tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post6795198613808258068..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State PTSA and Charter SchoolsMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-51950728296994555202021-03-02T04:00:44.445-08:002021-03-02T04:00:44.445-08:00Sağlık Haberleri Sağlıklı Yaşam ve Beslenme Sağlık...<a href="https://bunemi.com/kategori-saglik" rel="nofollow">Sağlık Haberleri Sağlıklı Yaşam ve Beslenme</a> Sağlık alanından en son araştırmalar, sağlıklı yaşam için gereklilikler, diyetler, beslenme şekilleri, hastalıklar ve yeni tedavi yöntemleri hakkında güncel bilgiler.Birol Sarıtekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08740259421680228981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20320393358385251082021-02-07T21:31:01.589-08:002021-02-07T21:31:01.589-08:00AP Intermediate I Year and II year Model Paper 202...AP Intermediate I Year and II year Model Paper 2021 as Per Previous Year Activity the Exam Usually Begins in the Month of March 2021. Assessment Organizes for Three Stream Arts, Science, Commerce. Each Session More Than Six Lakh Private and Government School Applicants Participate in Exam Conduct by BIEAP. Ap inter model question paper 1st and 2nd-year mpc bipc cec Download Model Question Papers <a href="https://www.boardpaper.in/manabadi-ap-inter-model-question-paper-1st-2nd-year-mpc-bipc-cec/" rel="nofollow">AP Intermediate Question Paper 2021</a>. It will Help to Understand Exam Pattern in Deeply. Through AP 2nd Intermediate Model Paper 2021 AP Board MPC BIPC CEC, Series go Through Chapter-wise Question Instead of Solving the Random Question.AP Intermediate Question Paper 2021https://www.boardpaper.in/manabadi-ap-inter-model-question-paper-1st-2nd-year-mpc-bipc-cec/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16450149534827452432012-01-03T08:01:11.614-08:002012-01-03T08:01:11.614-08:00Did the PTSA endorse charters last time they were ...Did the PTSA endorse charters last time they were up for vote? If not, did they take any position that time around?<br /><br />peaceanonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716725891562757052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-81139304545341825852012-01-01T19:32:59.881-08:002012-01-01T19:32:59.881-08:00A strange aspect of the Common Core is their obses...A strange aspect of the Common Core is their obsession with The Bard:<br />From <a href="http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards/myths-vs-facts" rel="nofollow">CCSS Myths and Facts FAQ</a>,<br />"Fact: The standards require certain critical content for all students, including: classic myths and stories from around the world, America's Founding Documents, foundational American literature, and Shakespeare"<br /><br />You see this in the standards themselves, this sort of "and Shakespeare" stuff, as if they figured they'd better hit ol' Bill, and hit him hard, if anyone was to take the standards seriously. It's very strange, as if Shakespeare was the be-all and end-all of literature. Creepy.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58068936252209983892012-01-01T17:18:30.704-08:002012-01-01T17:18:30.704-08:00Not only that, but standards that have not been te...Not only that, but standards that have not been tested out in a small scale first, and a curriculum written by a small group of people, not all of them experts in the areas in which they were working. Many of the lower grade literature choices were not ones I would consider appropriate for those grade levels. Some have since changed, but it is clear there was not a lot of thought into the developmental aspect of a child's education in some of them. A friend of mine - an English prof - was looking at some of the high school lit choices and remarked that there was a whole lot of representation from dead white men and not a lot from anyone else. I think it is important for the cultural makeup of a region to be represented in some of the literature choices. But then, I've never been a fan nor follower of the standardization mindset, which is probably why my principal dislikes me so much....<br />Too bad the PTSA equates standardization with equity, or at least puts forth the appearance of believing that. Oh for the dearth of critical thinking and ethics in the legislature, the Ed deformers, and the WSPTA.CTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37904409407402517782012-01-01T15:31:36.406-08:002012-01-01T15:31:36.406-08:00"...how great it would be for every kid in th..."...how great it would be for every kid in the country to be on the same concept at the same time using the exact same curriculum."<br /><br />Eek. AND a curriculum sans history and civics 9and art, and music, and...:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/news/splc-study-finds-that-more-than-half-of-states-fail-at-teaching-the-civil-rights-m" rel="nofollow">Southern Poverty Law Center Study Finds that More than Half of States Fail at Teaching the Civil Rights Movement</a><br /><br />“For too many students, their civil rights education boils down to two people and four words: Rosa Parks, Dr. King and ‘I have a dream,’” said Maureen Costello, SPLC’s Teaching Tolerance director. “When 43 states adopted Common Core Standards in English and math, they affirmed that rigorous standards were necessary for achievement. By having weak or non-existent standards for history, particularly for the civil rights movement, they are saying loud and clear that it isn’t something students need to learn.”seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68483285911999217702012-01-01T15:14:50.947-08:002012-01-01T15:14:50.947-08:00I attended the Common Core show put on by OSPI in ...I attended the Common Core show put on by OSPI in Shoreline and the state PTSA people there were all in favor. One PTSA rep said how great it would be for every kid in the country to be on the same concept at the same time using the exact same curriculum. He was not capable of any critical thought, and when I brought up questions, he tried to shut me down right away. Clearly he had made up his mind that this was the best thing ever and he didn't want to hear any dissenting opinions. Of course the OSPI people didn't have any answers either....<br /><br />CTCTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-62796175590740917402012-01-01T12:53:13.218-08:002012-01-01T12:53:13.218-08:00On a different note but similar, Ramona Hattendorf...On a different note but similar, Ramona Hattendorf also came down to Olympia earlier last year to say that WSPTSA fully endorsed the CCSS. I don't remember my PTA having any discussions about CCSS. In fact most PTA's have no idea what the Common Core Standards are, much less what is written in them.<br /><br />I doubt Ms. Hattendorf has read any of these standards, and yet she believed they were more rigorous and better. Who gives these people authority to speak for the collective?Linh-Conoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30163301869036776392012-01-01T10:56:44.004-08:002012-01-01T10:56:44.004-08:00@Dan - its not the state or big brother that wants...@Dan - its not the state or big brother that wants this... its the oligarchical ed deformers, who have stacked the DOE with their own people, and have created/seeded/funded all their astro-turf mouthpieces...<br /><br />Did you know that a BROADIE TOADIE runs the Office of Civil Rights within the DOE, which DOE is stacked with BROAD and GATES people? So now the ed deformers "police" themselves...<br /><br />They've completely closed the loop in "public" ed... the words/concept of "public education" are now just a legal fiction...Sahilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610179287237833742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10900619586484450282012-01-01T10:52:59.396-08:002012-01-01T10:52:59.396-08:00"First of all, this forum should have happene..."First of all, this forum should have happened way before the writing of the charter school proposal or even during the PTA legislative assembly."<br /><br />I agree with Dora. In my opinion, the upcoming forum is an attempt to state "We've been having discussions." Meanwhile, I suspect charter legislation is well on it's way- with the support of the Washington State PTSA. Even if if opinions at the forum are mixed- I'm certain the WSPTSA will continue to initiate and/ or support charter legislation.<br /><br />Legislation with the support of the WSPTSA, will give the appearance charters are supported by Wa. State parents and teachers. This is a very powerful tool for charter supporters. It will no doubt help further the charter agenda. The WSPTSA acted in an irresponsible and unacceptable manner when it failed to provide its members a balanced picture of charter schools; they are no different than a group of politicians attempting to sway support without providing complete information.<br /><br />My trust is gone.Kathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20191145107488607142012-01-01T07:55:59.337-08:002012-01-01T07:55:59.337-08:00One last comment and I'm off to my own blog.
...One last comment and I'm off to my own blog.<br /><br />All parents, teachers and students who believe that the PTA does not represent them on the issue of charter schools, please contact your representatives and the education committee members and let them know that.<br /><br />The WSPTA led by Ramona Hattendorf will repeat the PTA motto, "Every child, one voice" as they lobby our state representatives on charter schools. <br /><br />Be emphatic, raise hell and from now on, watch the Seattle and Washington State PTA like a hawk. Make sure that the PTA doesn't get hi-jacked again.<br /><br />Here's the list of education committee members:<br /><br />Washington State Senate Committee on Early Learning and K-12 Education<br /><br />Chair<br /><br />Rosemary.McAuliffe@leg.wa.gov<br /><br />Vice Chair<br /><br />Christine.Rolfes@leg.wa.gov<br /><br />Committee Members<br /><br />Steve.Litzow@leg.wa.gov<br /><br />Tracey.Eide@leg.wa.gov<br /><br />joe.fain@leg.wa.gov<br /><br />Nick.Harper@leg.wa.gov<br /><br />andy.hill@leg.wa.gov<br /><br />Steve.Hobbs@leg.wa.gov<br /><br />king.curtis@leg.wa.gov<br /><br />sharon.nelson@leg.wa.gov<br /><br />Rodney.Tom@leg.wa.gov<br /><br />DoraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-19289003204926777402012-01-01T07:40:48.504-08:002012-01-01T07:40:48.504-08:00Here is some recommended reading on the Washington...Here is some recommended reading on the Washington State PTA and the shenanigans that have been going on over the last couple of years:<br /><br />Whoa! Where did that come from Washington State PTA!? Charter schools?! Part 1<br /><br />http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/whoa-where-did-that-come-from-washington-state-pta-charter-schools/<br /><br />That will take you to Part 2.<br /><br />Then,The Washington State PTA and the Lack of Transparency<br /><br />http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2011/11/03/the-washington-state-pta-and-the-lack-of-transparency/<br /><br />And finally,Can’t get a straight answer from the Washington State PTA<br /><br />http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/cant-get-a-straight-answer-from-the-washington-state-pta/<br /><br />Sorry about the long links but the html tags aren't working for me.<br /><br />I hate Blogger.<br /><br />DoraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11147224360204630022012-01-01T07:21:11.614-08:002012-01-01T07:21:11.614-08:00First of all, this forum should have happened way ...First of all, this forum should have happened way before the writing of the charter school proposal or even during the PTA legislative assembly. Instead, there was NO discussion before the proposal was popped on us unexpectedly and then during the PTA legislative assembly there was only one side presented formally and that was the pro-charter side. The PTA even had a formal two-sided debate on the privatization of the sale of alcohol during the legislative assembly but nothing on the privatization of our public schools.<br /><br />Disingenuous Heidi? Absolutely!<br /><br />And the phrase “starting a discussion”? This discussion should have occurred openly last year way before Alison Meryweather and Chad Magendanz put their heads together to come up with that charter school poisonous plank. As I said in a recent post titled What to expect in January from the corporate privatizers in the state of Washington, http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/what-to-expect-in-january-from-the-corporate-privatizers-in-the-state-of-washington/:<br /><br />One response that the privatizers have when you ask why are they are even suggesting the pressure of high stakes testing on our children or teachers’ salaries and professional lives being based on test scores, they will flippantly answer you with “Well, we’re just starting a conversation!” Forget the conversation. There is no conversation at that point. They have had the process rigged and the votes sold. They will call their bills “platforms for discussion” with the “discussion” being manipulated so that if you don’t agree with them, you are ignorant or an insensitive cow who cares nothing about “the children”. Watch for that. Their well-paid marketeers such as Strategies 360 have a smooth roll-out in terms of strategy and phrasing. What we have is our earnestness, our honesty, the fact that we are voters and that we have skin in the game in terms of our children. All the folks at Strategies 360, Boeing and Microsoft are paid and couldn’t care less who is in office or who isn’t.<br /><br />To get the rundown on how this charter plank got into the PTA platform, you can start with Can’t get a straight answer from the Washington State PTA http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/cant-get-a-straight-answer-from-the-washington-state-pta/.<br /><br />DoraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86490295822182931542012-01-01T01:17:49.865-08:002012-01-01T01:17:49.865-08:00"We all know where the "discussion"..."We all know where the "discussion" is headed, and it's 100% in favor of pro-Charter legislation." Absolutely. Get ready for the horse and pony show.Disgustednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-73128226243998561252011-12-31T13:45:16.854-08:002011-12-31T13:45:16.854-08:00Heidi B: Cut the innocence act, would you? It do...Heidi B: Cut the innocence act, would you? It doesn't fly. I refuse to accept that you're naive enough to believe what you say. <br /><br />You know exactly what is going on, and your facade of "simply talking about" charters is a load of BS and you know it. I've had it with fork-tongued, in-the-tank "PTSA" folks, undermining our schools and teachers instead of helping them. <br /><br />Charters are nothing but Tim Eyman-like, union-busting vehicles, which proves that the Seattle and statewide PTSA have become nothing more than Spartan anti-union advocates. <br /><br />Shelve the "simply discussing" act. It defies all reason and logic, and I'm not buying it for a second. <br /><br />We all know where the "discussion" is headed, and it's 100% in favor of pro-Charter legislation. <br /><br />Prove me wrong, Heidi. WSDWGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74334316332024609612011-12-30T23:10:04.193-08:002011-12-30T23:10:04.193-08:00So now we will now likely not only have LEV being ...<b>So now we will now likely not only have LEV being pro-Charter ... but "DFER" as well.</b><br /><br />-----<br />Dear Friends and Colleagues,<br /><br />With mixed emotions, I am leaving the League of Education Voters (LEV) to be the Washington State Director for <b><i>Democrats for Education Reform (DFER)</i></b>, effective January 1, 2012.<br /><br /><b>I am enormously proud of the organization that LEV has become and what we have accomplished for kids in Washington State. </b> ((too bad she did not list all those accomplishments)) But it is painfully clear that we need a <b>more productive education dialogue within the Democratic Party <i>if we are going to pick up the pace of school improvement</i> in our state. </b>That is why I am heading to DFER.<br /><br />You will continue to see me at events and meetings, and I remain as committed as ever to doing my part to help advance solutions that will give all of our children the quality education they need and deserve.<br /><br />My new coordinates are macfarlane.ld@gmail.com and lisa@dfer.org. My cell phone (206-369-2171) is staying the same. Please stay in touch.<br /><br />Best wishes for the New Year!<br /><br />Lisa Macfarlanedan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68747506265850408042011-12-30T20:05:26.337-08:002011-12-30T20:05:26.337-08:00As we journey through crazy land .....
this time w...As we journey through crazy land .....<br />this time with Charter Schools, let us see what is happening.<br /><br />There is a major need for transparency and a huge need for discussion of evidenced based arguments in regard to Charter schools.<br /><br />So here comes LEV,<br /><br />Here is the response from a staff at LEV regarding education bills, including charter schools.<br /><br /><i><b>Confidential until press conference second week of January. Bipartisan though.</b></i><br /><br />How reassuring that the insiders are remaining inside.<br /><br />Advanced public discussion of public school issues is undesirable to LEV.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9279212948662899312011-12-30T17:00:03.982-08:002011-12-30T17:00:03.982-08:00I'm torn about the PTSA. On the one hand, it&...I'm torn about the PTSA. On the one hand, it's great to have some, formal, "collective voice.". For things like increased school funding, for example, about which the vast majority agree. They get into trouble, as is clear here, when they step into more controversial areas. <br /><br />But the real issue for me has always been their "nanny-state" mentality. You have to accept their bylaws whole cloth, even their references to the desire "to develop . . . the highest advantages in . . . spiritual education.". Apparently the separation of church and state in public educatioin isn't really that important. This year, we had to amend our bylaws so they could dictate to us when our nominating committee needed to get started and to complete its work! What possible need could there be in uniformity across the state on that one? But the thing that really galls me is that they h ave the right to come in and sweep up your school's PTSA funds if they decide your PTSA isn't paying by the rules. Sure. When I talkmtostate PTSA leaders they tell me they've never even considered doing something like that. I hate even the possibility. <br /><br />I loved that my alternative K-8 had its own, non-PTSA- affiliated entity for all these reasons and more. I even worked hard against at least 2 or 3 effort to convert us to a PTSA. Smaller is better in many ways. For now, though, at the high school my daughters attend, it's the only game in town. And by far, the good the PTSA does locally, on our campus, far outweighs any tupidity that occurs at the state level.RosieReaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16509678140588070623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58767220956764839772011-12-30T14:52:12.150-08:002011-12-30T14:52:12.150-08:00Zara, I appreciate your candor in what you saw at ...Zara, I appreciate your candor in what you saw at the Legislative Assembly. I was not there and only know what I read from the PTSA listserv. It seems many agree with you. <br /><br />What I further hear is that many people know little about the Legislative Assembly and how it works so, of course, the power would be with those who do. <br /><br />I was a Legislative rep once. We took stands so early in the year that we never even discuss it with our units. The Leg agenda for the next year should be discussed in April or May when there is time and not rushed (or not discussed at all) in September. <br /><br />When it's a vote like should it be class size or school funding or early childhood, it a choice among things that the overwhelming majority of PTA members would say yes to.<br /><br />However, when the PTA chooses a controversial subject, does NOT the public education needed to ask parents if they would support it and pushes it through so they can say to legislators "our membership supports it" - that is flat out wrong.<br /><br />Also, just on the issue of the format of the meeting, I thought it was a mostly informational meeting (that's what Heidi told me) with some debate. Now it sounds like a debate.<br /><br />How can you have a debate if people don't know what charters are? At least you here have the option to at least read what I wrote. I'll be you most of the attendees, if quizzed, would get half of the questions wrong because in Washington state we don't have charters and don't know much about them.<br /><br />The Regional and State PTSA leadership know what they are doing. Why they are doing it this way is another question.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16290249890277229212011-12-30T14:34:00.766-08:002011-12-30T14:34:00.766-08:00The Seattle Education 2010 blog has documented ov...<a href="http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/cant-get-a-straight-answer-from-the-washington-state-pta/" rel="nofollow">The Seattle Education 2010 blog </a> has documented over the past year the very deliberate strategy to get charters onto the PTSA plank.<br /><br />This involved a small group of activists - a couple from Issaquah, a couple from Seattle - using their PTSA legislative knowledge in the last 2 state delagations to maneuver it onto the PTSA platform.<br /><br />It is perfectly within the right of the PTSA to do this, and it is perfectly within the right of public school parents throughout WA to call them on it. <br /><br />I assume Dora Taylor or Sue Peters of that Seattle Ed blog can describe the situation in more detail via their blog or this thread. I hope they do. I do not think for a moment that the PTSA is "neutral" on the subject, as some of their members are now backtracking to claim, now that the sun is shining on what many of us think are shennanigans.<br /><br />WV says "trapp"<br /><br />Savvy VoterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-220260367299007442011-12-30T13:05:14.768-08:002011-12-30T13:05:14.768-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68798416198869738532011-12-30T12:51:02.560-08:002011-12-30T12:51:02.560-08:00"Washington State PTSA and Charter Schools&qu..."Washington State PTSA and<b> Charter Schools</b>"<br /><br />This all seems to be part of the push to do what Fed Big Brother wants done. Charters, VAM evaluations, Common Core State Standards etc.<br /><br />Try this from the NY Times on what happens if you do not play ball correctly.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/28/nyregion/new-york-state-schools-may-lose-aid-over-teacher-evaluations.html?ref=education" rel="nofollow">State Threatens to Pull Millions for Schools in the City and Elsewhere</a><br /><br />By FERNANDA SANTOS<br />Published: December 27, 2011<br /><br />New York State’s education commissioner threatened on Tuesday to withhold tens of millions of dollars in federal grants to struggling schools in New York City and nine other districts statewide if they do not prove by Saturday that they will carry out new evaluation systems for teachers and principals.<br /><br />Officials and union leaders in each district must first agree on the details of the evaluation systems, like how much weight students’ standardized test scores will have on the annual ratings that teachers and principals receive. Compromise has thus far proved elusive.<br /><br />Of the 10 districts, which are the only recipients of the federal grants in New York, only Rochester and Syracuse as of Tuesday had submitted proposals for the state’s review, the commissioner, John B. King Jr., said in a statement. “When the ball drops at midnight on New Year’s Eve,” he said, “the money drops off the table, and it will be difficult to get it back.”<br /><br /><b>For New York City, it would mean losing roughly $60 million for 33 schools whose graduation rates and test scores put them among the state’s worst.</b><br /><br />---------------------------<br />Well so much for Mayor Mike's Ed Reform agenda .... lots of smoke and mirrors but with lousy results.<br /><br /> Arne D's plans and results in chicago were much the same.<br /><br />I doubt the current national plans from Arne D. will be any more effective. --- <i>See all our local <b>politicians rush to support CCSS and charters ... without a shred of evidence.... </b> We are governed by lemmings.</i>dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-89910524241478163652011-12-30T12:27:05.070-08:002011-12-30T12:27:05.070-08:00Hi Heidi.
First, I don’t agree with some of the ...Hi Heidi. <br /><br />First, I don’t agree with some of the more, for lack of a better word, conspiracy-theory posts here. I also don’t care for personal jabs. <br /><br />I want to say, though, that I was at the legislative assembly as a first-timer and was, as you know, appalled by the sloppiness and one-sidedness of the process. You and I talked about this afterward and, as I recall, you agreed with me. You said you would try to get the format changed to include equal time for both sides of every issue. So, unless you’ve changed your mind, you should make it clear that you agree the process was flawed because this isn’t apparent.<br /> <br />For example, when you write "folks who led the pro and con discussions at State PTA legislative assembly,” you imply that there actually were pro and con discussions when, in truth, there were four deeply misleading pro-charter presentations followed by a rushed strategy session for those who’d already picked their sides. And don’t forget the issue guide (or whatever you call it) WSPTA made available to the membership. It contained only the pro side and not a whisper of a hint of the possibility that there may be different views nor any links to actual information as opposed to just the opinions of the submitters. <br /><br />I’d also say that the debate/voting process was conducted sloppily, with substantive questions going unanswered or even incorrectly answered, and Robert’s Rules being several times flubbed.<br /><br />It’s clear that people here, including me, think this panel could be more or less a repeat of that one-sided “conversation.” These events come across not as conversations - as charter advocates always seem to call them - but as crafty propaganda sessions.<br /><br />I wouldn’t call this an “evil plot” exactly, but I would call it biased. It’s a fact that most PTA officials I know are pro-charter. Also, the pro-charter membership contingent, while, again, not evil-doers, have influence greatly out of proportion to their numbers. A large portion of leg. assembly participants believe this is due to connections with Stand For Children, as well as to the fact that many of the PTA pro-charter activists come from wealthier regions. I don’t mean to impugn anyone’s motives by saying that - I know they believe they’re doing good - but it’s undeniable that wealth, by so many means, bestows greater power and a louder voice. PTA is an organization that should be working its bum off to countervail that inequity instead of amplifying it.<br /><br />Finally, I’d love to hear your response to seattle citizen’s comment and question.<br /><br />Thanks Heidi. And thanks for posting here. Under the circumstances, that takes guts. I also appreciate your polite tone and how hard you work.Zaranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5877705859309598082011-12-30T11:55:48.016-08:002011-12-30T11:55:48.016-08:00Divest and defund state PTSA leadership, people. K...Divest and defund state PTSA leadership, people. Keep the money local.<br /><br /><br />Teachers at Ballard High School in Seattle came up with a way to pay dues into the school PTSA and not have their dues kicked up to the state level to fund charter legislation:<br />At Ballard High School, the PTSA has set up a fund specifically for teachers to contribute financially to the PTSA. In paying into this, teachers can demonstrate their involvement with and appreciation for the PTSA’s work on behalf of their school.<br /><br />It is understood that any teacher (or parent) paying into this fund is not an official PTSA member, and therefore lacks voting rights. At Ballard, at least, there are so very few controversial PTSA agenda items that this is, for most teachers, not an important issue. In fact, only a very few teachers participate actively in PTSA, although over 70 were members last year.<br /><br />Understand that each school has a minimum number of dues paying members required to constitute a PTSA, and if teacher’s official memberships are needed to meet that minimum, we strongly encourage teachers to join and pay dues in the regular way. However, once that minimum is reached, we encourage local PTSAs to then cap the “official” memberships and allow everyone joining the option of participating “unofficially” in the way described earlier. There is no need to send additional dues to the State organization beyond the minimum.<br /><br />Furthermore, we still encourage teachers to actively participate in PTSA, including attending and voting at state-wide meetings where charter school agendas are being pushed by state PTSA leadership. Very few teachers are participating at this level, and more teachers being involved could help divert the PTSA’s charter-school agenda. Local PTSAs can send teacher representatives to these meetings. We encourage staff at each school to select a teacher to actively participate in PTSA by paying dues, and attending all local and state meetings.Eric Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17663977355241677800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44434241813870671302011-12-30T09:00:39.080-08:002011-12-30T09:00:39.080-08:00DWE, my thought exactly.
There will be a lot of...DWE, my thought exactly. <br /><br />There will be a lot of confused legislators if they are getting calls from PTA parents who say they were NOT consulted as a unit (school) and that State PTSA does NOT represent their view. <br /><br />Disgusted, your instincts are likely correct - more on that in another thread.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.com