In Bellevue, we continue to robustly support and invest in our schools. It only seems reasonable to expect that our state legislators do the same.
About a year ago I saw Geoffrey Canada speak at the University of Washington. He is the founder of Harlem Children’s Zone in New York City. He is prominently featured in the film “Waiting for Superman.” He challenged me as an educator to change the way I think about education and its problems.
As a parent I see no discernable vision for school improvement beyond endless community meetings. I support community input as long as it informs a vision and does not take the place of one. Is our achievement gap shrinking? Are our students learning to be purposeful participants in our democratic society? Do we educate the whole child? We were once considered one of the most socially just and innovative school districts in the country. Are we still? How would we know?
There is much more to bad schools than bad schools.
In the next two months we will be prodded and poked, angered and outraged, moved and pushed by people running for public office. Then, the day after the election, we will all feel a bit used and a bit icky, wondering why we allowed ourselves to feel outrage and anger at processes we barely control.
After opening the primary ballot, nothing could prepare me for the onslaught of candidates for both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate in this year’s primary. Could there really be that many? Moreover, do any of them actually represent something different, something new, something innovative?
Every week I open the Bellevue Reporter and every week I am confronted with the rally cry of big government…
Good high schools are defined by high achievement rates on state exams and AP tests. Good high schools get kids into college. Good high schools narrow the gap for students of color, encouraging many of them to take the most rigorous of AP and IB classes.
However, good schools can lack soul.
Contrary to what some think, Republicans are not the only elected officials who can keep us safe. Dominating, masculine and…
It is hypocritical of us to demand that Knotty Bodies change locations or be put out of business when we also willingly allow our children to watch far worse on our televisions, in our movie theaters, in our music and in the video games they play. This café is yet another distraction from the far more important issues that we actually need to be paying attention to.
By Paul Sutton I have spent the last several weeks troubled by all the shouting about racism from all corners…
