Seattle Schools Community Forum

Such a question.   I looked into this question when I was asked to speak about public education before a group of young early-leader Dems.  If you go back to the start of our country's history (even before we were a nation), it was about intellectual thought.  Being able to read was the key factor.  (The other key factor in public education?  Local control but that's a subject for another day.) But, in the early days, it was for the landed gentry and their offspring.  But naturally, as we became a nation, we grew but public education still wasn't for everyone.  (Watch 12 Years a Slave and see the real and present danger of being enslaved and knowing how to read and write.  That said, I wish this film had been more like the book which had a much fuller picture of the hero and what he did AFTER he was able to get away.)  But business - ever wanting trained workers and that that meant those who could read and write - did want more "educ...

Kind of an interesting story from Indie Reader to tell your art-inspired kids - the story of the first cover of The Great Gatsby and the ones that came after.  Remember kindergarten ?  I do and it wasn't like this (from Boston.com). Yet there is a growing disconnect between what the research says is best for children -- a classroom free of pressure -- and what’s actually going on in schools. Take the example of a girl who was barely 5 when she entered Gerzon’s classroom. She didn’t know her ABCs, but one day in class she made up a song and taught it to the other children. But because of new requirements, “I had to send a letter to her parents saying that [she] is not proficient,” says Gerzon. “You tell me that [she] is not proficient in language skills!” The Concord resident, who usually exudes a gentle presence, bristles. “It’s destructive, even abusive. That’s a pretty strong word, but what do you call it when you take a group of children and you force t...

You have to shake your head.  What's up with the Times? I'm pretty sure this guy isn't about throwing off the chains of public school education but more about vouchers.  That he cloaks his rhetoric in the "it's for the kids" school of thought doesn't make it any better.  (Note: like charters, we did vote on vouchers previously and again, the answer was no.) So here’s a crazy idea that just might set the stage for real innovation to happen — a deep change to unleash the creative flow of new thinking and practices. What if we abolished our compulsory school attendance laws, let public schools partner with families and communities to define their own educational programs, and allowed families to choose the kind of education that best fit the needs of their child? What would education without compulsory attendance look like? I can imagine a plethora of innovative programs: part-time schools; programs focused on specific skills, interests and the...

We have a presidential election coming up (if you haven't noticed). President Obama is running for the Democratics and the Republicans, well - they'll pick someone, eventually. My biased take is that I hope the Republicans tear each other to shreds and that someone staggers out of the Republican convention, dazed and bleeding. Why? Well, if you care about public education, you'd wonder would happen to public education if any of these candidates are elected President. We know what would happen with Santorum who likes to lecture people on why parents should all be homeschooling. Really? He loves the idea of the "one-room schoolhouse". He says it's "weird" for kids of the same age to all be in the same classroom. Actually, I like Montessori teaching which DOES encourage multi-age learning. But a classroom where all the students are related and taught by a relative (usually their mom) is better than a classroom with trained teachers? An...

In more breaking news, today LEV joined a lawsuit challenging I-1053 which requires a supermajority vote in the Legislature to raise revenues. From the press release: The plaintiffs believe the statute in question, established through the passage of I-1053, unconstitutionally impairs the ability of state lawmakers to fund public schools, which is the paramount duty of the state. Representative Jamie Pedersen is one of the legislators challenging the measure: “Our state constitution is the ultimate expression of the will of the people. Making sure our laws – whether passed by the legislature or by citizens through the initiative process – abide by the constitution is critical to protecting democracy and the rule of law,” said state Representative Jamie Pedersen, chair of the House Judiciary committee. “The question of whether a super-majority requirement to approve legislation is constitutional has gone unanswered for many years. It’s time to get a decision, once and for all.”...

Salon: "Myths and Realities in American Public School Education Today - Seattle Public School Teachers Speak Out" Thursday, January 27, 2011 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. STCN 160 (LeRoux Room), Student Center The Academic Salon program and the Diversity, Citizenship, and Social Justice (DCSJ) Core Track hosts a panel discussion with four Seattle Public School teachers who will discuss issues pertinent to the present and future of public education in American schools, from funding problems, private foundations, and charter schools, to curriculum and our local superintendent. Eric Muhs , award winning National Board Certified Teacher, Seattle Public Schools, Physics & Astronomy Dan Pickard , Seattle Public Schools, Integrated & Earth Science India Carlson , Seattle Public Schools, Botany, Horticulture, Integrated Science Dan Troccoli , Seattle Public Schools, Social Studies, & Seattle Equality Educators Our featured panelists, who represent a total of more than f...