It’s getting ugly

Just happened to catch the school board meeting live on tv. Stopped to listen for Pathfinder testimony … after a couple of fairly mellow people from Pathfinder (and a West Seattle guy who sends his kids cross-town to another alternative school that’s threatened with “consolidation”), the public speakers turned to a more broad focus, including some quite incisive rabble-rousing, and a confrontation ensued. Something about a guy threatening one of the speakers. Hard to tell in those wide-angle public-access tv shots, but looked like someone might have gotten arrested or at least thrown out of the meeting. Wow. Will have to look for the online replay later.

The House October 18, 2006 (11:33 pm)

I really hope there are some Pathfinder and Roxhill parents reading this.

Get serious, folks. Worse things will happen in life than a public school closing. Your precious little kids will be educated in another public drone school close by. I hope everyone caught the wierd, Yoda looking woman who was freaking out on KOMO about one of the schoold closing. Please remove her from the building & the gene pool.

Worry about more important things!

Jenny October 19, 2006 (7:43 am)

Hey there House – I’m a Pathfinder parent reading your comment – wanted to let you know that my “precious little kid” is not going to a “public drone school” – that is offensive to anyone who cares and fights for their schools!
Maybe it doesn’t seem important to you – but to those of us with kids who want them to grow up to help make a difference in this world, you bet your a$$ it is important!

eric October 19, 2006 (8:09 am)

Jenny – just remember it is all of the electeds that run Seattle that are doing this… mismanage the schools and then expect me to pay more in taxes with no plan? No way.

Maybe we can finally get a charter school initiative passed.

Cut, Cut, Cut!

amy October 19, 2006 (9:26 am)

I agree that there are things in life that are AS important as providing our (all) children with a safe, nurturing, challenging and inspiring environment where they learn to think, create/innovate, respect others, challenge conventional wisdom or wrong practices, build community, and get prepared to move into the world as productive and contributing adults. I’m not sure what kinds of things are MORE important than that???

Lisa October 19, 2006 (12:57 pm)

And I hope that “Comment by the House” is reading this. Those precious little kids will be deciding your future someday! Wonder what they’ll think about you then? Oh well, you have more important things to worry about.

Nic October 19, 2006 (1:25 pm)

…just so everyone is PERFECTLY clear, who ever refered to them selves as “the House” above, has no connection (in any way) to the linked blog “welcome to THE house”. NO CONNECTION!

I have no interested in being associated with him -or- her and his -or – her message.

Thanks.

Dawson October 19, 2006 (6:17 pm)

Yes, let’s teach our kids that threatening others means we get our way. That’s great education in action and really drives home the “drone” culture. Closures are tough no doubt, but the parents aren’t offering much in the way of alternate solutions. Why the busing isn’t done away with I don’t understand. Keep the school choice and if your choice is to enroll your child in a school not in your area, then you should be responsible for getting the child to that school not the district. They can focus on teaching then.

pops October 19, 2006 (9:32 pm)

Oh House House House House House.

Your posts remind me of someting Steve Martin once said, “I remember MY first beer.”

Nic October 20, 2006 (1:24 pm)

wow…

The House October 20, 2006 (3:50 pm)

Pops, I’m not sure what the relevance of the SM quote, but I’m honored to be compared to such a talented comedian.

I’m sure many would agree with you that I am THE JERK.

Leslie October 22, 2006 (10:30 am)

Having dodged the latest bullets, it is my hope that the WS School communities can come together and lobby for enhanced programs at different sites – Arts Curricula at High Point/Fairmont Park merge, enhancement/draw focused programs at Cooper and an immediate redraw of the reference lines to assist in increasing enrollment to take it out of the target zone and get more bodies up there – just look at the very compelling testimony at the Roxhill site hearing (transcript on the seattleschools.org website) of all the extraordinary work being done there and the amazing work being done by the staff – – – –

There are GREAT things happening out here in WS and working together can be even better. Hope those negative folks can give constructive solutions/ideas and with the variety we have in choice in WS – we don’t need Charter Schools and can continue to invest in our kids – they’ll be paying your pensions soon. . . . .

Administrator October 22, 2006 (12:49 pm)

I’m with ya. We have personal experience with a WS public school where, to use your phrase, “GREAT things (are) happening.” Doesn’t get any attention because so much is paid to “crises” like the school-closure situation. This thread is about to fall off the page but I might bring it back to ask that people keep us posted about the good things happening in public schools; to balance out the bad news, at the very least.

Sorry, comment time is over.