Seattle Schools Community Forum

A number of events /reports have crossed my path in the last couple of weeks and I thought it worth a thread. Next Saturday, January 30th ,  there will be an Education Roundtable to discuss the impacts of student discipline on communities of color.   Among the groups involed there are The Washington State Commission on African American Affairs , Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs , and Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs , along with the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders , and El Centro de la Raza.  The event will be held at El Centro's headquarters at 2524 16th Avenue S. from 1-3:30 pm. 

A couple of items came across my desk in the last 24 hours related to women, stereotypes and sexual assault.  One is a powerful video   from Tumwater High School , part of the No More campaign.  As Tumwater's counselor, Todd Caffey, explains, they used national statistics to extrapolate to THS' female student population as "actual data on THS is not available."  Meaning, the district either isn't keeping these stats (which I know cannot be true) or would not give them to Mr. Caffey.  That in itself is quite powerful - the district has to report these stats to the state and feds.  I know - from research I was doing just yesterday - that this data also goes to the federal Office of Civil Rights. The video is quite simple; there are boys, one-by-one, who hold up a sheet with a number and explain the number of girls in each class in the high school who will likely be sexually assaulted. One thing they leave out in their list of who these girls are - th...

Garfield High School's basketball team is on its way to start playing at the state finals.  (So is Cleveland's girls basketball team. )   My Northwest is reporting that after the school's third meet-up with Issaquah's basketball team, things took a nasty turn after tweets were sent saying racially disrespectful things about team members and cheerleaders.

The organization, School's Out Washington, is sponsoring a workshop for youth (middle school to young adults), Structural Racism 101 for Youth. It's Saturday, December 7th from 10 am to 2:30 pm.   It's free and breakfast and lunch are provided.  801 23rd Avenue S. It's "an opportunity to talk about race and your experience, to learn what youth can do about racism, and to provide input about how adults can support youth.  Training conducted entirely by youth." To RSVP or for more info: Pang Chang, pchang@schoolsoutwashington.org.

In light of discussions we have had at this blog, I offer some ideas about creating better understanding. KUOW has had a great series called Black in Seattle .  On Wednesday, Nov. 13, they are having an event, Black in Seattle: Continuing the Conversation at Washington Hall at 153 14th Avenue at 6 pm.   Free and open to the public.  The group, School's Out Washington is offering two caucuses - one for white people and one for people of color on Tuesday, November 19th from 10 am to noon.  Lunch is provided.  The two articles they recommend are: White Caucus -  “Nothing to add: A Challenge to White Silence in Racial Discussions” People of Color - “Racial Microaggressions in Everyday Life ” Space is limited.  Please RSVP to Doree Desberg via e-mail or at 206.336.6916. Funding by the City of Seattle Office of Civil Rights, Race and Social Justice Initiative, and Structural Racism Technical Assistance Fund.  Space donated by Boys...

Not much happening this week in SPS meetings but many education events this month.