Before Tomorrow's Black Lives Matter Event
I asked the district if I could go to one elementary, one middle school and one high school tomorrow. I figured Bagley because I hear they were having an assembly, HIMS because it seems to have focus on this topic and Hale because it's an active school and near my house.
The district has declined to allow me to go to any school. I have to wonder if other media are being turned away.
I see Ingraham is inviting people to come so I may join other members of the community there.
The district has declined to allow me to go to any school. I have to wonder if other media are being turned away.
I see Ingraham is inviting people to come so I may join other members of the community there.
Comments
-SPSParent
--Dan Dempsey
-SPSParent
enough.
thank you
Momof2
But what is interesting is that I reached out to some other media and apparently the district isn't letting anyone in anywhere.
Now why would that be if this is such an important event? Okay, I can see not the high schools but nowhere? Very suspicious.
guessing
http://www.kiro7.com/news/local/uproar-over-covenant-only-african-american-students-asked-to-sign/458572882
Seriously?
Think about the political angle too. The bad guys, like Gates, now say they care about equity and racism. They're lying. But we have to show our side, the pro-public education side, are the real and true champs of equity and justice. I don't get why this fight is being picked
Tor
BLM as a
Capacity solution
--> "The bad guys, like Gates, now say they care about equity and racism. They're lying."
If you disagree with how the Gates Foundation is approaching race and equity work or can point out where they are "lie", please share your specific disagreement with specific program or approaches. To call them (or anyone) liars with no specific information is following the debate approach of Donald Trump.
Some Soup for Teachers folks directed me to PTA websites which had some information - but nothing specific. But I haven't found a single school webpage that even has this on their calendar. It's not even on the district's calendar.
But it certainly saves me time and effort. No need to cover this event unless there's either an invite from the district or breaking news.
Moving on.
"Black Lives Matter At School also coincides - but is not connected - with the school district's "day of unity," aimed at bringing more attention to racial equity in education.
As a public institution, Seattle Public Schools doesn't take official positions on social or political movements, district spokesman Luke Duecy said in a statement.
Who is quoted in the article? SEE spokesperson, Hagopian. And there you have it. To think I believed the district might be trying to protect our children when they shut out the media. Now I think they are only trying to protect themselves and publicly distance themselves from their activist teachers.
cynical parent
HP
cynical parent
I personally will not be putting up any information coming out of the day unless it comes from media. I not sure I trust press releases to tell the full story. The rally is just a orchestrated show and I won't be covering it.
"We plan to cover the demonstration outside Sealth at 7:50 tomorrow morning. The Black Student Union invited us (as they did with one of their anthem protests at a recent game). We would no more ask permission for this than we do to show up at a game across the street at SWAC (which is also district property). If it were indoors we'd check in at the front desk, but really, if we get ANY flack we will raise holy hell. Schools are public places."
Now I am not in the position as regular media and I don't particular care to go to a school and get turned away so I won't be going. But I will track any media coverage and report that.
Pissed Parent
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/police-shootings-2016/
WS Parent
I've been surprised to find similar misgivings even among very liberal friends due to the experience of being victimized in the past. It's even harder when you have been in situations where it seemed that a student was not disciplined for an egregious violation of school rules because it would affect the "disproportionality" of the discipline statistics at the school. I know those numbers would hurt the school administrators' careers, but it engenders resentment because it's just not fair.
It's hard to advocate for a group on the basis of their oppression when you and your loved ones have been their victims. That might not be fair, as there may be real injustices that happen, but that's the reality. This issue is so much bigger than a simple slogan and it's hurtful when it's reduced to a slogan that we are all expected to agree with.
And if it's hurtful for me as an adult, it's much more hurtful and confusing to kids, which means that there is real damage done when the teachers are the ones promoting it during the school day.
I also worry that it empowers kids who are bullying other kids to do it even more, since the bullies are excused by being "the oppressed ones".
I have the feeling that many other people have similar experiences, but don't speak up for fear of being labelled "racist". But silence does not lead to real justice or reconciliation.
KeptMum
What parents can do is email publicrecords@seattleschools.org
Make a freedom of information request (FOIA) for information about the events, or you can ask for emails or any other type of communication from ANY public school employee.
Do you want to see what you child's teacher my have been told by district administrators? then simply ask for those emails.
I think anyone who feels blindsided by the district should send in a FOIA request as a sign of protest. By law they must respond.
FOIA protest
So I believe we have to get past our own still-painful feelings from experiencing being a victim and advocate for those who experience it daily and in systems where the stakes are so much higher than our occasional experiences. Maybe we can turn our individual experiences of being victimized into a way that engenders empathy for what others face far more often?
One of the many effects of the BLM movement is to help whites see that we will all be better off if blacks can feel like their lives mattered in this country as well.
- It's Institutional
In other words, your experiences don't fit their narrative!
Remember this is coming from those who came up with EBONICS.
Now instead of EBONICS they are using SOCIAL JUSTICE, same message just a different term to deflect from their own short comings.
Horse water
Some experiences are slow burn like being black or brown and being pulled over and given the 3rd degree over and over, watching how people demand proof of where you live, being asked personal questions when there's no need for it in a store, being told incomplete info or wrong info which result in delays in getting paperwork in on time, but see others get correct info. I experienced some of this when I went to a WAMU mortgage lending office about a home loan and was met by an unfriendly receptionist who had us wait for an 1 1/2 hr to see a mortgage rep. One banker after passing us multiple times during the wait, finally stopped and asked us what we were there for. We told him of our interest and the look on his face was priceless. He apologized profusely and took care of us immediately. We bought our first home through him. Never dealt with the receptionist again. We had similar experience after moving to Seattle and went into an insurance agency to change our car insurance and get apt. rental insurance. The agent made a big deal with our application and explain to us it was because of some scam where "Asian or Mexican" drivers would work together to cause minor fender bender to get insurance money. It was not a friendly meeting. We didn't use them for our insurance. Went to another agency and it was easy peasy. I can go on. Whether it's dealing with landlords, neighbors, fellow parents, teachers, co workers, or bosses, there are these little moments, too many to remember. They do pile on. They are more frequent than the scary moments thank goodness. You teach your kids how to deal.
This type of stuff are small daily things, but grind people down and shape their outlook. When kids see it happening to their parent, then an older sibling, then to themselves, it chips away at hope, self worth, and makes kids question and become distrustful. For others, some experiences are more traumatic which just punctuate the slow burn.
There's a lot of distrust here. Not a joyful place to be.
Mayberry
-TP
And don't forget the well intentioned white progressives that are consistently reminding black students they require their help in order to succeed. I suspect the receptionist was a liberal progressive and was waiting for your interpreter to arrive.
Horse water
-TP
Not buying what you're selling, but nice try. I think was your very white vernacular "easy peasy" that tipped your hat.
I suggest you get help, do you get paid to troll?
horse water
The Board needs a new policy that states the Board must be consulted before having the SPS support partisan political action during the school day.
Good to know that the Superintendent and teachers are the deciding actors in making this decision. (Board apparently can wash hands in regard to any responsibility for the BLM decision).
-- Dan Dempsey
Courts have ruled that teachers may not use time during the contract day to pass school levies or (I believe) devote time to other political activities.
Bewildered.
-- Dan Dempsey
https://www.thefire.org/victory-for-freedom-of-conscience-as-university-of-minnesota-backs-away-from-ideological-screening-for-ed-students-2/
-freedom of conscience
Bootsie
I love learning languages. Love learning the vernacular, slang, double entendre, evolution of words and phrases, the dialects, regional usage, urban vs. rural. Does that make me white on this blog? Can I use humdinger? Been dying to kill that one. How should a non-white person sound?
You know what, horse water, meet me. After work, I can be at central library, this Saturday at 12:30, 4th floor entrance (by the bus schedule kiosk) and you can tell me to my face how I should speak. I'm not selling; so this won't cost you a thing. I'll even buy you coffee. Our password can be easy peasy.
Mayberry
Those of you who are taunting each other, go away. Now.
It's has a depiction of an unborn baby twisting frantically in the horror of being ripped apart by an abortionist. The caption read "Please mommy help me ...I love you mommy...good bye.
I will be handing out talking points to all the kids and plan on following up with a identify the baby body parts game.
Thank BLM for opening up my world.
Jesus
-just me
This hardly strikes me as competent leadership.
-- Dan Dempsey
Nyland not England.
-- Dan Dempsey