can write up Substitutes and I presume Teachers without consulting them or even advising them prior to the submission of the allegation. Then the district weighs that and either releases the sub, restricts the sub or does nothing.
Then we have the issues of who pays for it. Some coverage is Union but the costs and the benefits of this "investigation" does what when the process is not transparent.
I would love to see the figures of the Greenberg debacle.
I am sure that this is a class action suit or at least a civil suit that would set the idea that this bullshit is not acceptable. I have read of some cases where Teachers have done so and now with the increasing attention of cyber bullying and other crimes of that nature it may be time.
But any Teacher who has a social media account is asking for world of trouble.
- WOW
Twenty-one states already subsidize tuition at private schools through vouchers or tax credits. The new programs promise far more flexibility, but critics fear they could also lead to waste or abuse as taxpayers underwrite do-it-yourself educations with few quality controls.
Called Education Savings Accounts, the programs work like this: The state deposits the funds it would have spent educating a given child in public schools into a bank account controlled by his parents. The parents can use those funds — the amount ranges from $5,000 to more than $30,000 a year — to pay for personal tutors, homeschooling workbooks, online classes, sports team fees and many types of therapy, including horseback riding lessons for children with disabilities. They can also spend the money on private school tuition or save some of it for college.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/state-education-savings-accounts-taxpayers-114966.html#ixzz3R0NdxcON
--Michael
The staff is beyond frustrated, but district support is not there. Please check with your kids-delicately-to see if they are affected.
Sadly, it is also the special ed students who are not receiving appropriate district support who are at risk. They deserve better.
InsideFremont
The totally. Inexperienced internal guy they use has done some. WITHOUT EVEN INTERVIEWING EYE WITNESSES (I kid you not).
Thats why they lose when adjudicated outside the "palace".
http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/2048.pdf
Increased use of restraints by staff leads to highly escalated, frightened special ed students leads to "screamed profanity." If you don't like it, fight for better treatment of these student so that they don't have to experience that level of stress and terror at school in the first place.
- - - -
The article begins:
Bill would strengthen law to avoid seclusion or restraint of special-ed students in schools
By Alexa Vaughn
Seattle Times staff reporter
Heidi Stuber says she knows her 9-year-old autistic son can get out of hand. On rare occasions, he’s hit and bitten people when the wrong approach is used to de-escalate a tense moment.
She believes the right approach — one specifically noted in his Individualized Education Program (IEP) — was routinely ignored in situations that began with her son making faces or unplugging computers at B.F. Day Elementary School in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. She says special-education staff instead relied far too quickly and too often on physically restraining and secluding him, options state and federal law allow only as a last resort to protect students and staff in imminent physical danger.
State law apparently isn’t clear enough about that, though, according to Rep. Gerry Pollet, D-Seattle, who has introduced a bill co-sponsored by eight Democrats and three Republicans to emphasize that all known positive intervention options need to be exhausted before such measures are used. Stuber and other Washington parents with similar concerns will testify Monday, as HB 1240 gets a hearing before the House Education Committee.
Full text here: Link: http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2025545544_studentrestraintbill1xml.html
- Luna
parent
"Investigations" at SSD are a joke and have been for years. MGJ and her minions in HR have made farces of EVERY one for years.
The totally. Inexperienced internal guy they use has done some. WITHOUT EVEN INTERVIEWING EYE WITNESSES (I kid you not).
Thats why they lose when adjudicated outside the "palace".
I just had coffee with a long term teacher now substitute who shared with me some of the many bizarre tales of SPD with regards to allegations that have never been substantiated with witness testimony, as when Lawyers are hired not by Unions but by Teachers themselves, they find that the district hides behind "confidentiality" of the students as they are minors.
So meanwhile they are minors when the allege an adult does something to them but an adult if they actually commit a crime themselves in the real world. Which is it?
Another is the district obfuscates language and logic to somehow find another way to ensure that they are not liable but has no problem letting the individual feel the wrath of the parent. And the child is virtually ignored at that point, regardless if they are exaggerating, lying, telling the truth or unable to explain their trauma. One minute they are the star of the show the next they are in the chorus and need to shut up now the adults are mishandling the situation on your behalf, or not.
This BF day incident is one of many. The reality is that the RCW codes allow for this but rather than working with the parent, child, teacher, they ship this child off. And an opportunity to resolve this and improve it for all involved is gone.
It takes one allegation, be it genuine or unsubstantiated and SPS will do little or nothing to resolve the matter.
There are numerous "analysts" in the HR department and their job description is just that to resolve, investigate and in turn find alternatives or solutions. Which may well be termination, arbitration or the big FU.
And some of them still are hangers on from the MJG days but they are slowly leaving with equal morons taking the helm.
But one only needs to read some of the letters they write and the level of illiteracy, incompetency and utter disregard for facts is evidence enough to destroy lives and careers.
SPS is like the SPD utterly a farce and bureaucratic labyrinth of idiots who are more into job protection than student success.
Seattle lives in a bubble of misinformation, denial and privilege.
- A Poor
-scared child
It goes both ways.
Now we have our student video every teacher every week just in case.
Look out abusers we are watching and recording you.
Eye onTeachers
The school district would be smart to start limiting their spending and challenge the state regarding unfunded mandates.
"Will the state do as the constitution says? Or will it redefine its obligations? "I expect them to try to reduce the promises they've made," Ahearne says. "I would expect them to dumb down academic standards, would expect them to play accounting games."
http://crosscut.com/2015/02/05/community-idea-lab/123704/how-do-you-solve-problem-mccleary/
Is there teacher pay already directly related to scores this spring? I heard perhaps principal bonus $ too? Compared to what then, national norms?
Or with the new test, is this a benchmark year, and future teacher evaluations and principal bonuses are based on that?
I am considering opting out (among other reasons, tired of stressed out teachers trying to cobble together make up work to prep kids for the test - some are definitely handling this stress better than others at our school), but want to know how this might directly impact. For ex if I opt my kid out, and he might have received a good score, am I then hurting our teacher this year more so than making a statement about standardized testing?
how else could opting out impact my child - no scores to use for spectrum determination, middle school math placement, where else might scores be used?
Thanks,
Diane
I decided to opt out one of my kids because it was stressing her out. The other isn't bothered, so she still takes the tests.
She said it would do her no harm, and would understand our decision to opt. out. She said there is a bonus she is eligible for, based on a rolling 2 1/2 years of student MSP scores. As it is a new test this year she is thinking it will reset.
The zero for not taking the test is included in the school results vs. against an individual teacher. That might be why some Principals would be opposed to kids opting out.
We've been told the SBAC will take 8 1/2 hours of test time. I think that is a completely unreasonable amount of time to take away from instruction - especially in this first baseline year.
I will be opting both of my eligible children out of the SBAC.
-StepJ
bleck.
CCA
Is this a pattern or a trend?
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/more-sports/hs-players-charged-with-attempted-rape-of-special-ed-student/ar-AA96vyk
- Sick of It
I work in special ed myself and I know that things can go really wrong really fast if staff doesn't follow the appropriate behavior intervention plan or if an adult starts a power struggle with a student or something.
I'd be very reluctant to blame it on the special ed students, and I'd be extremely reluctant to say that the kids who overhear a frightened special ed kid screaming curse words are the ones being abused.
I do agree, though, that parents should check in with their kids and just make sure they're feeling safe at school. And if special ed comes up in conversation, try to treat it with empathy and tolerance. If it's scary to overhear "that kid," imagine how scary it is to BE "that kid."
Hope things improve soon.
- Eloise
Get a grip, Mr Governor.
BTW this law plays right into the hands of charter schools because its the paramount duty of the state to educate children and if public schools bar un vaccinated children from attending public schools the state must pay for alternatives.
It impossible to force anyone into getting a measles vaccination, so this could lead to a change in the state constitution which is ultimately the goal. Republicans are trying to remove the "paramount duty" clause from the state constitution.
Aluminum hat
Empl
SO wrong.
Eckstein MS 6th grade math placement this fall was based on a district-created matrix of spring 4th grade MSP and fall 5th MAP scores. In the fall, some kids had additional testing and moved between the classes offered, but it was not any kids' decision. I know several parents who tried to get kids into a higher level, and without the test gatekeeper scores, they were turned down. And there is no "doubling up" in 6th grade, doubtful at all in MS.
Eckstein Parent
Join us, the Seattle Opt Out Group, for a meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Beacon Hill Library, 6pm. We will have a guest speaker, time for q and a and literature (including opt out letter formats). We are on facebook but can be hard to find, so here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Seattle-Opt-Out/430265387124998
All are welcome! Be informed, know your rights, OPT OUT.
AS
Empl, at which schools have you seen this done? My experience has been that students (particularly in high school) aren't typically allowed take multiple math courses concurrently at school because the schools barely have enough math teachers to go around. Same with science. The schools don't exactly have an excess of math and science teachers.
I'd love to see middle and high schools allowing any interested students to skip a year of math by taking the EOC. Otherwise, most high school (not Spectrum, HCC, IB) students can't take calculus before they graduate. Selective colleges really like to see calculus on transcripts.
dreaming
The winning bidder was not immediately revealed, but it was not Seattle Public Schools, district officials said.
KP
KP
It really depends on the school, the principal, and the persistence of the parents. Some schools do indeed treat the guidelines as rules carved in stone, or they'll make up their own rules, just because.
seen it
Wish they would lease space in the Amgen building for a new high school. They could have state of the art facilities and ease the capacity crisis in the north end.
S parent
Think of all of the staff time WASTED on this boondoggle instead of used to solve high school north or West Seattle middle school (yeah, that is a HUGE problem no one is even talking about).
Peaslee is up for reelection. Could we catch a second lucky break?
Here's Hoping
The board made the absolute right decision regarding the downtown bld. It is important to remember that the state has not updated their capital funding formula since 1985 and the costs of capital projects has risen within the past 30 years. Elementary schools cost $32M, but the state pays $5M.
Amgen site must be considered. If so, how would this look for a potential split...as Tomiko Santos suggests i.e. would downtown or Queen Anne be dividing point.
Thoughts of splitting the district will result in more dollars, analysis and time.
The more I look at things...the crazier it gets.
Why can't ya all see the writing?
END DAYS
WHY did he waste time on the downtown building with money that doesn't exist (or staff time that doesn't exist either!), when he has YET to produce a single document that ties together the big picture, the total picture of facilities and enrollment by region and grade band? Until he does that, how can he possibly justify an capital decisions or the next BTA? Does anyone think he's really right for this job? Bremerton, that's a good background for a $700 million capital program? When do you think he'll take off to greener pastures? Right about when his 'plans' are about to blow up?
We will all still be here, living with his mistakes. Can anyone say, "SCHOOL IN SHIFTS"?
Forget about later start times for high schools! It will be the exact opposite, EARLIER start times and longer days, to accommodate 8 periods. Charming. And, he won't be here! But, it will be a direct consequence of his 'leadership'.
Writing is on the wall. Break up the district, don't break up the district. What will it matter? The Who had a song about this: "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...". At least that song has the refrain, "won't get fooled again". Honestly, is anyone fooled by this? There are good people, good staff at JSCEE, but unfortunately, they aren't the ones who call the shots. They know what the worst problems are. Staff told the operations committee high school north was the worst problem (they were asked by Directors directly, so Fluo couldn't silence them. Those folks have integrity, but, they also understand what rolls downhill and who it hits).
Not optimistic
"WHY did he waste time on the downtown building with money that doesn't exist"
Henderdon works under Nyland.
Look out abusers we are watching and recording you.
Eye onTeachers"
Uh yeah... and it's the teachers who are nuts?
Education: Learn for the love of it
Posted by Letters Coordinator
Why does education always have to serve some material end? [“We have a fixation on income inequality,” Opinion, Feb. 4]. This kind of materialism breeds a sick culture. The more that we attempt to tie education to the economy, the sicker our culture becomes.
The love of learning should be valued as much as the love of work. Learning in order to form a philosophy of life, a worldview and to know God’s works should be the primary motives of education.
These views, as alien as they are today, were once widely held. When learning is tied to earning as much as it has been in modern times, the learning process is corrupted. This corruption sickens the soul because it is natural to learn for the love of learning.
Life is more of a learning process than it is a earning process. Most of us value greatly what we have learned in life. Our culture should reflect that love.
Dale McCracken, Renton
Thank you Mr. McCracken. Couldn't agree more.
WSDWG
http://leaders.edweek.org/profile/josh-garcia-whole-child-accountability-tacoma-washington/?cmp-2.9-EML/#video
HP
"As a child, doctors told Jacob Barnett’s parents that their autistic son would probably never know how to tie his shoes.
But experts say the 14-year-old Indiana prodigy has an IQ higher than Einstein’s and is on the road to winning a Nobel Prize. He’s given TedX talks and is working toward a master’s degree in quantum physics.
The key, according to mom Kristine Barnett, was letting Jacob be himself — by helping him study the world with wide-eyed wonder instead of focusing on a list of things he couldn’t do.
Diagnosed with moderate to severe autism at the age of 2, Jacob spent years in the clutches of a special education system that didn’t understand what he needed. His teachers at school would try to dissuade Kristine from hoping to teach Jacob any more than the most basic skills.
Jacob was struggling with that sort of instruction — withdrawing deeper into himself and refusing to speak with anyone."
Frustrated parent
-Hmpf