This and That
I was on Twitter this morning and some teachers were discussing if and how the pledge of allegiance is used at their school. It suddenly came to me that the Board no longer opens their Board meetings with it. I recall several years back when a class of students had come to do a pre-meeting show and they had been seated with the audience afterwards. When it came time for the pledge, I never saw so many panic-stricken faces because some clearly didn't know it - I guess SPS schools allow the principal to make the call.
The Board president now notes that the JSCEE is sitting on land sacred to Native American tribes.
Looks like Director Vivian Song Maritz is having a community meeting on Zoom on Tuesday, the 27th from 6:30-7:30 pm. Registration required.
Back to school messaging from Superintendent Brent Jones. It includes this: This summer, our Safety and Security team conducted walk throughs at every school. The team is implementing new required training for school security.
If I only lived in Seattle, I would put that to the test. You'll note he didn't say they were going to fix anything; they just did walk throughs. There IS money sitting in various capital levies but I'd lay odds it will not be put to good use for this purpose.
Upcoming posts:
- Parents are mentioning fewer language options at schools (even as the Superintendent's message says this "offering virtual courses in American Indian studies, Filipinx American studies and Black studies, as well as more world languages to high school students across the district." Some complain math options are limited as well.
- Director regions redistricting. (NOT school boundaries, just director boundaries.)
Comments
I’ve seen the districtwide elearning language courses advertised many times. It is either not a desirable class or perhaps they have planned to take all comers which seems like an icky way to learn a language with giant classes online. SPS didn’t learn that online learning was a disaster or doesn’t get that language is about relationships…languages are hard enough in person, can you imagine doing this cameras off???
Womp Womp
The OSPI metrics seem to have been completely thrown off by the pandemic, as in they no longer offer a lot of metrics they used to.
Basics matter
If you won't stand up for the country, why should the country stand up for you when you need healthcare, security, education, etc.
In my experience, eschewing the Pledge is a demonstration of privilege and elitism.
SP
SPS parent
SPS Parent-I see the 2 as having very different goals. The pledge is designed to goad people into supporting the government; land acknowledgements point out a piece of (often missing) history. They are asking people to adopt indigenous beliefs or even support a tribe. If the pledge went something like: I respect our government and the desire to treat everyone equally and justly, then I would be OK with that. Simple words that make sense.-TeacherMom
I think you accidentally forgot the word ‘not’ in your sentence, “They are asking people to adopt..”
I know this is probably an error, but speaks to the wide variations in land use ‘acknowledgements.’
They seem to vary from mere acknowledgement and recognition of the original inhabitants of our land like the Duwamish one:
”I would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present and honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.”
To some others that are more muscular and would certainly produce cognitive dissonance to the children taught at home to not feel particularly guilty about western property law. The Salish people’s:
We acknowledge that we occupy the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, in particular the Tulalip, Snohomish, Stillaguamish, and Sauk-Suiattle Tribes. We see you, respect your right to sovereignty and self-determination, and are committed to being better listeners, learners, and in lifting indigenous voices.
‘Occupy’ is an interesting word to dig into linguistically (you can google it!), but most people recognize possible connotations of seizing and illegitimacy….And that’s a fine perspective to teach and discuss, but to make an expectation of reciting over and over feels a bit much.
SPS Parent
Sunsets
We are a warlike people and have earned our sovereignty by victory. Losses have consequences, we pledge allegiance or suffer them. We aspire to fairness and care not much for what has come before. We’re all here now, and mostly we have no memory of a past. Given those limitations, we welcome all to join.
Truth