Seattle Schools Community Forum

Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who, are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become citizens. Our Constitution still stands as our country's guide.    I don't think that it's some kind of "in stone" document.  I believe our founding fathers meant for it to be a living, breathing document.  That we have some strict Constitutionalists on the U.S. Supreme Court is a pity. In honor of our Constitution, it's pop quiz time from the Washington Post's Answer Sheet. Also, don't forget about Civics for All , our local home-grown initiative.

Pass it on.  This is a great initiative and great effort on the part of civics teacher, Web Hutchins. On March 17, 2014 the Seattle City Council and King County Council  passed tandem  “Resolutions of Support for the Civics for All Initiative.”  As the embodiment of local, direct democracy and the representative voices for millions of voters, the 9-0, 9-0 unanimous votes of these Councils signifies a tremendous affirmation of support for the Seattle School District to adopt Civics for All in our city’s schools. Sign this petition to make sure civics stays in our public schools.  Please spread the word. 

From SPS: Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced that two Seattle Public Schools students – Tara N. Conley , The Center School; and Derek B. Gasaway , Garfield High School – are among the winners for college-sponsored scholarships.  South Lake High School teacher Web Hutchins received the state’s top honor for civic education - the Civic Educator of the Year award. Hutchins was nominated for the award by State Representative Eric Pettigrew (D-Seattle). Hutchins’ Civics for All Initiative  is under consideration by the School District and has been introduced in Olympia, as well as to teachers and civic leaders in Seattle. Cuauhtemoc (Moc) Escobedo , band director at Eckstein Middle School , has been announced as a quarterfinalist for the first-ever Music Educator Award presented jointly by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation .   Escobedo is an award-winning band director for Eckstein – leading students in nu...

I ask that question because along with a student graduating high school to be college or career-ready, that student should also be citizen-ready.  An 18-year old high school graduate can go fight in a war, get married, and vote.  Those are some fairly high level decisions. Two thoughts run through my head on this subject. One, do you remember being 18?  You went off to college or you went out and got training, got a job and suddenly learned what it is to be responsible for yourself.  No one was going to tell you to get up and go to class or to be on time for work.   My gold standard for the realization about adult life was when I realized I had to pay for toilet paper.  I couldn't believe my hard-earned money for going for that and yet, what are you going to do?  It a big lesson to learn that all the money you earn will NOT be going for fun, fun, fun. Taxes are a real part of that lesson. Two, is the increasing cacophony of political voices ...