tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.comments2024-03-18T16:51:10.406-07:00Seattle Schools Community ForumMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger215647125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66468677893169380462024-03-18T11:39:48.732-07:002024-03-18T11:39:48.732-07:00Thanks for all this. I’m very curious to see the s...Thanks for all this. I’m very curious to see the school closure list. It is bound to impact us all since we know school boundaries will need to be changed. <br /><br />WhatAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78741643724668864792024-03-11T22:05:19.310-07:002024-03-11T22:05:19.310-07:00What on earth were they thinking? The test cost m...What on earth were they thinking? The test cost money, right, money that the District is always short of? And the District doesn't even have enough school psychologists to treat the people who self-identify or have their families identify them as needing help.<br /><br />Board members - This is the District spending precious time, money,and energy on a pet project that even at best does absolutely NOTHING to improve student outcomes.<br />Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16260807460417787614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91575940527027630452024-03-08T07:26:20.786-08:002024-03-08T07:26:20.786-08:00Here's the Times' story
https://saveseattl...Here's the Times' story<br />https://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2022/08/the-seattle-times-investigative-story.htmlMelissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70668854226387288272024-03-08T07:23:35.052-08:002024-03-08T07:23:35.052-08:00Well, the Times has covered it, even with their ow...Well, the Times has covered it, even with their own in-depth story, but nothing came of it. Parents need to rise up in numbers but SPS is very cagey in their explanation to parents. <br /><br />I do have one last thing I can do and I think it might work. I'll let you know.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47782205502742146662024-03-08T06:46:03.129-08:002024-03-08T06:46:03.129-08:00Where's the major media coverage of this?
SPWhere's the major media coverage of this?<br /><br />SPUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09937189205047097044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88302576977519669662024-03-04T13:40:45.302-08:002024-03-04T13:40:45.302-08:00Excellent questions. Will anyone answer?Excellent questions. Will anyone answer?Benjamin Lukoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17027529534385493129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-71451072351052720972024-02-28T10:20:19.300-08:002024-02-28T10:20:19.300-08:00"Mizrahi is also from an immigrant family (po..."Mizrahi is also from an immigrant family (possibly Iran)"<br /><br />His family came to the United States from Egypt in the 1950s as part of the mass Jewish exodus, per this public post on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.mizrahi.18/posts/pfbid035Mv2Qn9Z7CMTNiaxeLdHA1MwXYvh8XWvudFk2sCAPxsagoDotJUkUvbiC72u9G6hlBenjamin Lukoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17027529534385493129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-39468429471858256122024-02-28T10:12:45.119-08:002024-02-28T10:12:45.119-08:00Gender matters to me! Education culture has long b...Gender matters to me! Education culture has long been dominated by women - extension of motherhood? - in teaching, PTA participation especially. The gender imbalance is a detriment to male students, and it discourages men from the work of education advocacy. We should walk the talk with diversity and balance the demographic out better. This board absolutely does not need any more white women.<br /><br />NE Seattle White WomanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49559067152116674172024-02-16T13:57:17.795-08:002024-02-16T13:57:17.795-08:00Really appreciate your watchful eye on this, as ot...Really appreciate your watchful eye on this, as other media outlets have glossed over crucial points (such as the question of exactly who at the district was informed of what and when). Thank you. <br /><br />Grateful ReaderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11102104050424938312024-02-12T11:19:31.742-08:002024-02-12T11:19:31.742-08:00In an abusive home, kids often are punished for be...In an abusive home, kids often are punished for being good and rewarded for being bad. Now, the latest idea of the best and brightest is to apply this neglectful dynamic of inverted incentives to our entire society. Kids inherently need boundaries, structure, and accountability to be taught to them. They aren't getting that at home, they aren't at school, now they won't even get that from the justice system - that is until they're an adult and they do something so bad that they go to prison for years.<br /><br />Look, it's really not that complicated, just put them in detention. People like Anita Khandelwal and others pushing "No Youth Detention" are either incredibly stupid or are lying. They will say that putting someone in Juvenile Detention increases their risk of reoffending - which is quite a way to say you don't understand the difference between correlation and causation. They are telling gullible people what they want to hear, because our lives are so comfortable we don't have the stomach to put a kid in detention for stealing a car or robbing someone at gunpoint. IASTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75837870032347572472024-02-12T05:51:27.171-08:002024-02-12T05:51:27.171-08:00Garfield’s boys and girls teams on Friday (2/9) ea...Garfield’s boys and girls teams on Friday (2/9) each won Metro League championships (not State). Next up are the regional (3A District 2) tournaments where they can earn spots in the State 3A Tournaments. (Only then can Garfield’s teams defend their 2023 State titles).<br /><br />— Go Bulldogs!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-32366242627564109642024-02-11T09:31:15.180-08:002024-02-11T09:31:15.180-08:00That is interesting but not surprising that Greenb...That is interesting but not surprising that Greenberg works with Castro-Gill. I know he was always concerned about the senseless killing of young black males, even before BLM. <br /><br />My personal belief is that conversations about race do belong in a higher level humanities class like the one Jon teaches. These conversations are less appropriate in math or foreign language classes. We have challenges with our students learning the basics, let alone following the political agenda of TCG. There is a fine line between education and indoctrination and she appears to cross it. <br /><br />District watcherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52719755543180935362024-02-10T22:19:52.333-08:002024-02-10T22:19:52.333-08:00Director Song FORCED the district to incorporate a...Director Song FORCED the district to incorporate a document in the budget meeting. After relentless pressure and questioning, Song got the district to admit that SPS is holding onto $30m. The $30m could be used to help gloss the funding gap.<br /><br />There isn’t an existing SPS Director that comes close to holding Song’s financial skills. Song’s departure will have an enormous impact- and not in a good way.Yeanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-64524384570336250312024-02-10T16:30:50.164-08:002024-02-10T16:30:50.164-08:00TCG and JG are BFF. He was on the board of her non...TCG and JG are BFF. He was on the board of her nonprofit at one point. They used to run workshops together called "Countering Whiteness." <br /><br />I follow JG on social media. They even vacationed together. Interesting that you have such disparate opinions of two people who are obviously on the same page-one a white male without a PhD, and one a woman of color with one.<br /><br />Senseless in SeattleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5502475738985040922024-02-10T15:31:20.628-08:002024-02-10T15:31:20.628-08:00We have a growing crisis on our hands.
https://ww...We have a growing crisis on our hands.<br /><br />https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/stuff-ive-never-seen-searching-solutions-teen-crime-soars-across-washington/KYHSWT4THZCHZKUPFLTPIM3KLE/Kids Aren’t Alrightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55780963971956112012024-02-10T14:32:23.533-08:002024-02-10T14:32:23.533-08:00Good thoughts, District Watcher, especially your l...Good thoughts, District Watcher, especially your last sentence. <br /><br />I do remember the situation with Mr. Greenberg and thought at the time, that he was a very thoughtful teacher. He did mention TCG at the Board meeting so I would guess they work together. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-28135069017964977282024-02-10T09:25:44.750-08:002024-02-10T09:25:44.750-08:00Some years ago our son took an excellent class tau...Some years ago our son took an excellent class taught by Jon Greenberg at The Center School. It was a humanities class that included discussions about race. One student took exception to it and I believe her dad was a lawyer. Of course the timid district punished Greenberg, he sued, won and got his class back. This humanities curriculum could be a template for the district and would be better than anything Castro-Gill would offer. Her approach was an attempt to put racial politics into every classroom and every subject matter. I believe she used it in a math pilot program that was a disaster for those students unlucky enough to be there.<br /><br />SPS is now getting too political and venturing into national politics in an extreme way. It is one thing to discuss world events but when you start taking sides you can easily lose your balance.<br /><br />District watcher<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44828890239646054432024-02-09T20:30:37.839-08:002024-02-09T20:30:37.839-08:00National Black Lives Matter at School was started ...National Black Lives Matter at School was started in Seattle. A particular group recently received push-back for stating:<br /><br /><br />"[BLM at School] wants to be clear in our recognition that this unfolding loss of Palestinian and Israeli lives is the direct result of decades of Israeli settler colonialism, land dispossession, occupation, blockade, apartheid, and attempted genocide of millions of Palestinians," the organization wrote. "Palestinians are reminding us that decolonization is not a metaphor or abstraction, but requires real, daily struggle."<br /><br />No mention that Hamas is a terrorist organization.<br /><br />Jones and the board need to articulate why they are aligning with this group. There are thousands of ways to teach Israel and Palestinian history- and BLM in Schools shouldn't be dictating curriculum. Yeanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75399884784487352122024-02-09T19:12:20.452-08:002024-02-09T19:12:20.452-08:00Benjamin, I agree with you that it's often a r...Benjamin, I agree with you that it's often a racist dog whistle to call a black woman a bully. But I have no patience for someone decrying a racist trope in order to get a pass for bullying others. Bullying kids is never ok. At the very least, Sarju needs to apologize, and publicly. <br /><br />For enlightened, educated Seattle, our school board is an utter mess. Dysfunctional and entitled. We will continue to bleed kids to the privates with this lack of leadership and lack of valuing students.<br /><br />BLUE SKYAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75716634799535787332024-02-09T16:26:46.428-08:002024-02-09T16:26:46.428-08:00One thing that is not clear about all the students...One thing that is not clear about all the students who spoke about ethnic studies -- what are they asking for? It sounds like they all took and ethnic studies class and liked it. So then what? Is there a shortage of capacity in ethnic studies for all the students who would like to take the class? Or do they want ethnic studies alternatives for a wider range of high school requirements? Or do they want to coerce students to take ethnic studies who don't want to?Outsidernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80532740118539539992024-02-09T13:21:08.078-08:002024-02-09T13:21:08.078-08:00Given TCG's history with safeguarding, she sho...Given TCG's history with safeguarding, she should be nowhere near the field of education. <br /><br />SPS ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-32855560713618282392024-02-09T12:33:25.610-08:002024-02-09T12:33:25.610-08:00Peaceful Person: Yep. Not news unfortunately. See ...Peaceful Person: Yep. Not news unfortunately. See https://thecholent.substack.com/p/the-trouble-with-ethnic-studies from a few years ago. Oh, and this, which was just recently posted: https://thecholent.substack.com/p/seattle-blm-kcba-real-change-hamas<br /><br /><i>These days, WAESN is dedicated to fighting SB5851, which would mandate Holocaust and genocide education and dedicate $2 million to the Holocaust Center for Humanity for educating teachers statewide. Castro-Gill has on multiple occasions expressed resentment about Holocaust education. She demonstrates a lack of knowledge about the Holocaust, Jewish history and identity, and the work and approach of the Holocaust Center for Humanity. In a February 6th webinar about the state of ethnic studies, she claimed that the money will go to the Holocaust Center to teach about death and destruction while “tokenizing” other groups that have experienced genocide by teaching about them without them. Furthermore, she argued, what should be taught is not “trauma porn” but “resistance and liberation and humanity and hope.”</i>Benjamin Lukoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17027529534385493129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-26770384772416056302024-02-09T12:28:37.905-08:002024-02-09T12:28:37.905-08:00"Benjamin, which points did you think in Sarj..."Benjamin, which points did you think in Sarju's comment were good?"<br /><br />I think she was right about the residency situation leading to controversy (although if it turns out the majority of the board knew about this earlier and just let everything keep going on the way it was, that's not good). I think she's right that it's often a racist dog whistle, accusing a Black woman of being a bully -- though I don't think that means a Black woman can never actually be a bully to another individual. And I think she's right that folks need to concentrate on making sure everyone in the district gets a high-quality education.Benjamin Lukoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17027529534385493129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24301511779560987912024-02-09T11:20:43.256-08:002024-02-09T11:20:43.256-08:00So...TCG is an antisemite. I'm not shocked. Bu...So...TCG is an antisemite. I'm not shocked. But this ought to be interesting.<br /><br />Peaceful PersonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33544936258300357432024-02-09T10:57:20.148-08:002024-02-09T10:57:20.148-08:00TCG's UW bio hasn't been updated yet. Here...TCG's UW bio hasn't been updated yet. Here's her doctoral dissertation: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/14043/<br /><br />By the way, per her dissertation, "Educators of color (EOC) [are] people who work to educate youth who do not identify as solely a descendant of European ancestors. This includes but is not limited to people who identify as Asian, Black, and Indigenous. This includes people from Latin America who do not solely identify as a descendant of European ancestors. This term does not include people who identify as Jewish who are also White."Benjamin Lukoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17027529534385493129noreply@blogger.com