tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post5091074369271165668..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Times Bizarro World TacticsMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3664360961754170342019-10-19T17:50:09.462-07:002019-10-19T17:50:09.462-07:00The fear is real. If you disagree or even question...The fear is real. If you disagree or even question, than you are called racist. There is no place to have any real conversations. <br />SPS TeacherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88581488718014467682019-10-19T09:06:00.306-07:002019-10-19T09:06:00.306-07:00SEA Curious, the SEA membership rarely votes on th...SEA Curious, the SEA membership rarely votes on those types of issues; I'm pretty sure it was just the SEA Board. <br /><br />SPS TEacher, I hear your thoughts from many teachers and they choose to keep their mouths shut for fear of being hammered for having a differing opinion.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2847990769742563172019-10-18T18:31:27.615-07:002019-10-18T18:31:27.615-07:00I'm an SPS teacher. I don't support who SE...I'm an SPS teacher. I don't support who SEA has endorsed. I keep trying to remember if we got a chance to vote or not. I think the vote went through the RAs, but I'm not sure. I have not always felt this way, but now I feel quite mixed about SEA. I feel like SEA has been taken over by a group of people who I don't support. For the first time, I've even thought about withdrawing from the union. I've always been a big union fan. I believe in unions, but I think SEA is going down a road that many members don't support.<br />SPS TeacherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66054145286873944602019-10-18T18:14:10.787-07:002019-10-18T18:14:10.787-07:00For SEA to endorse a candidate, doesn't the me...For SEA to endorse a candidate, doesn't the membership have to vote on it?SEA Curiousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3979577265313986472019-10-18T16:45:40.429-07:002019-10-18T16:45:40.429-07:00I don't think that any of the publicity from S...I don't think that any of the publicity from SEA can be taken for honesty. Their small but very loud radical leadership is controlling the conversation. I wish more teachers would speak up so we could hear how *they* feel.<br /><br />-- frustrated parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-41777030257378958412019-10-17T16:52:50.127-07:002019-10-17T16:52:50.127-07:00@cult, MGJ passed away in 2012. Please show some s...@cult, MGJ passed away in 2012. Please show some sensitivity.<br /><br />readerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44853493222678819682019-10-17T16:41:31.803-07:002019-10-17T16:41:31.803-07:00I didn't say I have low respect for the kids a...I didn't say I have low respect for the kids and it's creepy that you assume that. Clearly if anything shifty is going on, it's the district at fault, not the kids. It is sad that the district is using these kids.<br /><br />The cult of Blandford is at the newspaper. Do they have him on speed dial or something? It's not normal to continue to call someone who left a job 2 years ago for quotes about stuff. They're not calling Patu or Peters. Maybe they tried to call Goodloe-Johnson first and it went to voicemail.Cult of Blandfordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50374225864775846102019-10-17T16:30:45.119-07:002019-10-17T16:30:45.119-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-6261811580423228132019-10-17T16:22:22.247-07:002019-10-17T16:22:22.247-07:00It's called "conflict of interest" a...It's called "conflict of interest" and it is not the fault of the kids who volunteer to serve. It is the fault of the adults who determine the composition of the student advisory board.<br /><br />EthicsMatterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-35143862075251071612019-10-17T15:44:27.100-07:002019-10-17T15:44:27.100-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-29389010993038580912019-10-17T14:55:40.067-07:002019-10-17T14:55:40.067-07:00I think Spike is mostly right in that editorial an...I think Spike is mostly right in that editorial and newsroom aren't communicating with each other like that. But what is likely happening is that the newsroom editors who run Ed Lab are taking their orders from the Gates Foundation, and they have standing rules about who gets quoted and who doesn't. So basically you have two parallel editorial operations, with broadly overlapping political objectives, but they don't always communicate and so sometimes you get a disconnect such as in the Position 1 race.<br /><br />I also don't think Rankin was the first to respond by phone - I am guessing neither Eric Blumhagen or Lisa Rivera Smith, who is herself a former Times reporter, ever got a call. And I don't blame the reporters themselves for this - their jobs depend on them toeing the party line.<br /><br />EllsbergAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79808801511588033602019-10-17T13:41:45.730-07:002019-10-17T13:41:45.730-07:00One other obvious reason that the news and editori...One other obvious reason that the news and editorial departments might take different tacks is because ... wait for it ... they aren't actually communicating with one another. FYI, the funding for Ed Lab is from the Gates Foundation, not the editorial department. <br /><br />FWIW, I suspect Rankin was the first to respond by phone before the reporter's deadline. <br /><br />SpikeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-41018359189777566912019-10-17T12:17:32.663-07:002019-10-17T12:17:32.663-07:00I've heard that SEA has endorsed Rankin, Mitch...I've heard that SEA has endorsed Rankin, Mitchell, Hampson but I can't find that published anywhere. <br /><br />HPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22947276449572302922019-10-17T12:09:03.543-07:002019-10-17T12:09:03.543-07:00Except Outsider, they haven't done this in pre...Except Outsider, they haven't done this in previous years. Therein lies my suspicion.<br /><br />"But nowdays, print journalism has shrunk to a weak and precarious state, and they don't have any standards except survival."<br /><br />That I can agree with.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67534810438885554662019-10-17T12:06:29.193-07:002019-10-17T12:06:29.193-07:00I think you're over-analyzing. The times prob...I think you're over-analyzing. The times probably just wants to butter up all factions to avoid criticism, especially from POC activists in the city. If they endorse the old white lady, and get some blowback from the other side, they write a puff piece about the other candidate to mollify the other side. By now this is probably a choreographed dance, in which local activists know exactly how and where and to whom to huff and puff to get their piece in the paper. They quote whoever will mollify the other faction; and say things about the old white lady that critics believe should be said. It's not about being objective or newsworthy; it's about trying to offer something to everyone to safeguard their business.<br /><br />In the old days, a city might have rival rightist and leftist papers, each landing their hatchet in the other side. Or one slightly biased dominant paper with a strong enough business to say tough beans if anyone complained about their bias. But nowdays, print journalism has shrunk to a weak and precarious state, and they don't have any standards except survival.Outsidernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44922770315857277542019-10-17T11:36:56.166-07:002019-10-17T11:36:56.166-07:00Queen Bee, I didn't say Harris isn't a pol...Queen Bee, I didn't say Harris isn't a politico but that's sure not all she is or has been in her many years supporting this district. <br /><br />"I think true journalism owes it to readers to publish what they see, impartially."<br /><br />Yes, and they may have done that in their editorial but not in this story. C'mon.<br /><br />As for PTSA funds, so do ALL of them. She's just the only one running. And yet Hampson was president of the SCPTSA and Rankin was on the Board and where was their initiative put forth to change that? A lot of talk, no action.<br /><br />I don't have to explain myself to you. Kind of creepy saying "our paths will cross." And you will have the advantage of knowing who I am but I won't know who you are.<br /><br />Cult of Blanford, good catch. I didn't realize how many of the students on the Advisory Board are attached to activist parents. <br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37514905789718910952019-10-17T11:21:35.869-07:002019-10-17T11:21:35.869-07:00Today's Harris/Mitchell piece was insane. The ...Today's Harris/Mitchell piece was insane. The Times seems really confused. If they want an AA board member quote, why don't they ever talk to Harium Martin-Morris or Brandon Hersey? It's like somebody's got a <i>thing</i> with Blanford. <br /><br />Also, what gives with all the nepotism in having district power brokers' kids on the Superintendent's student advisory board? (former school board rep) Blanford's kid, (SCPTSA president) Manuela Slye's kid, (former SCPTSA president) Sebrena Burr's kidCult of Blanfordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18601891605044587562019-10-17T11:13:11.574-07:002019-10-17T11:13:11.574-07:00Melissa, I am not going to make fun of your theatr...Melissa, I am not going to make fun of your theatrics because I want to have a real understanding of the bigger picture and what role you play or you think you play in the district.<br />I read their endorsement for Eric Blumhagen. I appreciate the Times bringing attention to his opponent and if what they saw in her is positive, I think true journalism owes it to readers to publish what they see, impartially. If you were the author of the article it would be a different take and that is why you have this blog, where you can start the conversation and delete comments as you wish. That is your right.<br />Regarding Harris, I believe the was made look like a politico because she IS a politico. Her moves are calculated, she uses her friendships to advance her agenda, tells the community she is listening and turns around and does otherwise. Example: She talks about how wrong it is for PTAs to buy staff but consistently votes yes to allow the continuation of this practice.<br />If I had the chance to have a real conversation with you, I would really like to understand what motivates you, where your heart is and what you believe in. <br />I don't have your email and have not met you in person yet. I am thinking our paths will cross at some point. <br /><br />Queen BeeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com