tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post5105045208060605007..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Here's a Fun Event but I Wasn't Invited, Were You?Melissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-7825807936673212602010-04-16T15:07:58.087-07:002010-04-16T15:07:58.087-07:00Seattle Citizen: I sent an email to Karen Waters a...Seattle Citizen: I sent an email to Karen Waters at Strategies360. She is the contact for the Our Schools Petition.<br /><br />I asked her for the document that gives the evidence base for the recommendations in the petition. I wrote that if I don't get a response, I will interpret that to mean that there is no such document.<br /><br />I wrote her on Tuesday afternoon. I have not heard a peep from her.Joan NEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02810050976533673804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20564978366341182402010-04-16T10:59:50.997-07:002010-04-16T10:59:50.997-07:00Just left a blistering post on their facebook fan ...Just left a blistering post on their facebook fan page... but they have a fan filter - wonder if it will get through....<br /><br />VW = exesse... think it might be a warning against being excessive? LOLSahilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610179287237833742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-36292732579268373652010-04-16T10:52:56.948-07:002010-04-16T10:52:56.948-07:00http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Seattle-...http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Seattle-WA/Alliance-for-Education-Seattle/67247812168?ref=ts<br /><br />The Alliance for Education Seattle has a facebook page - with 70 fans... personally, I'm going to sign up as a fan and start putting the other side of the story out there in facebook land... and Twitter too, if I can find them there...<br /><br /><br />As I posted on their blog:<br />I think the Alliance has given up on this blog - which is kinda sad and very funny at the same time ... sad that they wont answer our questions (because they cant be open and honest)and hilarious that what was probably seen as a valuable PR tool is totally useless and works against them...<br /><br />But, they are still very busy out there in the world spreading the reformist gospel filled with half truths, omissions of fact, preying on vulnerable peoples' fears etc...<br /><br />I think we ought to go where they go - physically follow them around town and make sure we help educate Seattle's citizenry by presenting the other side of the story...<br /><br />You know, like in that parade, where the boy shouts out - "but look, cant you see? The Emperor's not wearing any clothes"....<br /><br />Who'll join me?Sahilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610179287237833742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68327577319638999772010-04-16T06:49:46.763-07:002010-04-16T06:49:46.763-07:00Spekaking of not having any idea what to actually ...Spekaking of not having any idea what to actually DO instead of blaming teachers, what's "funny" is that when you go to the Our Schools Coalition and click on the "research" button, expecting, oh, I don't know, peer-edited research from neutral organizartions that study education? instead one finds one link: back to the "poll summary" that explains how SPS gave out personal information to that 360 polling business.<br />No real research, just a circular argument that cites itself to make a point.<br />Luaghable, if it weren't so disasterousseattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-26734406449195051642010-04-15T21:20:04.653-07:002010-04-15T21:20:04.653-07:00Really, to heck with what the Board thinks about i...Really, to heck with what the Board thinks about it. What about MGJ herself? Shouldn't she avoid conflicts of interest? She certainly ought to recognize one when she waltzes right into it. <br /><br />Was she hired to do a job and run our district? Or was she brought in to completely de-construct and dissemble our district in order to ripen the atmosphere for big changes, like Charters, data-obsessive standardized testing, busting the teachers union, or what? <br /><br />She can only do one or the other. She either respects the 70% that the district does well and focuses on making the other 30% better, or she tears the whole thing apart, say, like a Hurricane hitting New Orleans, for example. So which is it going to be?<br /><br />Some people may want drastic change, some may not. But who's taking a valid measure of the community's feelings versus data-mining to support pre-baked agendas? <br /><br />Come on folks. In a democracy, the more popular ideas are supposed to win out. I'm fine with that. But these tactics are Byzantine, cloak and dagger, in house full of smoke and mirrors. <br /><br />As a teacher recently said at a Board meeting, while lamenting how effective the messaging of "blame the teacher" was, "show me a system that works, and we'll embrace it tomorrow." SforC and groups like that pretend to already have a better system, but the data clearly tells a different story. And no part of the Education Reform Gang's plans are sustainable over the long haul. So critical, skeptical questioning is appropriate.wseadawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08750439461734046035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49324914453567693072010-04-15T19:52:48.808-07:002010-04-15T19:52:48.808-07:00No one on the Board seems to see a conflict of int...No one on the Board seems to see a conflict of interest with the Sperintendent being on the Board of the company selling the distric its new test system, either.<br /><br />Or the Supt. being on the Board of Broad, which is paying for union busting.<br /><br />wow.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53024622752733242362010-04-15T19:42:03.733-07:002010-04-15T19:42:03.733-07:00Melissa - someone I know sent a letter protesting ...Melissa - someone I know sent a letter protesting the Supers presence at the event, citing the political nature of the event and the need for her to be seen as a neutral administrator of schools, not someone with a political agenda of education reform (which is what the event's stated purpose was - to further the cause of education reform)...<br /><br />Harium wrote back to say he did not see anything wrong with her attendance... that the leadership often had to put in a face at fundraisers - came with the territory...<br /><br />When this person remonstrated and tried to point out again how inappropriate was the Super's involvement, he wrote back a one line:<br /><br />I dont agree with your position...<br /><br />Assuming he really believes there is nothing wrong here, I dont know how Harium has gotten to his age, level of education, level of work experience in this century to not know and recognise this as a problem...<br /><br />And if he does know that this is problematic (conflict of interest territory), then I cant believe his lack of ethics and integrity in allowing it to proceed...Sahilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610179287237833742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74189804302522796562010-04-15T17:04:13.903-07:002010-04-15T17:04:13.903-07:00Anybody know who exactly attended this function? a...Anybody know who exactly attended this function? and how many actually here public school parents?ParentofThreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15853045587227159562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-62491536589876254882010-04-15T16:03:05.817-07:002010-04-15T16:03:05.817-07:00C'mon Andrew, that's just a little disinge...C'mon Andrew, that's just a little disingenious. the Superintendent wasn't just "meeting" with a group. She was at a fundraiser for a PAC with a specific political agenda (I'll be interested to see what the Board has to say about this.) That is a VERY different thing than just "meeting" with a group. <br /><br />So we get to ask? Does she support its agenda? What are education reform champions?Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30727367920449729142010-04-15T13:51:20.801-07:002010-04-15T13:51:20.801-07:00And I should add that the issue of seniority at th...And I should add that the issue of seniority at the time of RIFs is a legitimate concern, but there's a reason RIF's due to layoffs are strictly seniority based: If they aren't, they become a great vehicle for replacing good teachers who speak up too often. <br /><br />Bad performance and RIF's are two different things, and it makes sense to treat them differently when you consider teh opportunity for abuse. Look no further than the news that broke yesterday in Washington DC where Chancellor Michelle Rhee fired 266 teachers supposedly for budgetary shortfalls, when in fact her CFO erred, declaring a 40 million dollar shortfall when in fact the district has a 34 million dollar surplus. <br /><br />Grownup people play games. It's a fact of life. Given any powers, they tend to push its limits and abuse them. <br /><br />And let's not forget the same administration that complains about RIF's and pushes for changes to that policy, is the same one that agreed to that process in two-party negotiations. <br /><br />I have no issue with people who want performance to come into play when RIF's happen, but it's not the simple "union protecting their own (bad teachers)" issue that it gets presented to the public as, over and over. It needs to be fair.wseadawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08750439461734046035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85876780731919862642010-04-15T13:36:49.899-07:002010-04-15T13:36:49.899-07:00Andrew said:
As an aside, I find it equally unw...Andrew said: <br /><br /><i>As an aside, I find it equally unwise when people single out communities that raise lots of money for their schools, as if it's a bad thing. Would we rather scare those people away, or engage with them as potential donors to other schools or city-wide initiatives?</i><br /><br />Andrew, I totally agree with you in the sense that we need to be careful to condemn the "sins" and not the sinners, and criticize ideas without getting personal. That's what I try to do, though I may not always succeed. The last thing we need is class warfare, jealousy, and envy, mostly based on rumors or anecdotes, to undermine and destroy our common ground, which is substantial, I believe. <br /><br />I felt it was a grave error last year for CPPS to invite NCTQ to town, given who NCTQ is, and who I believed CPPS was. (Are you aware that NCTQ gives its highest praise for states where greater than 50% of teacher evaluations are based on standardized test scores?) I know that most of what CPPS is about is on the up and up, but its hard to decipher what is organic and what is not, due to CPPS's "chapter" status of a national org, and how some of it's "community" oriented advocacy replicates what's been done elsewhere, not always successfully, and somewhat off-the-mark, IMHO, for what I think we should be prioritizing in Seattle. I'm aware that parents who joined CPPS began organizing beforehand, but again, it's hard to tell which hand is telling the other what to do, from an outsider's perspective. As is often the case, what is prioritized by an organization often defines it, and last year's Petition combined with NCTQ smacked of anti-union bias against our teachers. Timing, after all, is often everything. <br /><br />But along with your concern about not alienating donors, what about the constant and chronic alienation of current parents and children in our schools? As Stu aptly points out, every time SPS talks about initiatives and goals for 2014 and beyond, they are basically telling us currently in their schools to tread water or sink on our own, and in the meantime, get out of their way or we'll get steamrolled. <br /><br />I'm at the point where I feel MGJ and her PR department deserve all the criticism they get and then some. Remember, this is the person who arrogantly stated that she quit listening to parents when they spoke on topics she already made her mind up on, and of course, the infamous, "I don't lose sleep" comment. <br /><br />I'm willing to forgive, to those who atone and ask, but I think I'd be a fool to forget, and I don't see much change in MGJ's attitude toward parents since last year, blackberrying and sleep-loss issues aside. <br /><br />As MW reiterates time and time again, SPS just doesn't seem to give a whit what parents want or the concerns they express. It's the Five Year Strategic Plan, or Bust. <br /><br />"Parents, step aside and be quiet. We're doing this, come hell or high water" is all I see.wseadawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08750439461734046035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47342325777312498082010-04-15T12:50:30.671-07:002010-04-15T12:50:30.671-07:00Andrew Kwatinetz said...
So, why is it a bad thin...<i>Andrew Kwatinetz said...<br /><br />So, why is it a bad thing for the superintendent to meet with a group of public school parents trying to apply political influence to our state legislature? (...) And rather than attack these parents (who have every right to hold a private event to raise funds without inviting the general public) (...)</i><br /><br />Do you really think Stand is just a homegrown bunch of public school parents from Seattle?<br /><br />Who organized, runs and makes up Stand for Children? <br /><br />Did you know they are based in Portland, Oregon, with operations in 6 states? (http://www.stand.org/Page.aspx?pid=1268)<br /><br />They set up shop in Seattle just last year or so.<br /><br />Here's their mission statement http://www.standleadershipcenter.org/page.aspx?pid=1621<br /><br />This is not genuine, organic grassroots activism. <br /><br />For one thing, genuine, organic, grassroots organizations do not have corporate investors and board members, as Seattle Citizen pointed out.<br /><br />And as Melissa said, at this political fundraising event, Stand4C was operating like a PAC.<br /><br />Should our School Superintendent, a public employee and servant, lend the power and influence of her position to a political lobbying group whose agenda does not represent the will of SPS families?<br /><br />And in secret, apparently, since only a select group were invited<br /><br />Sorry, but something is inappropriate about this. And the questions on this thread about this event and the Superintendent's attendance at it are perfectly legitimate.gavrochehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11336376340965305696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-28422093344240326722010-04-15T12:37:28.554-07:002010-04-15T12:37:28.554-07:00Andrew, you write:
"So, why is it a bad thing...Andrew, you write:<br />"So, why is it a bad thing for the superintendent to meet with a group of public school parents trying to apply political influence to our state legislature? Education is certainly competing against many other spending areas and powerful corporate lobbies with lots of money to spend."<br /><br />It's a bad thing for a Broad graduate and Broad Board member (our superintendent) to try and apply political pressure because she IS part of that "powerful corporate lobby with lots of money to spend."<br /><br />My issue isn't with the various LOCAL organizations, but with the outside influence on them, mainly in the form of money which buys "surveys" (bad ones) and the media (Seattle Times conveniently "forgetting" to mention the first three points about teacher planning time, and instead only mentioning the "teacher quality" aspects)<br /><br />My problem is with the arms of major corporations reaching into Seattle and manipulating our local process to their benefit. The Superintendent is "joining with" local parents?! She's on the Boards of Broad AND NWEA; she's already an outsider with her own agenda, linked to outsider agendas. THAT'S the problem. She's not there advocating the community's message to Olympia, she's there as a Broad and NWEA representative advocating THEIR message through the mouths of these coalitions (some local, some not)<br /><br />I don't like to see process manipulated, and that's what's going on. It's pretty apparent to me, and others, and it's not right.<br />Have you seen anyone 'fess up to the biases of the survey(s)? No? Well, there you have it.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50318764311274980312010-04-15T12:32:54.812-07:002010-04-15T12:32:54.812-07:00Sully suggests "Maybe it's time for...sep...Sully suggests "Maybe it's time for...seperate thread just on education reform, Broad, and charter schools so ... the rest of us don't have to sift through their posts in every other thread?"<br /><br />The influence of the Broad and Gates has to do with everything of any importance going on in SPS right now.<br /><br />I doubt you could name one signifant issue in SPS, for which failure to consider Broad/Gates influence would not be a significant omission.<br /><br />Gate/Broad comes up in nearly every discussion on this blog, because nearly every discussion would be incomplete without considering this influence.Joan NEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02810050976533673804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33673769012808544332010-04-15T12:12:59.455-07:002010-04-15T12:12:59.455-07:00Since I'm the one who first said this thread i...Since I'm the one who first said this thread is sounding like a witch hunt, I'll clarify by saying that I think it's fine to question the superintendent, staff, or organizers (the original post). But, I think people should be more thoughtful before making personal attacks (with weak evidence at best) against unpaid volunteers, most of whom are also public school parents. <br /><br />Yes, amen to "Involved parents are the greatest, most economical resource the district has."<br /><br />So, why is it a bad thing for the superintendent to meet with a group of public school parents trying to apply political influence to our state legislature? Education is certainly competing against many other spending areas and powerful corporate lobbies with lots of money to spend. I wish politics didn't work this way, but given that it does, I sure hope concerned folks with the right intentions stay engaged, and I would hope the Superintendent would proactively try to steer the political influence in the ways that will best benefit the district. Whether she is or not is a fine question to ask, but politics certainly falls under the job description in my mind. And rather than attack these parents (who have every right to hold a private event to raise funds without inviting the general public), better to thank them and engage with them & try to educate them on the issues. <br /><br />As an aside, I find it equally unwise when people single out communities that raise lots of money for their schools, as if it's a bad thing. Would we rather scare those people away, or engage with them as potential donors to other schools or city-wide initiatives? Most of the large donors for individual schools that I know ARE interested in helping out other schools and often give to other organizations.<br /><br />Yes, resources can be misused and even the best of intentions don't always lead to the best results, but we want more engagement like this (parents & superintendent) -- not less.Andrew Kwatinetzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03963324854632142715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87922351414221284282010-04-15T10:53:14.353-07:002010-04-15T10:53:14.353-07:00Hmm, Sully, it MIGHT fit (broadgatesduncan) but I&...Hmm, Sully, it MIGHT fit (broadgatesduncan) but I'll point out that many threads lately, including this one, have to do with the initiatives that are so drastically changing Seattle Public Schools, the "coalitions" that are pushing for some of them, and the funding sources and media messaging behind these.<br />Sooo...if THAT shoe fits the thread, write it!<br /><br />WV is having one of it's psyclsseattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46179136148954663822010-04-15T10:43:30.887-07:002010-04-15T10:43:30.887-07:00wseadawg on 4/14,
...our nation wastes 200 billion...<b>wseadawg on 4/14</b>,<br /><i>...our nation wastes 200 billion a year in lost productivity just from people being on Facebook, MySpace, and texting their friends all day long. </i><br /><br />And another $100 billion if you include time spent reading education blogs! : ) Couldn't resist!Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18444916440000921599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88248202344817508692010-04-15T10:18:45.139-07:002010-04-15T10:18:45.139-07:00If the shoe fits....If the shoe fits....seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01231800476411684686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43452032777247624022010-04-15T10:07:28.875-07:002010-04-15T10:07:28.875-07:00Sully, I hope your comment isn't directed at M...Sully, I hope your comment isn't directed at ME.<br />(broadgatesduncanbroadgatesduncanbroadgatesduncanbroadgatesduncan)seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-26546910580654821372010-04-15T09:55:03.458-07:002010-04-15T09:55:03.458-07:00Oh Melissa, I don't think any of the "wit...Oh Melissa, I don't think any of the "witch hunt" comments were directed at you. You cover such a broad range of topics, and different issues on this blog, and do so with an open mind.<br /><br />I think the comments were directed at several posters who continually tie Gates/Broad, Charter, Ed reform into every thread no matter the topic.seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01231800476411684686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-84148288928823315422010-04-15T09:48:47.850-07:002010-04-15T09:48:47.850-07:00I'm sorry but I didn't write this for it t...I'm sorry but I didn't write this for it to be a witch hunt. I found out about an event which involved public education in Seattle and reported on it. That our Superintendent is involving herself in a PAC does seem troubling. <br /><br />And, it's about Stand, not CPPS.<br /><br />KIPP is Madrona on steroids. KIPP kids (and their teachers) have much longer school days.<br /><br />"Involved parents are the greatest, most economical resource the district has."<br /><br />Amen and why doesn't the district realize this?Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5806404143419526562010-04-15T04:59:00.793-07:002010-04-15T04:59:00.793-07:00"But to cut loose schools from the public sys..."But to cut loose schools from the public system and give them public money REDUCES accountability. I won't stand for it"<br /><br />Unfortunately, you won't have a choice if SPS doesn't clean up it's act.seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01231800476411684686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42327418245773079842010-04-14T20:59:50.445-07:002010-04-14T20:59:50.445-07:00Techymom said
"I don't like how Summit, N...Techymom said<br />"I don't like how Summit, Nova, AS1 and other alt schools and optional programs have been treated by the district. I think having an MOU or a charter could have protected them. It seems to have done so for South Shore."<br />TM, the problem is that charters and MOUs are OUTSIDE the system, yes, with all it's "rules and regulations." These rules and regs are the codes WE as the public have developed. If they're bad codes, work to have them changed! If they're good codes that are not followed, work to have them followed! The Alternative Committee worked under the CAO for a year, coming up with a document that was a vision of what Alts, at least (not other types of options) were. This year's work resulted in the Alt Report of 2007.<br />Seen that lately?<br />The alts are being torn apart precisely BECAUSE they were unique and innovative: They challenge the necessity for charters and MOUs, while staying within the publicly enabled framework of public schools.<br /><br />If there is no accountability towards policy and procedure in SPS, as some posit, then why, oh why, would there be any if we let SPS contract OUT parts of itself? There would be LESS!<br /><br />"Here, we aren't following policy, like the ones around alts and program development, so we're gonna just write a contract with you, charter operator, and while we're busy not following our own policies, we will CERTAINLY not be on your case about the limited connections to us you have under contract. You're a free agent, do as you wish."<br /><br />With MY money? Not a chance in h***.<br /><br />Someone wants to donate to education? Fund smaller classes? Pay for daycare? Great! Write SPS a check with addendums stating purpose!<br /><br />But to cut loose schools from the public system and give them public money REDUCES accountability. I won't stand for it: It's a giveaway of my tax dollars to agents not auhtorized to have them. I pay taxes for PUBLIC schools, run by PUBLIC employees, not so my money can be sent to some group who is not, bu contract or MOU, a public entity anymore.<br /><br />Want the choices charters say they offer? Get downtown with all your buddies and demand that existing policy be enforced and new policy be designed to support that choice in a public framework. Otherwise, find a private school. (and I don't mean YOU, Techymom, I hope you'll stay in the public sphere forever!)seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31534469863979382592010-04-14T17:28:40.651-07:002010-04-14T17:28:40.651-07:00And, yes, yes, I know our alt schools do what char...<i>And, yes, yes, I know our alt schools do what charters do. But they are just a shell of what they once were. They have become so watered down they are almost unrecognizeable as alts any more. And, yes, yes, I know we need to fight for them, but that's not doing our kids any good right now, is it.</i><br /><br />This is the key part of your post, to me. Our alt schools have a history of being good and they're actively being taken apart and watered down by those in favor of the charter movement. If those same people stood up for the successful programs, and copies them throughout the district, half of our problems wouldn't exist. It's more important, however, for MGJ, the Broads, and the Charter Movement, to "have their way" than to improve what's there.<br /><br />You talk about the "right now" but I would argue that, if you replicated the language immersion programs, fully supported Spectrum everywhere, and funded the alternative programs that exist, that would take a lot less time than the systematic dismantling of what we have and the subsequent "rebuilding" process.<br /><br />Every time the district plans something for 2012 or 2014 or 2018, they're essentially saying screw you to the current student population. This is why some of us are so angry at the way things are going. The decisions being made are destructive and, in many cases, unnecessary.<br /><br />I'm an APP parent so I tend to use APP as an example . . . here we go again, along with some other things.<br /><br />Should APP have been split? That's a discussion that many are tired of having. However, there's an argument to be made that, in a time of great budgetary crises, perhaps they should have not spent the time splitting APP, thereby screwing up the Title 1 funding of two communities and halving the APP fundraising abilities. Should we have a STEM program at Cleveland? Many of us think it's a good idea. However, in a time of great budgetary crises, perhaps they shouldn't be spending a million dollars on the NTN contract that has nothing to do with STEM and offers nothing for the current Cleveland community. Should there be a new Project Management Plan? Perhaps. However, in a time of great budgetary crises, perhaps they shouldn't be taking money away from the schools -- and it's supposed to be about the schools isn't it -- and instead focus on improving what's in place.<br /><br />Change for the sake of change doesn't help anyone and the amount of money that's going to go into the campaign to make Charter Schools legal could probably close the budget gap.<br /><br />stuStuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11769983958729170219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68000614356710919402010-04-14T17:26:40.561-07:002010-04-14T17:26:40.561-07:00Thank god, Melissa and Charlie (not necessarily in...Thank god, Melissa and Charlie (not necessarily in that order) for this FREE (in both meanings of the word) discussion space.<br /><br />I am grateful for this forum to talk about the alternatives to corporate ed reform. You'll have to forgive our rough edges, because we just don't have the big bucks to hire PR firms and we do get a little frustrated that the ones who do don't really represent a diversity of viewpoints.Chris S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17016898261120819596noreply@blogger.com