Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

8-20-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:



Diane Ravitch is Coming
With her new book (Reign of Error) on September 26, 2013.   Her talk will be at Kane Hall (Red Square on the UW campus) in Room 130 from 7-8:30 p.m.  Free and open to the public.  REIGN OF ERROR. An incisive, comprehensive look at today’s American school system that argues against those who claim it is broken and beyond repair; an impassioned but reasoned call to stop the privatization movement th

Tuesday Open Thread
Off the next Charter Commission meeting on Thursday - looks like they still don't have an Executive Director.  Maybe they'll have more info on the charter lawsuit (as it pertains to their work). FYI, there are a couple of open seats coming up on the State Board of Education.  Mary Jean Ryan's (Position 6 - our area) will be expiring in January 2014 as does Judy Jennings( private school rep), Phyll

Grading your peers can be vexing in an online class
One of the things you learn in an online course on public speaking is how to evaluate a speech. If you want to become a better public speaker, it’s helpful to understand why some people are so good at it, and others are not. But if your fellow students deliver an awful speech, how do

Superintendent To Meet with Native American Parents
I understand that the Superintendent is scheduled to have a long meeting today with Native American parents and leaders.  I'm sure it will be a compelling discussion and I hope he listens.Like all of U.S. history with Native Americans, the Seattle Schools' history doesn't have a whole lot to hold its head up about.  I'm not even part of that community, nor was it on my radar for many years but eve


8-19-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Rethinking the Mann Building UseIn the "what!?" category, the Times is reporting that the district is "reconsidering" their plans for the Horace Mann building which is to rehouse Nova High School.  There are some pretty unbelievable statements like:- in one place in the article the Times says the district has not been charging rent to any of the gro