Tuesday Open Thread
Good news for people who travel with kids (via the Washington Post):
Interesting piece from NPR on How Teachers Can Help 'Quiet Kids' Tap Their Superpowers."
What's on your mind?
After months of debate over the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, and at an apparent impasse over privatizing air traffic control, Congress has settled on a compromise — with some unexpected benefits for the average air traveler.Four out of nine West Seattle elementaries - Roxhill, Sanislo, Lafayette and Alki - are without principals and no notice when they will get one. And the executive director for that region, Israel Vela, is leaving. Hmmm.
Among other things, it would also require airlines to seat families with children together without charging them more, accelerate the security screening process and issue prompt refunds for baggage fees when luggage is lost for more than 12 hours.
Interesting piece from NPR on How Teachers Can Help 'Quiet Kids' Tap Their Superpowers."
"There are expectations on our kids to ... be a charismatic extrovert," says Kasevich. Even if it's unconsciously, she says, teachers tend to give more attention to the louder students.A wonderful and poignant story from KING-5 news about a seventh grader at Broadview Thomson who is collecting clothes to send to Syrian refugees.
Kasevich admits she did it too: calling on the kids who raised their hands first.
The professional development workshop was based on Susan Cain's best-seller Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking.
The book has been a national phenomenon, and it's the inspiration behind a curriculum developed by Heidi Kasevich for teachers.
Salma Abokar started a school-wide clothing drive that was inspired by a persuasive essay and her father.Almost forgot - what do we teach kids about in school about plagiarism? I'm sure Mrs. Trump had no idea what she was so carefully reading but someone did.
Abokar was in her English class and was asked to argue a position on a question: Should Syrian refugees be welcome in America? She answered emphatically ‘Yes.’
It was that essay that inspired an idea. Salma was very close with her father Mohamed who was a Somalian refugee and expressed his passionate support for the people of Syria.
“He made like a prayer for them and he said, if you can, help these people,” Abokar said. Those words became even more meaningful when he passed February 18 of a sudden heart attack. Mohamed was just 56-years-old.
What's on your mind?
Comments
HP
https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/11277298/McMillian_v_Maltos_et_al
Looks like Cothron Macmillian has filed a lawsuit against 4 people, 2 of whom I recognize as being from her school staff.
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/dorn-sues-7-school-districts-over-use-of-local-levy-money/
-BB
What!? The union certainly is (and is often accused of being the leading funder of some candidates.)
saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-do-principals-get-picked.html
Jan 27, 2009 - 1 post
The Principals' Association of Seattle Schools (PASS), the principals' union, ..... You no longer need to worry about Cothron McMillian anymore.
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Principal Appointments
saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2015/02/principal-appointments.html
Feb 9, 2015 - 1 post
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2015/02/seattle-loses-bid-to-put- .... I imagine that we will all be seeing Cothron McMillian's name on a ...
2cents
As for that post, Charlie and I try to read every single comment and make sure that items like that don't remain. I myself do not remember that comment (and it would help if you would tell me what thread that is.) I would have removed it.
And, if you don't like this blog, don't read this blog.
A simple reading of the PDC website confirms this to be true. It's not an accusation. It's a fact.
Woody
Also, even the current reps in our elementary building get frustrated with the lack of real representation. Questions go unanswered. Meetings are poorly attended. We seem to have no leverage at all and agents come unprepared when they do come. They don't even know the contract and they frequently don't bring one with them. I've been told to read the contract and we don't have a contract. It is online.
Finally, many women are not yet on board with union activism. Many are second incomes. It's been that way since I started teaching. Losing TRI might finally rally the troops.
And all those red shirts sure looked good. But those were the big events which didn't net anybody very much. And which really didn't address so many of our real needs.
But this topic is the lawsuit. The above is my opinion. Of course, you are free to disagree with me.
So maybe the union is active but not teachers? I couldn't say.
Erika Ayer is the new principal at Sanislo and Rena Deese is the new principal at Alki. Schools were notified in June.
WS
BB and I probably should have posted our comments under the Dorn heading. I forgot which thread I was on.
Woody
I want someone who's going to advocate for full funding, is going to speak out against SBAC and other high-stakes standardized testing, who supports the opt-out movement, is going to advocate for ALL students, who will not bring religion/religious groups into schools, and who is against charters.
I'm ending up with a vote for David Spring. Thoughts?
-Seattle parent
HP
So I'll make note here (and elsewhere), if you write something cryptic or flamethrowing, especially in reference to another commenter, me or Charlie, I'm not going to ask what you are talking about. I'm going to delete it immediately. I'm a little tired of asking people who or what they are talking about.
When people reach the conclusion that the police are at war with them, it's not hard for those people to decide to fight back.
I'm not endorsing, approving, or advocating the assassination of police officers. That's horrific. But it is no less horrific than unwarranted killings by police - and we have seen those.
I read here that Orca K-8's middle school program is becoming the place counselors send kids whose behavior is unmanageable - and mentioned that to a student who attended the school years ago. Her reply - "Oh like Nova and Garfield?" She's a recent Garfield grad and has had close friends at Nova.
How long will the district leave 250 high school seats empty while other secondary schools are adding portables? The Center School is shrinking too. Maybe it's time to co-house the schools. If they consolidated their administrative staff, they'd be able to keep TCS's Art teacher too.
"I'm not endorsing, approving, or advocating the assassination of police officers. That's horrific. But it is no less horrific than unwarranted killings by police - and we have seen those."
I ask ...
Didn't both suspects killed by police have guns? Unwarranted? Lets wait for the verdict please.
Mas, don't you see the difference between a vehicle stop gone bad vs. a planned assassination?
Boy oh boy you're lucky you no longer live in Seattle, there are a few officers who would love to talk to you.
NRA
I heard a report from a police officer from Renton who reviewed both cases and said that the officers did not use good practice in either case. In both cases the police officers put themselves at risk and escalated the situation.
HP
The Gates Foundation has provided SPS an early learning grant in the amount of $249, 498. Just below the amount needed for board approval. Very convenient. What are they doing with those dollars??
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2016/06/OPP1152540
Well, the Seattle Times told s that superintendent candidate Erin Jones is part of the plan to reform teacher compensation system, which probably involves state wide bargaining.
"Jones has an independent voice that could help lawmakers work toward a compromise on reforming the state’s teacher compensation system."
http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/the-times-recommends-erin-jones-for-superintendent-of-public-instruction/
End local control of public education and put all the control at the top??
I find her various comments to be racist and her ideologies dangerous.
If I knew her name, I would submit a formal complaint to PSED against her.
I suggest you might review her comments to understand my position, before you cry wolf.
BLMS
If we are going to retain it (& I think we should), cant we take a little better care of it?
( was just at a soccer game)
The district HAS to have it for a home field for several high schools for football and soccer. And, as well, it's the site for graduations.
But revamp it as just a stadium? Very costly.
Revamp it as a high school with the stadium on top (as Joe Wolf has shown us was done in New Jersey?)
Swap the land with the City (which was the plan at one point), making sure that the land given would support a stadium?
I think you'll be waiting quite awhile for the answer unless it comes up in BEX V.
the city and/or district should rebuild or strengthen every public building to current code and help private parties do the same.
uw fixed theirs why can't sps?
the jscae is also unsafe dangerous full of cracks and built on mud
i'd propose turning the whole of sodo back to estuary which it will be after a 9.0 subduction zone quake which is overdue
scared
- fyi
JSCEE is another issue and the district seems to be directing money to buildings with children in them.
She was supposedly speeding and did nothing to warrant the attack on her person.
Her interview is truly heartbreaking. Watch the video, if you can.
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/violent-arrest-of-teacher-caught-on-video-officers/nr3W6/?icmp=statesman_internallink_referralbox_free-to-premium-referral
What is wrong with this country? When will it get better?
nauseated
I don't know what is wrong but something has to change. Stat.
Death is seen a a cure for many of our ills; killing terrorists, criminals, and anybody who's in the way. It seems our religions worship death, from the christians and their death cross and symbolic flesh eating and blood drinking to the muslims and jews with their holy wars and fanaticism. As if science hasn't been around at all.
Two candidates who will no doubt try to outdo each other on how tough and violent they will be in office.
And the guns and missiles and warheads and armies just keep going and going.
It's no mystery what is wrong. Humans have not decided to move on in their emotional development. The whole universe is out there and no doubt about it, somebody is watching us. Life has had at least a 500 million year head start in our galaxy and we have seen so many planets now there is no way we are alone. But if we were watching planets evolve we wouldn't interfere, we scrub all our probes to prevent contamination, so we must assume whoever is out there doesn't either. If we can survive until science finds the way to see the aliens or we reach some level of development to trigger contact...
The thing is even the horrors we create have value. Without the nazi regime we might not be in space at all.
Toledo
rainy day
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/with-just-79-police-officers-tukwila-pays-out-15m-to-settle-civil-rights-lawsuits/
simply gruesome