Tuesday Open Thread

Addressing a pet peeve of mine - the use of the word "awesome."  Remember when it meant something that filled you with awe?  Alas, no more.  This useful article from Ragan gives replacements.

The next mayor of Chicago (in 25 years) is a little 9-year old named Asean Johnson who rallied a crowd in Chicago against school closings.  He takes on Rahm Emanuel and quotes MLK, Jr.  A little ball of thunder. 

What's on your mind?

Moore, Oklahoma Loses 20 Children to Tornado

Please send your thoughts, good karma or prayers to the citizens (and parents) of Moore, Oklahoma.

The tornado today went right thru two elementary schools killing at least seven children.  A high school nearby also got hit.  There are still children missing.  The schools - and nearly everything else in the area - were leveled. 

Here's a link to the Red Cross if you can help.

Ingraham PTSA Votes to Disaffiliate from PTSA

The vote was 44-29.  It was quite a compelling and civil discussion.  I'll write a wrap-up of it tomorrow but I'll leave you with two thoughts.

1) Will this spur other schools to consider this action?  Hard to say but one person who is a member of two PTAs said her other PTA is also considering this action.  Will it be like Garfield's early and firm stance on MAP and allow other schools to take a look at what is happening at their school?

2) There were several issues in play but one broad issue is this:

What is the purpose of a parent-teacher group at a school?  

Do you want a combo of school-based needs with big group identity/advocacy?  Is one more important than the other?  Does every dollar raised count when your school has high needs (and possibly low ability to raise much money)? 

A Couple of Interesting Items

There is a petition at Change.org, asking Superintendent Banda to end early dismissals at SPS.  I have no info as to who started it (it only says F. Jacobs).  It has over 200 signatures.  It's fairly simple text:

To:
Jose Banda, Superintendent, Seattle Public Schools
Jonathan Knapp, President, Seattle Education Association
Phyllis Campano, Vice President, Seattle Education Association

Please stop early dismissals at Seattle public schools.
Frequent early school dismissals are a terrible hardship on families. Parents under financial stress, working parents, multi-child families, single parents, and many other caregivers have no good childcare and/or transportation options to manage early school dismissals. We urge you to find a family-friendly way to provide teachers with the planning time they need. 

 As well, tomorrow the results of the 2012 Healthy Youth Survey and the federal Youth Risk Behavior survey will be released.  I'll be attending a media event at SPS about these findings.

Let's Start this Week Out Right

Two wonderful stories about great teachers.

One, a high school basketball coach who, by making a great choice for his team manager, inspires everyone to make one boy's dream come true.   This from CBS News.

Two, a teacher whose impact started when a little girl was eight and continues on today.  You just never know how little things impact a child's viewpoint.  This from The Oregonian.

Seattle Schools This Week

Wednesday, May 22nd
Exit Conference for Financial and Single Federal Audit, 4-4:30 p.m. in the JSCEE auditorium.  This is just an official reporting of an audit that happens regularly. 

Oversight Work Session:Teaching&Learning (Part 2) from 4:30-6:30 pm.  Will all be revealed?  Stay tuned.

Work Session: Race&Equity Professional Development, 6:15-7:45 pm.

Thursday, May 23rd
Executive Session: Superintendent evaluation

Friday, May 24th
What? No school so you get a 4-day holiday. 

Saturday, May 25th
Community Meeting with Director Patu at Cafe Vita.

Things for Kids

Wow, not one but two new playgrounds in our fair city.  One is at Maple Leaf, complete with zipline, and one is at Volunteer Park on Capital Hill.  

In the world of film, the Seattle International Film Festival is underway.  As usual, they have Films4Families with a great selection for all.   Moon Man (German), Safety Last! (with Harold Lloyd from 1923) and Wolf Children (Japanese) all look like good picks. 

Also, if you are planning your summer, TheFilmSchool, has some great offerings for adults and students. 

Through a grant, the school has secured a number of large scholarships for HS Teachers to attend the upcoming summer session.  This is a great opportunity for any teachers interested in screenwriting and taking lessons learned back to their classrooms.  Details here:  http://thefilmschool.com/special-offer-for-washington-state-high-school-teacher/

Also… the school has a special summer camp for youth writers and directors.  It draws many award-winning youth filmmakers from all over the world.  There are still some spaces available, and local kids are encouraged to apply.  Details here:  http://thefilmschool.com/programs/film-camp/

Also, fyi, Summer Streets in Seattle is back.  From the City of Seattle:

The idea is simple—open a city street for several hours for people to stroll, bike, shop and just enjoy being in their community.  

Something special happens during Summer Streets.   A road—normally a space for vehicles—is transformed into a place.  This unleashes creativity and energy within our neighborhoods.  The street becomes a public plaza where people celebrate, dance, create art, play games, get to know their neighbors and enjoy their community.  

Be a ‘promotion organizer’ building buzz before events, a ‘creative organizer’ of event activities like bike parades and interactive art, or volunteer the day of helping hundreds of Seattleites enjoy Summer Streets. Email Summer.Streets@Seattle.gov and let us know how you can help.

Ballard—Friday, May 31, 2013 from 4 to 7 p.m.
Greenwood/Phinney —Friday, August 9, 2013 from 6 to 10 p.m.
Rainier Valley—Saturday, August 17, 2013 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(If you know of some great low-cost options for youth this summer, let me know.  I'll be glad to post them. 

Does Any Girl Need a Princess for Inspiration?

Disney (via Pixar) made a film called Brave.  I didn't see it but the trailer made the heroine look feisty and well, pretty normal (for Disney).  But no, Disney decided, in putting out the doll, to change that look.  Thinner, more skin, even her face looks different.  There's been a big outcry.

Here's a Tumblr piece from artist Matthew Bogarts that includes the two images, side-by-side.  His commentary is very good.

Along comes David Trumble, an artist/illustrator, came up with his own list of Disney "princesses" called World of Women including:

• Princess Jane Goodall "Jungle Princess"
• Princess Gloria Steinem "Trailblazer Princess"

Many of them wear glasses (gasp!) and have gray hair.  And, of course, it is satire which makes it work even better.

The blog, Pigtail Pals and Ballcap Buddies, dedicated to children having a childhood, had a great thread called "Why Sexing Things Up for Kids is Stupid."

 

Questions you should be asking yourself (and your kids!) while taking this in: Would we ever see a man posed this way? Do any women you know in real life stand this way? Why is this the version of femininity that is taught by the mainstream to our kids? The author, Melissa, (not me) says:  Does Batman help?
Also, you should take 18 minutes to listen to David’s Tedx talk. Listen with your tween/teen if you’ve got one.

But we are SO used to seeing women look like this, both in illustrated form for children and video games and in advertising. Do we even see it anymore?

She says (and rightly so):

Stop with the sexy for the kids. I mean really. It isn’t necessary. It isn’t healthy for them. And it isn’t needed to turn a profit. Do better.

Yes, really.  Parents have always taken their kids to movies and bought toys.  Why does making them sexy matter to sales?

I'm also with her about "everything in its own time."   Kids grow up incredibly fast - why can't they have a childhood?