Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Expect Some Passion at Tonight's Board Meeting

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Expect Some Passion at Tonight's Board Meeting:


Expect Some Passion at Tonight's Board Meeting

Director Patu, President Smith-Blum and I were sharing a laugh last Saturday over the last Board meeting where Vice-President Patu stepped in to lead the meeting because Smith-Blum was out of town.  The joke was (and I had noted it here) that looking at the agenda, it would be a short meeting.  Apparently it was and it ended at about 6:45 p.m.

The meeting may not run long tonight but the Speakers list is full (and overflowing) because of the issue of the race and social justice class at The Center School.  I am on the list to speak.

Let's review.

Back in December 2010, there was an issue over the use of the novel, Brave New World.  The parent who raised the issue was not seeking to ban the book but to get clarification about how the book would be used in SPS.  In short, she was seeking assurances about teachers using context (who wrote the book, when and the use of satire) and that teachers would consider the background of students in the class and try to be culturally aware.

The Board held that the book could be use but did direct Teaching&Learning to work on professional