Rally for Recess
Rally for Recess & Equity, August 27, Leschi Elementary @ 11 AM
This Thursday, 11am at Leschi Elementary (135 32nd Ave., 98122) Rally for Recess and Equity.
Half the schools in the district get 30 minutes or less of recess--most of that half are 15-20. All in the name of more class instruction. Kids need to move to learn. They need to let off steam, they need to be outside, they need unstructured time and social skill-building time.
The schools with least recess? Central and south end. This is an equity issue. And one of many sticking points in the contract negotiations. Bring kids!
This Thursday, 11am at Leschi Elementary (135 32nd Ave., 98122) Rally for Recess and Equity.
Half the schools in the district get 30 minutes or less of recess--most of that half are 15-20. All in the name of more class instruction. Kids need to move to learn. They need to let off steam, they need to be outside, they need unstructured time and social skill-building time.
The schools with least recess? Central and south end. This is an equity issue. And one of many sticking points in the contract negotiations. Bring kids!
SPONSORED BY SEA
Comments
Please have the courtesy to state that this event is organized and sponsored by the Seattle Education Association as part of our members' action plan to get the district moving on our contract bargaining proposals for students.
We are united for guaranteed recess for all elementary children, for limits on standardized testing, for reasonable workloads of classified employees and ESAs, for fair evaluations systems for both classified and certificated employees, for action on equity in schools and disproportionate discipline, and for fair wages that will allow educators to live in the city we serve.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Knapp
President,
Seattle Education Association
GratefulDad
What the heck is a "contract bargaining proposal for students"?
Melissa, thanks for posting the announcement. Students desperately need more recess.
AH Parent
The SEA's responsibilities are to "its members".
SPS upper level management is for "themselves".
DFER and LEV and the Washington Policy Center are each for their "own agenda".
The SPS Board is for the district "not be sued".
The PTA is now funded to some extent by Gates.
The Vendors are for "vendor profits".
So who is "for the Students"?
Inquiring Mind
And other bargaining points indirectly impact students - better evaluation, better pay....
The union of educators absolutely has the students in mind at the bargaining table.
-spell check
CT
One would think that the district shared that interest.
David Edelman
Please don't let the bureaucratic self-promotion interfere with what I think overall is a good platform the bargaining team is using to represent us. I have a bit of a difference of opinion about a part of it (no need to dissect here, and despite having a common union we're obviously still individuals), but overall I am much more bothered by the lack of district engagement than minor differences with the platform. Jonathan's under a lot of pressure right now, so although bothered by the tone it's also making me more annoyed with the delay tactics of the district. Rushing is when people make mistakes and less than ideal judgments (me too) and so this actually contributes to my thinking that no matter what, due to the rush of whatever is done this next week (or 2 or 3 but hopefully just this week!!) will be less than ideal for all parties because of the rush.
Board/Board Candidates (if you're reading) - I'd like to see district leadership, via pressure from the Board, have accountability for true negotiating discussions along the way. There are lots of very legitimate policy issues to coordinate each contract (and yeah, raises may always be the last to resolve) but actually showing to meetings and genuinely discussing. District coaches and meetings always overdo this thing about NORMS anyhow... how about a norm of actually showing up to and engaging in meetings! Minimize stress and better results all the way around in the end.
Union Teacher
Every time this issue has been raised with district staff, they've said that one obstacle to solving it is the teacher contract. Well, SEA has stepped up and made a solid proposal to address that aspect of it - and the district rejected it out of hand. The district has also refused to adopt the Wellness Policy as recommended by the task force, which included strong protections for lunch and recess time. The district has been slow to adopt a Recess Policy, although Tacoma has had one since 2007 - and the district remains out of compliance with their existing Lunch Policy, with principals generally ignoring the policy without consequence.
I can't attend tomorrow, but I urge those who can participate to do so, and stand with the teachers and the parents for a fair contract that addresses the needs of the whole child, as SEA seeks.
District 1 - Michael Christophersen sld.advocate.seattle@gmail.com
- Scott Pinkham nimiipuu@gmail.com
District 2 - Rick Burke rick@rickburke4schools.com
- Laura Gramer LauraGramerSeattleSchool@gramer.com
District 3 - Jill Geary jillforseattleschools@gmail.com
- Lauren McGuire info@laurenforschools.com
District 6 - Leslie Harris harrislsh@comcast.net
- Marty McLaren martyforschools@outlook.com
Who knows they might answer you?
Thanks for enduring all they are throwing at you.
Good luck
For myself, I'm more interested in knowing whether or not Knapp will allow Burgess and the city insert themselves into union negotiations via P5 alignment. As per usual, I'll be "watching"....:)
I second Robert Cruikshank's post and am delighted that the Teachers' Union are supportive of this important issue.
Jj
I agree the rally is the thing but he made it his thing.
Don't shoot the messenger.