In case you wondered how the demonstration this afternoon went, here’s two video clips. First, the group leaving WSHS; second, their sign-waving in The Junction.
West Seattle, Washington
12 Monday
In case you wondered how the demonstration this afternoon went, here’s two video clips. First, the group leaving WSHS; second, their sign-waving in The Junction.
First, lest anyone think I’m discriminating, note that I counted 138 Harleys on parade in a WSB video awhile back (my thing I guess)…but were there really TWELVE participants?
Gen HillOne…exactly my thought…if there are so many students up in arms about the 6 period day, where are they? it speaks volumes….hmmmmm…..
When I went through the Junction at 4:00 there were about twelve participants.
Patrick videotaped the entire group as they left the school (first clip), and then videotaped who he saw when he went to The Junction a little while later. So what you see is who was there.
In defense of the high schoolers, I think getting even 12 out there speaks volumes. How many of us have been motivated to carry a sign and march in protest of something we feel strongly about? Not many, not me most of the time. I hope the student’s concerns are paid attention to and a compromise reached.
Maybe the group started out huge, then they broke off to go to McDonalds. :)
Thanks to all the West Seattle folks who were interested in hearing about the 4-period issue that we were bringing to everyone’s attention this afternoon! Our numbers may have been small, as pointed out in some of the above comments, but I can say that I am TRULY proud and grateful that I live in a country where it is my democratic right to speak out about an issue such as the preservation of the learning excellence and equity at WSHS!
How may of the 12 were actually students? I have to say that this speaks volumes, but not in the way that I think WestSeattleMom or Pro-4 All the Way are intending.
Shave those underarm hairs, hippies, and get back to fighting for George Bush’s oil!
WestSeattleMom, way to be a roll model and teach the kids to walk out of school when they don’t agree with something. Perhaps the next walkout will be when they serve Tater Tots rather than fries.
Get back to school and mow my lawn!
excuse me, but…I believe this was done after school hours….so…no walkout…and while I feel the small numbers might not bring a whole lot of support, they did nothing wrong, and a lot of things right.
Mow your own damned lawn…:)
and, OMG…you really feel that teenagers have such little brain power as to only think about the next menu in the not-oft-used cafeteria? just wait until your kids are there…if they aren’t already.
No, I don’t believe that what House is saying is tongue-in-cheek at all…I think he really beleives this…
Yes, it was after school hours. Started at 2:30 pm. High-school and middle-school kids start school ridiculously (pardon us for editorializing) early in the day.
Dear Bob Loblaw…I hear the tots at Skylark are killer…I’ve never had them…WSB has…is it true, WSB? Maybe we should all head over there – lol….
Jan, you are my Socratic Gadfly.
But I am your can of RAID.
I can’t wait for the day that we meet each other for a conversation. I’m sure I’ll add more value to your life than any other person you’ve ever met. Tah-Tah!
Don’t forget, you’re all invited to the informal West Seattle Community Recognition Awards gathering with us tomorrow night at Capers, 7 pm. No speeches, no golden statuettes, just a little get-together. But if you guys both show up, and you get into an argument, you’re gonna have to go outside, k?
hehehe….I was at Capers last night, and I heard that there will be coffee and brownies….
what? me fight? noooo…not on my agenda…is it on yours, House? we might even really like each other – lol…
Dang it, I have to meet a client tomorrow eve and will miss the fracas!
Do 11 people really constitute or conjure up classic connotations of a “demonstration”? LOL. I tease! Good for the kids for exercising their civic right to assemble.
High-school and middle-school kids start school ridiculously (pardon us for editorializing) early in the day.
How early?
Our kid starts middle school at 7:40 in the morning.
Elementary school started at 8:55. Much more reasonable, in our view, but then again, the kid and I are both extreme night owls.
Hmmm, 7:40am doesn’t seem terribly unreasonable for middle or high school kids, though it’s perhaps a tad early compared to when I went to school (8:25 start, 3pm end, in both junior and senior high). I assume the kids get out around 2:30pm?
8:55 seems about right for elementary school kids.
Hi there TheHouse:
I just picked up the thread where you chide me for not being a good roll model! You crack me up! The kids waited until afterschool to make their protest and even if the turnout was low they were respectful and organized. Being a parent of a couple of teens, I’m impressed that those kids stood up for something they believe in, especially since they’re swimming against the tide. You can’t imagine how much pressure there is on today’s kids to conform. I know it’s harder today than it was when I was 16.
That being said, I really enjoy reading your crusty point of view. I rarely agree, but I like how you keep things honest. I wish we had pictures attached to names as I’ve got a mental image of you looking like Dick Cheney (but without the horns). I mean that in the nicest sort of way :)!
OP – there actually are studies showing that this is the age when kids need more sleep, not less. Elementary and younger tend to bound out of bed early anyway – that’s the age to send them to school early – theoretically these early starts facilitate more afterschool activities and then jobs when they get into high school, but just speaking for us, we sure do wish there was night school for middle schoolers …
High school started at 7:40 in Bellevue in the early 90’s, or maybe it was 7:30? It was so long ago I can barely remember!
WSMom: Come to Capers tonight and join JanS in the alley for the fight. Come to think of it, the thought of you and Jan in a fight makes me kinda hot.
Thanks for the invite Bob, you crack me up too! I think Jan and I were separated at birth…I may NEVER agree with TheHouse, but I ALWAYS agree with Jan! :)
I’ve been home all day with a sick kid, this blog really does make me happy!
WSMom…always fun staying home with a sick kid…is it a male child? I call male sickies “instant babymen” – lol…ya hate to generalize, but it’s mostly true..hehehe
Yes, it’s my 8 year old son. He’s my baby and just the sweetest…I hate to see him feeling lousy with a fever. Have you seen the “man cold” video on Youtube? Oh my gosh, such a crack up!
Wasn’t the real reason the school board wanted to go back to “normal” class periods because of poor standardized test scores at WS High? I would think as a parent, that would trump all the rest of the nonsense. What is going to work best to get the kids edumacated?
WSMOM….hahahahahahaha…that’s a great video…I definitely have to save that one :)
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