Latest News and Comment from Education

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

UPDATE: Seattle Times on a Rampage + Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Charter Commission Members-Early Parsing

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Charter Commission Members-Early Parsing:



Seattle Times on a Rampage

Man, the Seattle Times is pulling out all the stops in the days before retreating behind a paywall. There are several inflammatory articles and columns about education on the Times web site right now. You would think it was just before an election instead of just after one.

Feds probing Seattle schools’ treatment of black students
This story is about a U.S. Department of Education investigation into whether black students in Seattle schools are punished more frequently and more harshly than white students for the same behavior. The comments section reveals some really horrible racist remarks and, more than anything, a gross misunderstanding of the purported problem. The feds are not investigating whether black students are punished more frequently (they are) 



Seattle Student Senate Statement on Discipline Investigation

Regarding the US Department of Educaiton's investigation, the Seattle Student Senate believes in fair treatment for all of Seattle's students.  The Student Senate believes that discipline against students must be taken appropriately and equitably.  As students, we are strongly opposed to any form of discrimination in the public education system that puts any group of students in a situation with a lesser educational opportunity.

Regarding the Center School instruction, the Student Senate promotes the substantive exploration of social 


Washington State Charter Commission Members-Early Parsing

All the members come from education, non-profit or government backgrounds.

All are white except for two - Doreen Cato and Trish Millines Dziko.  They're African-American.  Not a single qualified Asian or a Latino or Native American applied?  That's disappointing.

There are four women and five men.

There are some good appointments to the Commission (of the people I know of personally).  Millines Dziko is smart and has good judgment.  (And woe to anyone who tries to snow her.)  Dr. McGuire of Seattle University serves at their great teaching program and is also sharp.   Former Rep Quall, while I disagreed with some of his education efforts when he was in the Legislature, does his homework and knows education in this state.

Kevin Jacka, the superintendent of the Mary Walker District, seems like he might be a good choice since his district is small and rural.  But it is also largely white district.

Larry Wright already sits on one state commission - the Washington State Commission on Homelessness.  I