Tuesday Open Thread
Update: Not to scare you but the Times is reporting that Washington State is one of 25 states where head lice has become "highly resistant" to most OTC hair care products. And school is starting soon. Good luck!
Hope to get up threads on Dorn and Inslee today. They both had interesting things to say that weren't exactly covered by the regular media types.
Like the earthquake in Seattle story in the New Yorker, the story in the NY Times about Amazon's corporate culture has gotten a lot of play. IYou can't help but be somewhat horrified, based on your own sensibilities. (I'm going to say most of what was said is true even if coming from ex-employees - far too many of them say the same things. And the stories about being given the cold shoulder over deaths, illnesses, etc were far too common. I think Bezos' being shocked and appalled is akin to Captain Renault in Casablanca who, during a raid, said he was "shocked, shocked" to find gambling in Rick's Bar and then someone comes up to him, "Your winnings, sir."
One item pulled from this week's Board agenda is the moratorium on suspensions for elementary students in light of the seeming disproportionality of its use. Miami schools are ending their use of out-of-school suspensions.
Interesting artilce in NY Times about algorithms and their use in our lives today.
Yet there is growing evidence that algorithms and other types of software can discriminate. The people who write them incorporate their biases, and algorithms often learn from human behavior, so they reflect the biases we hold.
The story of a poem written by an American teen that ended on on the wall of a bar in London. I think it's a pretty good poem that reflects a teen mind. Show it to your teen and ask them what he/she thinks.
The Middle School Social Studies materials adoption committee has made a recommendation to the Board. It looks like a bit of a split decision over two companies' books: 6th grade World History from McGraw Hill, 7th grade World History from Holt McDougal's and 8th grade U.S. History from Holt McDougal. Full vote on September 23rd by the Board.
What's on your mind?
Hope to get up threads on Dorn and Inslee today. They both had interesting things to say that weren't exactly covered by the regular media types.
Like the earthquake in Seattle story in the New Yorker, the story in the NY Times about Amazon's corporate culture has gotten a lot of play. IYou can't help but be somewhat horrified, based on your own sensibilities. (I'm going to say most of what was said is true even if coming from ex-employees - far too many of them say the same things. And the stories about being given the cold shoulder over deaths, illnesses, etc were far too common. I think Bezos' being shocked and appalled is akin to Captain Renault in Casablanca who, during a raid, said he was "shocked, shocked" to find gambling in Rick's Bar and then someone comes up to him, "Your winnings, sir."
†
And what are we teaching in our schools? The value of teamwork and being a supportive team member. Oh, and also learning to recognize bullying. Maybe not so much at Amazon.One item pulled from this week's Board agenda is the moratorium on suspensions for elementary students in light of the seeming disproportionality of its use. Miami schools are ending their use of out-of-school suspensions.
Interesting artilce in NY Times about algorithms and their use in our lives today.
Yet there is growing evidence that algorithms and other types of software can discriminate. The people who write them incorporate their biases, and algorithms often learn from human behavior, so they reflect the biases we hold.
The story of a poem written by an American teen that ended on on the wall of a bar in London. I think it's a pretty good poem that reflects a teen mind. Show it to your teen and ask them what he/she thinks.
The Middle School Social Studies materials adoption committee has made a recommendation to the Board. It looks like a bit of a split decision over two companies' books: 6th grade World History from McGraw Hill, 7th grade World History from Holt McDougal's and 8th grade U.S. History from Holt McDougal. Full vote on September 23rd by the Board.
What's on your mind?
Comments
That extra half hour is sure going to come in handy as they move our high schools to extra long shifts!!!
9 period day, anyone? Perhaps 6 in the morning until 5 at night?
The extra long day is needed in order to get all of the high school students in the north all of their required periods, because the district chose NOT to build a high school at Wilson Pacific.
Almost half the growth of the enrollment is north; adding one high school, Lincoln, is not enough, ESPECIALLY if they shut down Garfield to APP students from the north.
In the system, the only ones who make any sense are the teachers. I support them. They are literally on the front lines, in the classrooms, in front of our kids, trying their best to help our kids learn and grow, DESPITE all of the nonsense the glass palace and Mr. Dorn throws their way.
If teachers are putting our kids first (in their contract negotiations, asking for things that are in the best interests of our students), then you better believe WE will be putting our teachers first. How? Fail the BTA levy!
That is the ONLY thing this district cares about. Getting more money.
That is the ONLY thing that will get their attention. Not a teachers' strike. Not a long line up of parents attempting to testify at the school board meetings (pro sleep team, take note). Not Ms. Westbrook blogging about how counterproductive the district's decisions or policies or procedures are. Not a public meeting with a huge turnout of parents and press and legislators. Nope. That matters not. The only thing they care about is getting the money (to squander). That is the only way to get their attention. Until we get serious, and use the BTA levy as a referendum on how Mr. Nyland and the Board are doing, they will not take us seriously. They have a permanent attitude of 'talk to the hand'. But, if we yank that leash, eg., fail the levy, then, presto, they will start listening! No doubt, feigning a wee bit of interest in what we have to say.
This may come off as harsh, or, too oblique, but really, failing a levy is the ONLY thing this district will listen to.
Remember, they can always bring back the levy is 6 months, and you can go ahead and vote yes then, after they have been humbled. Yes, strong action, one that no doubt will be not taken, but, that is my conclusion after having watched this District for too many years.
Go Teachers!
Not everyone wants to go to a massive middle or high school. I know I didn't want to send my kids to one. Hale was at the limit. Roosevelt, Ballard and Garfield were too big. Eckstein, heck no. The Center School and Nova both have waitlists and while they are not huge, it seems there is a market for smaller schools. The only small high school in the south is Rainier Beach but they intend on getting bigger.
HP
LA Law
Reader 420
HF
HF
It will be interesting to watch Olympia fund education. If levy caps are imposed...it might have a significant impact on charter school funding.
Voters are the lifeblood to our district and to distain their view is to imperil their support.
-StepJ
Info from their email below:
Our endorsement meeting is this Thursday and new questionnaires are available on the website!
http://46dems.org/2015-election-information/
Endorsements
We'll be endorsing on ballot measures (with some information from the campaigns beforehand) but we'll also have some candidate races that are still eligible (or eligible again) for endorsements. This includes Port of Seattle Position 5 and Northshore School District Position 2 and 3. The questionnaires and local addendum for these races are available on our website so be sure to check them out before the meeting.
http://46dems.org/2015-election-information/
Meeting Details
Thursday August 20th, 2015 7:30 PM
George Center for Community
2212 NE 125th St
Seattle, WA 98125
Sign in starts at 7:00 PM
http://46dems.org/endorsement-meeting-august-20th/
Phillip Duggan
46th District Democrats of Washington
ANNOUNCING END COMMON CORE MA