tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post7952306111881477778..comments2024-03-18T16:51:10.406-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Maybe I should quitMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-41456565260201445052013-09-26T03:42:02.762-07:002013-09-26T03:42:02.762-07:00Hi to every one, because I am genuinely keen of re...<br />Hi to every one, because I am genuinely keen of reading this web site?s post to be updated on a regular basis. It consists of good information. by <a href="http://www.uoptutorial.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=4585" title="PSY 201 Week 9" rel="nofollow">PSY 201 Week 9</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43315129720623925662012-09-07T14:04:51.477-07:002012-09-07T14:04:51.477-07:00I like the rants, so I hope you continue to do som...I like the rants, so I hope you continue to do some. This is clearly all a ton of work, but it's very much appreciated!Scrawny Kayakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-60120321807336722722012-09-06T09:51:22.327-07:002012-09-06T09:51:22.327-07:00AWESOME, awesome teacher! Looking forward to your...AWESOME, awesome teacher! Looking forward to your post.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54845197244535619022012-09-05T23:13:28.809-07:002012-09-05T23:13:28.809-07:00I think that was me. I'll send you a sample of...I think that was me. I'll send you a sample of some of my thoughts on educating seattle's kids within our public system. I didn't scroll down on the phone during my nightly reading (and I had never posted a reply) so I didn't see the signature requirement. <br /><br />I like your decision. It seems to honor what you were feeling but honor your hard work so far. It's easy when working with a system like this to just feel done. I was not kidding. I do it often. <br /><br />I will find your email soon and send you some stuff so you can see if you're interested in any of it. Maybe some of it can help restore some of your hope. <br /><br />You can call me "awesome teacher" and I'll try to sign something from this teensy phone. <br /><br />Take care!Awesome teachernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65346661872581028372012-09-05T05:57:44.991-07:002012-09-05T05:57:44.991-07:00I had to delete an unsigned comment from 11:32 las...I had to delete an unsigned comment from 11:32 last night and it was a shame to do so. The comment suggested that folks would guest post.<br /><br />This is an open forum. Guest posts are welcome. If you send a guest post, we will probably run it (unless it is of a commercial nature). We have rarely turned them down.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-83257426389413718652012-09-05T05:52:21.100-07:002012-09-05T05:52:21.100-07:00I think I've reached a decision.
I think I...I think I've reached a decision.<br /><br />I think I'll just pull back a bit. I'll continue to contribute to the blog and I will continue to be involved, but I will put a bit more division between news and opinion.<br /><br />I have, for some time, thought of myself as the Dandy Don Meredith (and sometimes the Howard Cosell) to Mel's Frank Gifford. I have left the play-by-play to her while I have provided the color and commentary. I can pull back by doing more play-by-play and less color.<br /><br />So I'm going to try not to rant and opine so strongly and focus instead on delivering the news.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54589755866719899512012-09-04T23:32:48.886-07:002012-09-04T23:32:48.886-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85060230960098806562012-09-04T20:04:57.930-07:002012-09-04T20:04:57.930-07:00Charlie,
I feel like some contributors here have ...Charlie,<br /><br />I feel like some contributors here have missed the point of your original post.<br /><br />Take a break if you need to, but I think you and Melissa serve a critical need in our community and I hope you both continue your hard work.<br /><br />It is so important that community members get information from both sides of an issue, whether they are parents or not. I may not agree with all of your positions, but I respect spirited and informed debate every day of the week and I sincerely hope you continue with your extremely important work.<br /><br />-Dylan D.<br /><br />Dylan D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57004147324914504552012-09-04T18:20:59.606-07:002012-09-04T18:20:59.606-07:00If the people in charge were truly interested they...If the people in charge were truly interested they would work to improve public education. I just don't see it in today's schools. Science and math are especially vulnerable to any group of zealots who holds a grudge against Darwin or believes in the Millennium. I was raised in a community in your state where the biology teacher was also the local pastor of a reformed church in that town and half of them believed the world was only 6000 years old. They are nihilists and you can't convince a nihilist with the truth. Thats impossible.<br /><br />I believe there should be common core standards, but the standards should be set higher, and the curriculum has got to get magnitudes better than what it is. Choose a standard that makes sense, like Singapore's. Otherwise, we are living in a world that sets two standards - one defined by wealth and the other living in poverty. I believe that is apartheid.kprugmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126184111625382040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75260296932190187932012-09-04T17:56:44.462-07:002012-09-04T17:56:44.462-07:00Classrooms are by their nature exclusionary. So by...Classrooms are by their nature exclusionary. So by the time the child reaches high school, there is 1-2 collaborative science classes and 1 collaborative math subject class and I am it. Every single child in that classroom has an IEP or is learning English. <br /><br />Cut the textbook in half and its still too much material for these children to grasp in a year. It is six weeks into our school year and my class is finishing chapter 2 using curriculum I designed using total participation strategies. I am the only teacher at my school doing this and I am doing it on my own time by myself. After 4 years of support from my union (this is year 5) I am looking for a better job. My situation is less than ideal, as my administrators are converted Mormons and don't believe in evolution - before my arrival they were teaching Creationism in bible study on Sundays. The population of students that I am teaching are easy converts. The real culprits (my opinion) are the publishers and their pilot studies which are more fiction than fact.kprugmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126184111625382040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42196361337941491612012-09-04T05:56:56.561-07:002012-09-04T05:56:56.561-07:00"Reader" says:
"My personal opinio..."Reader" says:<br /><br />"My personal opinion is that "advocates" should be members of the group they are advocating for. Your kids are aging out of the system, and therefore it's time for you to start thinking about moving on as well. The blog is good for getting basic information that is hard to find, both from posters and authors. It also has some entertainment value as well.<br /><br />But really, I'm pretty glad that "changes" aren't the results of bloggers."<br />--<br />My answer to that is: I never laid an egg, either, but I sure know a rotten one when I smell it.<br /><br />-- Ivan Weiss<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-41206785290066460352012-09-03T09:21:30.196-07:002012-09-03T09:21:30.196-07:00Do advocates need to have skin in the game?
Which...Do advocates need to have skin in the game?<br /><br />Which school board members have children in the system? I don't think any of them do. Some graduated just his year.<br /><br />Lynne Varner lives on the Eastside. She has no skin in the game as a taxpayer or as a student family member.<br /><br />Liv Finne doesn't have children in our schools. Neither does Chris Korsmo, Lisa Macfarlane, or Mary Jean Ryan.<br /><br />I was moved to activism more by other people's stories than my own and that continues to be the case.<br /><br />It's funny to think that as soon as someone has acquired twelve to twenty years of memory and history it's time for them to leave. That's the number two reason (after the revolving door at the top) that the district has no institutional memory.<br /><br />Maybe I can continue to provide information and history and just ease up on the ranting opinion pieces.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61171570091923340002012-09-03T02:40:23.900-07:002012-09-03T02:40:23.900-07:00I run into lots of folks who are unaware of this b...I run into lots of folks who are unaware of this blog. This next year, get this website published in your school weekly bulletin, school website, at the PTA meeting, at the first day celebrations, or if necessary, buy an ad in your school yearbook! Spread the word and don't let anyone get in the way.<br />Two years and counting.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33227565586060839122012-09-02T20:46:43.590-07:002012-09-02T20:46:43.590-07:00As a person who has worked in the district on and ...As a person who has worked in the district on and off for years its worse than ever. Its been like this for decades. The secret reality is Seattle is incapable of dealing with its real closet issue - racism. Its on all sides of the fence and not exclusive. The closure of schools to avoid busing to the closure of schools to avoid facing the facts its never changed. Its always been this way it always will. The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over again thinking the outcome will be different. I am happily moving out of the area. I never want to spend another minute in these damaged schools in this very city of de-nial. You can face the truth or not. Seattle Schools are beyond saving. I am leaving AFTER I vote for charters. Frankly its needed. There is nothing else left. Do what you want but if you can't beat it beat it. <br /><br />A Former Teacher Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1134795436724525062012-09-02T16:17:01.499-07:002012-09-02T16:17:01.499-07:00Committed citizens don't need children in the ...Committed citizens don't need children in the district to watch over unlawful practices, either. It wasn't too long ago that a group won a lawsuit over DeBell, Burgess and Knapp peddling unlawful policies.<br /><br />Watchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74018663101120698022012-09-02T16:10:06.164-07:002012-09-02T16:10:06.164-07:00Reader,
Individuals don't need to have childr...Reader,<br /><br />Individuals don't need to have children in the district to keep an eye over district finance and operations. Frankly, I'm glad we have committed citizens willing to spend their time in audit and finance meetings. Watchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52498040162047274932012-09-02T13:46:49.045-07:002012-09-02T13:46:49.045-07:00@ the most recent comment from anonymous "rea...@ the most recent comment from anonymous "reader," the argument that the best advocates for certain groups can only come form a group itself is fallacious. <br /><br />Oftentimes, there are fabulous advocates for many groups who have knowledge, experience and passion for an issue who at first glance, are currently not members of the group. Charlie is such an advocate for the community. The schools do not just serve the students, or in a broader fashion, their parents. They serve, and are responsible to, the community at large, including the taxpayers. As a parent new to the special ed system, I have spent so many days and nights in abject despair over the morass that is SPS's "system" of special ed. I am glad for Charlie's opinions, his knowledge of the people and the system, and generally speaking, his hope for improvement. While I don't always agree with everything he blogs about, I can only laud him for doing so. <br /><br />I think if you take a look at the composition of the school board, you will see many people like Charlie, who have "aged" out of the system, yet who believe that they have knowledge, experience and passion for the issues that present themselves on the school board. There are also people at the Seattle Times who also seem to think they are similarly qualified to offer an opinion. Should they all be disqualified from advocating on the SPS issues at hand because they no longer have children in the system? I think not. Mary G.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27233269132675109552012-09-02T10:45:40.318-07:002012-09-02T10:45:40.318-07:00My personal opinion is that "advocates" ...My personal opinion is that "advocates" should be members of the group they are advocating for. Your kids are aging out of the system, and therefore it's time for you to start thinking about moving on as well. The blog is good for getting basic information that is hard to find, both from posters and authors. It also has some entertainment value as well.<br /><br />But really, I'm pretty glad that "changes" aren't the results of bloggers.<br /><br />-readerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42001158274303845222012-09-02T08:55:44.672-07:002012-09-02T08:55:44.672-07:00Given how frustrating and discouraging it is to wo...Given how frustrating and discouraging it is to work with this district, I would certainly understand if you were to throw in the towel. I wouldn't blame you one bit.<br /><br />With that said, I sincerely hope that you will keep at it. You've DEFINITELY made a difference in this district. Just think of where we'd be without your efforts. Your knowledge and experience with the district make you an invaluable asset to the cause of accountability in this corrupt district.<br /><br />Whatever you decide, THANK YOU for all your service to the families of this district. And the same goes for Melissa. Thanks to you both, and I hope you'll keep plugging away.<br /><br />-Seattle parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66599773020322374722012-09-02T00:29:22.035-07:002012-09-02T00:29:22.035-07:00Yes, please quit.
And mirmac1: you've been th...Yes, please quit.<br /><br />And mirmac1: you've been threatened??? What a load of horse s**t.Michael Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43101380946194612072012-09-01T19:07:48.832-07:002012-09-01T19:07:48.832-07:00kprugman, I'm wondering what your definition ...kprugman, I'm wondering what your definition of "fail" even is. Are students are "failures" because they don't achieve standardized results? Should they be segregated out if they don't achieve those results? ALL the alternatives to inclusive education has failed the most since there are absolutely no results anywhere in sight and none are expected. Why should students be segregated out if the alternatives are actually worse? If both models "fail" by some measure (I'd like to know the measure), then students should definitely be inclusively educated since they've got nothing to lose.<br /><br />But you are right about 1 thing. Standardized tests pretty much reveal the demographics of the students, including their disability status. Their use to measure teachers needs to be moderated. I wouldn't say elliminated, but more thoroughly thought through.<br /><br />-sped ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2090478448358999202012-09-01T18:05:52.118-07:002012-09-01T18:05:52.118-07:00Charlie, I hope you don't quit. I think you&#...Charlie, I hope you don't quit. I think you're selling yourself short when you've said that you've never had any victories. You and Melissa may not get credit, but victories that we've had would not have happened without the blog. MGJ would probably still be here, or we might have gotten a reformist new super. A couple of school board races might have gone the other way. News that the district might have preferred to stay secret becomes public here. Not to mention many parents gain understanding about their specific issues. It's up to you, but don't quit based on not doing good here, because you are.<br />Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16260807460417787614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27023346603240972572012-09-01T17:49:32.741-07:002012-09-01T17:49:32.741-07:00The reason collaborative or inclusion models fail ...The reason collaborative or inclusion models fail are five fold: Lack of training, lack of curriculum, lack of classrooms, lack of teachers, and unrealistic expectations, like demanding immediate results. Great teachers spend time modifying student behaviors and exhibit excellent management and organizational skills. My saddest complaint is that teachers are frightened to attempt new ideas when test results get so much fanfare. They are frightened when get assigned to teach challenging students. kprugmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126184111625382040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54824276668797544262012-09-01T17:41:56.185-07:002012-09-01T17:41:56.185-07:00The biggest liars are concealing or manipulating t...The biggest liars are concealing or manipulating their test scores. Statistical neons don't understand how school test scores can be crosschecked. Look for schools that serve large numbers of Title I students, spend huge amounts of money piloting new curriculum, and publish fantastic results. Chances are its a big fat lie. kprugmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126184111625382040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82021499631405467242012-09-01T17:24:24.070-07:002012-09-01T17:24:24.070-07:00Its not a level playing field - I've been in t...Its not a level playing field - I've been in this activist business for more than 10 years and faced equal disappointments. However...this year may prove even better than last year. My union is proving more helpful than Seattle's and with the sort of personalities and intelligence that we are dealing with - there's never only one person falling all over their sword. I am simply amazed at the outright stupidity of some people when they attempt to conceal their lying.kprugmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126184111625382040noreply@blogger.com