41 Replies to "Also tomorrow night: WS High School talks about its big change"

• Cameron Longo September 18, 2007 (9:44 am)

  For some reason the new chief of seattle public schools Carla Santorno thinks she can just come on in and change a decade of this schools history. She has told our highschool she wants to change our 4 period day to a 6 period day. She doesn’t know the concequences thatthe students will face. Meaning there credits will be all screwed up and students will have to take classes they already took. They will also have to build portables on the field that our gym class gets there exercise on. This is a bogus desicion this lady is making.

• Jan September 18, 2007 (11:16 am)

  I don’t know who the writer of the first post is,though I suspect it’s a WSHS student. The argument would be much better if the misspelled words weren’t there – just a thought…

• Melissa Aaron September 18, 2007 (12:57 pm)

  Oh, come one, Jan. There are misspelling in MOST of the responses to posts on this blog. This response has fewer than most. The point the poster makes is a worthy one: people are more likely to buy into big changes if they’ve been consulted and listened to. Coming in with all guns blazing from the district office & telling people what’s going to happen to their lives is pretty much bound to breed discontent and anger.

• Jan September 18, 2007 (1:16 pm)

  So what people are feeling is that she shouldn’t come in and try to change things that may not have been working? Maybe she should have taken more time instead of making the decision so quickly? I can see where she’s rocking the boat a bit…but it’s her job to make changes, make things better (not easier) for the students and teachers. I suppose my point was, yes, there are typos on here…we all do that when our fingers get ahead of our brains. But…when we’re arguing education, I guess I feel that you make a better argument when you sound educated. Our schools have to test to show that these students have a grasp of basics. Not knowing the right words to use, the right spellings, etc. (basic things all)are definitely an argument for people who feel that the public schools are failing us.

• Kelly September 18, 2007 (1:33 pm)

  Does that data say that the 4-period day is not working? Jan, maybe you could elaborate on that comment. How is changing from a 4-period day to a 6-period day making things better for teachers and students? I agree with the first poster that sometimes administrators jump the gun in trying to implement reforms and these reforms do not end up making things better OR easier for teachers and students. Also, public schools do test the basics (it is called the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, or WASL). Public schools may be failing, but it is not because of hard-working teachers not doing their jobs. I’m not sure how changing from a 4-period day to a 6-period day will fix the state of public education.
  By the way, maybe you should look at your own sentences before you start nit-picking other people’s spelling and grammar.

• Jan September 18, 2007 (2:14 pm)

  Actually, I think that’s what the meeting is for. Read the links that WSB has provided. There is a lot of contention between the 4 period people and the 6 period people., and the way results are measured. Is West Seattle High School in the top numbers or the bottom numbers? It depends on how things are evaluated. Of course it’s not because of hard working teachers, who are giving their all. I didn’t say that. I do feel that there are teachers who are not giving their all, though. That happens in every school. My daughter graduated from WSHS in 1999 (before WASL, which I’m familiar with). She had the 4 period class schedule. It worked fine unless the 85 minute periods weren’t fully utilized. She was fairly bored with school, and slipped to a C average because she simply wasn’t challenged. I suppose that happens when there aren’t enough AP classes. Do I have all the answers, all the data? No, I don’t. I didn’t say that the 4 period day isn’t working. Some of the people in the Seattle Public Schools are saying that…hence, the meeting and the changes.

  I do believe that education is everything, and when our children grow up not being able to put a sentence together with correct spelling, etc. , it reflects on their futures. Our children deserve better.

• D September 18, 2007 (2:24 pm)

  The schedule change has been discussed for a few years now and many people put in countless hours to provide their recommendation to Carla Santoro. It is her job as CAO to make the final decision! Let’s be supportive of this!
  WSHS will be a stronger, more desirable school with this much needed change. Please attend the meeting tonight to find out the real answers to your questions. I highly doubt that students will have to retake credits they’ve already completed but sure they will be delving into these kinds of questions tonight!

• GenHillOne September 18, 2007 (3:17 pm)

  I will try to find the link (WSB?) but there was information posted earlier regarding the four period day and class time for one. Total minutes in the classroom were somehow deficient under this system. Another criticism was that the four period system created gaps in the learning sequence. For instance, a student could have math for the first half of one school year and not pick it up again until the second half of the next school year, leaving what, almost nine months in between? Remember how hard it was to come back after summer break? Looking at sample class schedules too, it didn’t appear to me that freshmen and sophomores were able to take any electives. While the basics should always come first, that seemed a bit stifling. And Jan, I thought the same thing about the first comment. With the use of the possessive pronoun “our” and the signature URL of wshs.com, I had the same sense. Let’s HOPE it’s a student and not a faculty member.

• Cameron Longo September 19, 2007 (11:05 am)

  I don’t understand why all the blogs being posted is critizing my grammer. I may not have the best grammer, but it’s because I type fast. That’s besides the point people!!! The point I’m trying to stress is that the students that are sophmores, juniors, and seniors and have planned there schedules from the time that they entered this school are going to be effected, because if they had planned to take a language during there senior year, they will not have that option no more because on how they schedule everything. This WILL effect students admission when they want to go to college. There is quite a bit more of problems that will be happening to students. Another point that no one is stressing is that they will be placing portables on the only grass/ play field that this school has. I just think everyone should think about what will happen if this takes effect. This will effect students that want to go to college. So stop critizing me on my grammer/spelling mistakes and think about the problem that is going to take place.

• Erik September 19, 2007 (12:57 pm)

  One aspect of intelligence is the ability to deal with change. If you’re in HS and can’t be flexible with change, then learning stopped a long time ago, education (brain-washing) is still going on.
  Cameron – I challenge you to look at the options and see what can work as opposed to how it can’t work. This will be a good test for the ‘real’ world and the uncertainties that we all face everyday.

• GenHillOne September 19, 2007 (4:46 pm)

  Wow…just wow. I am simultaneously a bit speechless and disheartened.

• Jan September 19, 2007 (5:49 pm)

  GenHillOne….I had to stop myself from saying more. And there are those that will dismiss the misspellings and mis-used words because it’s the internet. I shudder to think what a college paper will look like, or, better yet, a resume that will promptly get filed in the round file. Shaking my head…

• Kelly September 19, 2007 (8:52 pm)

  Jan and GenHillOne,
  Congratulations on achieving a supremely holier-than-thou attitude. I’m sure you will be able to power your vehicles around West Seattle with your own sense of self-satisfaction.

• GenHillOne September 19, 2007 (10:04 pm)

  Kelly, I’m in NO way claiming to be a master of the English language. That’s not what this is about for me. I am however, a middle-school parent who has been looking at options for high school and I’m not left with much satisfaction, self or otherwise. It saddens me.

• 5766324 September 19, 2007 (10:43 pm)

  Thank you, Seattle Public Schools!

  Thank you so much! My name is 0005766324, and I attend West Seattle High School as a junior. I was at the three forums, and I have so many things to thank you about. Thank you for changing our school to a six-period day! Thank you for coming in and demolishing everything that school’s created! Thank you for disregarding all their opinions (teachers who walked out, students who protested outside with signs) and being stubborn with your decisions—the students were a little opinionated and self-thinking anyway. I believe its good to stay true to your decision, no matter damaging it may be. As a die-hard communist, I believe your decision will greatly help the school board’s pensions. It will, no doubt, put everyone in check, and, therefore, reintroduce our proletariat ideals that we plan to push. Since I oppose diversity (other races, other religions, and, of course, free-thinking schools), I think this will fix our problem with public schools that implement alternative ideals and try new and unearthed ways of teaching. Hopefully, other schools, following this incident, will fear the prospect of trying new things. You know, really, I couldn’t care less that my next year will be wasted away since I have coordinated my school plan to it. And I know, of course, that that sophomores too will suffer; the students have planned their entire schedule around their glorious four-period day. But, that’s just a sad story we can disregard. And this country needs communists like ourselves. So, all those students whose futures are shaken, who are all for the four-period day might I add, will just have to deal with it as professionals, as Carla said. But, you gotta crack a few eggs to make an omelet, right?

  Thank you so much,
  0005766324

• Jan September 19, 2007 (11:03 pm)

  Kelly…I’m not being holier-than-thou. The fact that you seem to be OK with the common mistakes this student is making goes over my head, I suppose. I’m not sure what your point is. I don’t have a middle school aged child, but if I did, I sure as hell want them going to a school that doesn’t overlook those things. This is about education..whether the students of West Seattle are getting a good one or not. We should all be concerned about that.

• 5766324 September 19, 2007 (11:10 pm)

  (In respect to language rule. I apologize; I’m running on little sleep. Delete other post and go with this one)

  And, of course, I apologize for the simultaneous “that”’s in my intentional prose on line 16. If you believe it demotes my intelligence and is the sole cause for your persecution of our glorious school’s exceptional way of teaching, then you amuse me. In fact, I’ll boil myself a bucket of popcorn.

  The matter at hand is not about the teachers, its not about the staff, and its certainly, by no means, about what’s best for the student.

  It’s about money.

  To bus this students from Delridge to West Seattle High is a costly hassle: and an unneeded commodity in superintendent-eye’s view. The school board is putting together an assignment protocol which greatly limits student’s choice of school.

  That’s kills our “Well if you hate it–since 97% of WSHS students support the 4-period day–then switch schools” argument, because no longer CAN we switch schools. In fact, future students will be told where to go without a choice.

  They want to standardize us.

  They want to break us.

  They want to integrate us into the crowd.

  Money money money, baby.

• Jan September 19, 2007 (11:27 pm)

  5766324. So…if a student could transfer to a school where there are 4-period days, where would he/she transfer to? Are there other schools in the SPS that have 4-period schedules?

• RonPaul08 September 19, 2007 (11:40 pm)

  5766324 –
  It sounds like you have learned that public schools are only there to standardize, break, and integrate you into society. Anything to keep us Goy under control. Enjoy what you can of your school years and I strongly urge you onto self-study as that’s where the real education is.
  College degrees aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on anyways.

• 5766324 September 19, 2007 (11:46 pm)

  Around here, there is no other 4-period day operating. We stand alone. Although several SPS schools work a compromised schedule, we are the only pure-bred 4-period day. Simply put, the 4-period day does not work for other schools. Carla Santorno uses this to justify her reasons when asked of the 6-period day’s academic advancement in our situation. But, our four periods works for WSHS in a strange way. A rarity. Like the way our founding fathers birthed America. America’s mix of diversity and free-thinking ideals just wouldn’t work in other countries: India, China, Spain. People fought against it. But, somehow, it worked out for America. Perfect happenstance. Just like the 4-period day has worked for us.

  And here come the redcoats.

  The pro’s and con’s dealt in this situation primely focus on quantitative data. But, they exclude the qualitative: the people, the relationships, the futures. The press and written documents provide numbers and opinions, but omit the truth.

  This is communism. And as my sophomore history teacher taught us in discussion of ancient Asia: The nail that sticks up always gets hammered down.

• 5766324 September 19, 2007 (11:47 pm)

  I like this Ron Paul guy. Independent study and self-reliance is where its at.

  -Student 5766324

• GenHillOne September 20, 2007 (8:27 am)

  I thank you 5766324. Whether I agree or disagree with you, I appreciate your articulate point of view, with a sprinkling of sarcasm at that. When I say I’m disheartened, it’s A. my on-going concern that students are slipping through the cracks on the basics, and B. the operational process (let’s save my biggest peeve, school assignment and “choice” for another day). So help me out on B. if you would. Is there no “grandfather clause” or plan for the existing WSH students who will be affected by the change? And if you can take yourself out of the equation, I know that’s hard when you’re so close to it, do you think the kinks will be worked out of the new system enough to support incoming freshmen next year? Your personal experience/opinion is a valuable addition to the information already out there.

• Kelly September 20, 2007 (9:20 am)

  Dear Jan,
  My point is that it seems to me that you and GenHillOne are judging this poster based on her grammar and spelling and not bothering to hear her out. Do you know anything about this poster? I’m not sure of the percentages of special education or ELL students at WSH, but what if she belongs to one of these populations? And I certainly don’t appreciate GenHillOne’s insinuation that the poster could be a teacher. How exactly are you two helping solve the problem? Are your comments truly furthering the discussion? I admit that this issue is new to me, but my concerns involve the changes that take place in educational institutions without regard to the well being of students, staff, or parents. Many times these changes occur with administrators insisting that the changes are “what’s best for students.” This is an overused argument because many times it rings hollow. The bottom line is, in fact, that it is not what is best for students and it aggravates me that this guise is used to enact changes. A decade ago, the big push was block scheduling, which educational research supported as being conducive to student learning because of the depth in which the curricula could be explored. Now many schools are turning away from this, mostly because of monetary issues. How exactly does this make West Seattle High a better educational institution? I am not convinced. That is my issue.

• Jan September 20, 2007 (2:40 pm)

  Kelly, you misunderstand. I am not judging this person. I think there are valid points in his/her argument. But it would come across in a better light if it were said correctly. After all, bottom line is it’s about the education that these students are getting, and that includes the basics. Show us out here how well things are working now. Convince us by example that WSHS is great just the way things are. That includes a command of the basics of the English language.

  I also would like to know what the monetary issues are that some people feel are driving this decision, specific to WSHS. I realize that SPS has a monetary “crisis” left by years of mismanagement, if you will. Are you just talking about the fact that they are using this as a way to lay off some teachers? Or are there other things that are driving this, too? I don’t know the answers – really. I truly am just as inquisitive about these things as you are.

• 5766324 September 20, 2007 (4:16 pm)

  GenOneHill
  To be honest, my concern is not over my personal well-being. Yes, we know us juniors will have it rough next year, BUT, these troubles do not suffice our opposition. We fight for the future of the school. And yes, when I think of this monstrosity, I place my self in the background and look at the school’s needs. I’ve even tried placing myself in Carla Santorno’s shoes. But, alas, my vote remains steadfast.

  My chief, upfront concern, and heart might I add, go out to the incoming freshman these coming years; they will be entering a broken school. And THEIR education will suffer the enormities of this mindless standardization.

  Yes, the adjust to change is a hardship. BUT from this gentleman, Erik, above me, he implies that ALL change produces positivity and, therefore, the direct examination and criticism of said change makes for frivolity.

  TOO ALL POSTERS:
  I challenge you. Spend two days at WSHS. Get a visitor pass. Go into classes. TAKE NOTES. I won’t respect you’re outside, statistic-based opinion until then.

  When you feel in prime condition to discuss this matter further with me, you can email me at Philmrighter71@hotmail.

  Thank you,
  Student 5766324

• Erik September 20, 2007 (5:09 pm)

  Student 5766324
  My implication is that change is a constant. Whining wastes energy, do something about the change or deal with it.
  In the 70’s my school district (Federal Way) did away with all sports (the merchants finally footed the football costs), music, foreign languages, and art classes for my final two years of HS because of a long string of levy failures. I had and still do have interests in all those fields only because I made decisions to persue these outside the system.

• 5766324 September 20, 2007 (5:37 pm)

  It’s not change we discuss, its the finale of the WSHS era. Destruction is not constant, and if such offensive wrongdoing is seen, one involved should fight against it.

  No matter the situation, you can always say one thing to turn it on its back.

  I see your good intention, Erik, but your basing of decades-old experiences, taking in the mass change of public education, offends me.

• Parent 12345678 September 20, 2007 (6:06 pm)

  Student 5766324,

  I nearly took your challenge. My child spent a semester at WSHS and needed to transfer out to a 6 period day school. Classes are much smaller at the other SPS high school and that benefits all students. Many subjects, such as math, are more effective with shorter sessions. If you spread classes out over a year there is time to catch up if things “go bad” like it can when you’re in high school. The opportunity to fit one fun class in that requires continuity, such as fine arts, vocational Ed or journalism, are much greater. AP classes also don’t fill ¼ of your schedule, only 1/6th.

  WSHS students are worrying too much about this change. There will be many good things to come of this. Beware of myths being propagated. Carla Santorno said clearly at Tuesday’s meeting that portables were not in the future and students would have a great deal of help during this transition. The staff and community will choose what the new catalog will look like. Coursework like MESA exists in other Seattle high schools (all 6 period day) so why not WSHS? 6 periods allows for an infinite array of blocked class options. Decide what you want the courses and blocking to be and make your voice heard as this change occurs.

  I am sympathetic to your situation but don’t close your mind. Santorno had very good reasons for changing and was forced to make a decision because a WSHS steering committee did not reach a common solution. This has been in the works for two years. Student/parent claims of “I didn’t know” ring fairly hollow with me. You and your parents received a survey last fall, have received many newsletters and dozens of “Westside Notes” e-mails. Three students were on the steering committee last spring.

  Go to http://www.wscepe.org and read the issue page, the timeline and the links regarding WSHS’s 4 period day. This web site has the most complete information available regarding the WSHS 4pd. At a minimum, read the two reports authored by the committee because this is what Santorno read (links page). Have an open mind. Change can be good.

  Best to you and your peers.

  Parent 12345678

• 5766324 September 20, 2007 (6:52 pm)

  Dear Parent-who-can’t-come-up-with-her-own-creative-name,

  It’s people like you that put shame to modern-day education. Blame yourselves for its downfall. And when you try to fix OUR education, it gets worse. Shame, shame, shame.

  Yes, classes are smaller, but even with slightly larger classes at WSHS, I’ve become close with a number of teachers. The lengthened time balances out with the number of students. Therefore, more personalization. There is nothing wrong with larger classes. THUS, YOU CONTRADICT YOURSELF.

  Fun class? FUN CLASS? You believe that’s what it is? In our school, we call it a career class. Automotive, band, video production! Career class! And no, our schedule FOCUSES on these classes. You get EIGHT classes a year, instead of SIX. So it’s easier to pursue these classes. THUS, YOU CONTRADICT YOURSELF.

  Wow. Oh wow. You attended Tuesday night you say? So did I. I also attended Tuesday afternoon, and Friday afternoon. I was IN all three forums. The portable idea is no myth. Carla can’t tell us we have to use portables, but teachers agreed(and Carla suggested we do) since we wouldn’t have enough classrooms to accommodate a six-period SINCE the school, when remodeled in 1999, was based off a permanent four-period day. THUS, YOUR CONTRADICT YOURSELF.

  Jesus, block classes seems to be you fool’s solution for everything. Well, surprise, surprise: students don’t want it! Be in a class for a THIRD of your day?

  You progressives never settle for anything.

  -Student 5766324

• JP September 20, 2007 (7:35 pm)

  I graduated from the four-period day at WSHS several years ago now. Personally, I thrived. I was able to take 5 different science classes, advance from Spanish 1 to AP Spanish, and take both LA 12 and English 101 my senior year.

  I was well-prepared for college! If you are a motivated student, I believe the four-period day is wonderful.

  I do think that SPS need to change their grading system – to include the plus and minus. The GPA then becomes a more accurate snapshot of the student. There is a large difference between a 81 and an 89!

• Parent 12345678 September 20, 2007 (7:49 pm)

  Student 5766324,

  The data is there on the web site. My challenge to you is read what Santorno read. The EdAdvocates report from March 2006, the district REA report from Oct. 2006, the two steering committee papers from June 2007. Read the timeline and the issues. At a minimum, do it to understand those who don’t think like you.

  You’re free to make your own decisions in this world. Good decisions don’t come though without a little homework and asking a lot of questions.

  You’re not getting a very good grade in my class at the moment but this is your chance for extra credit.

  Parent 12345678

• GenHillOne September 20, 2007 (8:04 pm)

  Thank you for your reply 5766324. Your hint of a “broken school” is part of what I was getting at. I wondered what the climate might be like in the coming year. Tours are already part of our plan, so we’ll take you up on that. I do wish you the best.

  Kelly, you have to know that I don’t seriously think the original comment was posted by a teacher. And I realize that the comment could have come from an ELL/ESL student, but I also know many students who don’t fall into the populations you mentioned and could have easily typed those words. A risk one takes with the impersonal internet – I don’t know one poster’s story any more than they know mine. I actually think this has been a very productive discussion and all of the comments have provided me with new questions to ask.

• Anne September 20, 2007 (8:05 pm)

  Student with a long number,

  It is good when students get involved with their schooling. It is good when you take a stand. It is not good when you are obnoxious to another person with whom you disagree. I feel certain you will just rant against me as well, but it is time a lot of people checked out the FACTS. You can talk with the district–the building was remodeled for a 4 OR 6 period day.

  You do not seem to understand the schedule and hours in class. In a year-long, one credit course, you will have many more hours to get “personalized” with your teachers than in a semester-long class. And besides, realize you are insulting teachers at every other high school by implying that they do not get to know their students.

  Also, and this is an important fact that teachers at the school are “forgetting” to tell you, with a 6 period day, you may take as many as 10 classes a year. Only core classes (and not all) go the full year; most electives are just a semester long. No, you won’t get as many credit hours, but everyone knows that WSHS’s credit hours are actually only a percent of other schools’.

  If WSHS chooses, and it is up to them, they can adopt a schedule that includes two days with all six classes and three days with four. This will allow longer classtimes for labs and such.

  Also, where the heck have you been? The tantrums at the school are too little too late. This has been in the workings for about two years, since the school board initiated an investigation. Lots of students before you have had trouble getting the classes they need or had difficulty with the large gaps, and eventually the district decided to take a look.

  So you seem like a smart person. Stop listening to propoganda from the teachers who are upset and think for yourself. Students are not going to be sent away; if the numbers are cut it will be from the freshman class or from not taking transfers. No one yet knows which classes will be cut (if any).

  Finally, why do you criticize a parent who uses a number when you use one as well?

  P.S.: look up the word “contradiction” so you can use it correctly.

• Radley September 20, 2007 (8:39 pm)

  “greatly help the school board’s pensions”

  Hate to tell you, those don’t exist. School Board members get no more that $5,000 a year as a stipend for thier time. No benifits there.

  The unfortunate thing for Student 5766324 and WSHS is that the 4 period day is generally considered to be a fialed experiment every where else.

  Please don’t write as if the CAO just woke up one day and decided to make a change. The reality is that a very vocal group of folks convinced a lot of people – including the local newspaper – that 4 periods may be okay, but 6 would be better. The students and families who prefered the 4 period day waited until after the decision was made to speak up.

• JE September 20, 2007 (11:52 pm)

  There’s nothing magic about a six-period day. There’s nothing magic about a four-period day. The ironically demonstrated difficulties with grammar, spelling, and written expression in some of the postings on this topic cannot be laid at the door of the four-period day; they are distressingly common in all our high schools–indeed, in the adult workplace.
  This is not due to any particular school schedule. A well-supported school, with excellent teachers and freed from bureaucratic constraints to conform, can educate students rigorously with a wide variety of schedules. WSHS is being required to conform to a traditional district norm because it’s easier on the bureaucracy of the school district, not because a six-period day has any magical properties that will improve the education there.
  I went to a college with a radically different schedule: one class at a time, nine classes per year. It’s highly regarded in higher-education circles. This distinctly non-traditional schedule has been in place for more than thirty years now. It has advantages and disadvantages, like the four-period and six-period days, and works brilliantly for some kinds of students and not well for other kinds of students–like the four- and six-period days. (It helps to be a fast reader, for example.)
  I am disturbed that the district pushes in the direction of conformity; certainly, the district norm to which WSHS is required to conform is hardly a stellar example of excellent education. On the other hand, I am heartened that so much passion is elicited on behalf of the community’s high school; translating that passion–on both sides of the question–into support for the school and students can help improve the education there as an arbitrary schedule change cannot.

• evan September 21, 2007 (10:18 am)

  I graduated several years ago from a school on the 4 period day system, and I thought it was an incredible concept. It was new at the time, and there was a lot of talk about it being the future of high school scheduling. As a student, it provided a nice change from the day to day monotony of a 6 or 7 period day schedule, which we were on previously. It allowed more time for learning i felt. We were able to do things in 90 minute classes that just weren’t feasable options in a shorter class, and the odd/even system we were on gave a nice break. I will agree that classes like math were a lot harder to make it through on that schedule because it was so dry. However, I was never much of a math student to begin with so I can’t comment on how that may affect the future mathematicians of America. I do feel that science classes greatly benefitted from the longer classes, as well as classes such as fine arts, journalism, history, current events, literature, etc. I feel that this scheduling also better prepared me for college, and that I was able to learn better time management skills with my homework assignments than I would have had on the previous system. Having a day off between classes gave me more time to spend on my homework and produce much higher quality work, versus rushing through several assignments to have them finished the next day.

  I agree with everything Student 5766324 has said, and I am happy that there are young people on here that are vocal and care and are trying to raise awareness about what is happening at WSHS. I for one was not aware of this since I do not have a child attending WSHS, but if I was I would have loved to have voice my opinion on the subject.

• 5766324 September 21, 2007 (3:25 pm)

  Anne,

  Several things. First off, before I say some things, one note on your minute “contradiction” accusation. Yes, I know what it means, and if this had been an essay or short story, instead of an internet blog comment, I would have omitted that statement in the second draft. And I was tired. Second, the pensions. That statement was ill-phrased, and what I meant is that, especially with the new assignment policy, they will be helping themselves. Not so much with pensions. Understand poetic sarcasm and learn to love it.

  These parents are such downers. Bigger classes? I say better! You don’t. Gaps? Not a problem. You say it is. (I took math first semester of freshman year, and now I’m taking the next step two years later, and guess what…no problem. It was my choice and it worked for me because the education STUCK)

  And now, you assume, and you should know what ASS-U-ME makes. No, I get much closer with a teacher in half a semester in longer classes more so than a full-year teacher shorter classes. Why? Because in one semester, you don’t have enough time to get tired of them. Don’t tell me what you don’t know, because I’m a student.

  And to you, the angry parent, how many years have you been going to WSHS? Are you…what, freshman, sophomore, senior? What?! You’re not even a student? You mean to say you’ve never attended a single week of West Seattle High? Wow. Talk to me by you’re third year, THEN I will allow you to tell me what’s good for my education.

  Hours…means nothing. In a six-period day you only spend 25 minutes working. It takes a good 10-15 minutes to get the class settled. ALSO, from personal and close acquaintances experience, the education just sticks better in a semester. It works for our schools. Numbers lie. Especially when you’re only listening to the numbers from one side.

  FOR EXAMPLE: have you even heard OUR numbers? No. WSHS is on an upward slope, GETTING BETTER EVERY YEAR. Yes, our math is lower than we want it to be, and so is the state’s math, BUT we excel in EVERY OTHER SUBJECT. And we are HAPPIER. And we have more school spirit than any other school in the district. What does that say?

  Also, it took one year to plan for the four-period day and work out all its quirks.

  Santorna is giving us two months.

  On another note, I have nothing to say to the deaf four-year old child(I presume) who called our reasoning and protest “tantrums”. Anne should be given a time-out.

  Six-periods is the stone age.

  -Student 5766324

• Julianne September 21, 2007 (5:15 pm)

  JE — Just wondering, which college has such an unusual schedule?

• Radley September 21, 2007 (6:07 pm)

  Cornell College has that schedule, not sure if that is the school JE was referring to, but they do three-week, one class at a time scheduling.

• JE September 21, 2007 (8:43 pm)

  Cornell’s is similar but a little different, I think; I don’t remember just how.
  Colorado College is the one I went to. The schedule there is one class for 3.5 weeks, with a 4.5 day break, 9 times a year. Students can also take adjunct classes for fractional credit for a year or a semester (performance music, dance, sports, etc.)

• Danaher M. Dempsey, Jr. September 26, 2007 (2:17 pm)

  9-26-2007 at 2:26 PM

  This school district continues to talk about data driven decision making. They rarely do it.

  Ms. Santorno is a fraud in this regard. I have consistently submitted data to her that she has no responses for. Therefore she never responds.

  At the parent Tuesday evening meeting she said their would be an appeal process. Then on Friday she sent a letter saying there would be no appeal process.

  We have highly paid administrators who see their job as to issue mandates that are unsupported by either SPS policies or relevant data.

  To create improvement in a system requires the intelligent application of relevant data.

  I’ve run the data.

  Write me for it at:
  dempsey_dan@yahoo.com

  I will send it.

  Then you can see for yourself how far adrift from reality Ms. Santorno and Dr. Goodloe-Johnson have floated.

  Dan Dempsey

Sorry, comment time is over.