Considering the many challenges facing schools in southeast Seattle, some have suggested that educating girls and boys separately may help fix our public schools, others say the concept simply reinforces outmoded gender stereotypes.What do you think?
From Newsweek:
If you thought charter schools and ending teacher tenure were controversial fixes for the American school system, see what happens you bring up the idea of educating boys and girls separately. With male academic achievement declining by almost every measure, and their scores possibly dragging down national averages, administrators are taking a fresh look at same-sex classrooms and the concept that boys and girls might do better when they’re apart. Why is it such a hot-button topic? Well, because it goes against 30 years of thinking, and smacks of “separate but equal” education.
The advocates of the single-sex approach are surprising, as are the foes. Among many liberal thinkers, gender segregation sounds like regressing to a time when girls were educated in finishing schools and had access to neither the number, nor caliber of schools available to boys. Plus, the notion that boys and girls learn differently—touted by some as the primary rational for gender separation—goes against one of feminism’s (at least the 1970s version) main messages. To say that there is something inherently different between boys and girls is, for many, tantamount to saying that women are the weaker sex.
For these reasons, Democratic politicians spent decades fighting vehemently against loosening legislation to allow public schools to offer same-sex classes. But in 2001, Sen. Hillary Clinton linked the issue to class—citing an unfairness in the fact that single-sex education is available as a choice only to those who can afford private-school tuition. Clinton, a graduate of all-women’s Wellesley College, joined forces with Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison to successfully bring about legislative change. Since then, the number of public schools offering same-sex classes has grown from 11 to 540—still a relatively small figure in the big picture, but a jump of more than 4,000 percent nonetheless. Read more.
Rainier Beach High School has faced numerous challenges over the years. Photo/do communications
A high-level source within the Department of Justice says the FBI is being asked to launch a civil rights investigation after video surfaced of Seattle police officers stomping on a young Latino man and one of them yelling racially charged comments at him.
The NAACP will also make an announcement Tuesday, in which it is expected to ask that the case be handled like a hate crime.
The video, shot April 17 near China Harbor Restaurant along Lake Union, shows the man lying on the ground, face down. Det. Shandy Cobane, standing over him, is heard yelling “I’m going to beat the f—ing Mexican piss out of you homey. You feel me?” Seconds later, he appears to stomp on the man’s arm or hand, possibly kicking the man in the head. Read more.
Two Cleveland students win awards for ‘Is Justice Blind?’ essay contest:
Two Cleveland High School students received first- and second-place awards for their entries in the “Is Justice Blind?” essay contest. Maraaunjanique Smallwood and Anise Leffall, students in the third-period U.S. history class of Teofilo Cadiente, won first and second prize respectively. The 500-word contest was sponsored by the Washington State Bar Associations’s Committee for Diversity. Pictured: Anise Leffall, left, and Maraaunjanique Smallwood, show their awards for the ‘Is Justice Blind?’ essay contest. Photo/Jazmine Calhoun
Franklin students produce video showcasing school:
Franklin High School students, with the help of school advisors, have compiled a video as part of the White House and the Department of Education’s Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge. At the beginning of the school year, President Obama encouraged students across the country to take responsibility for their education, study hard and graduate from high school. The contest encourages schools to show how they are making great strides on personal responsibility, academic excellence and college readiness. President Obama will visit the winning school and deliver the commencement address to the class of 2010. The ‘Awesome Worldwide Readers’ of Stevens Elementary School, left photo, and the ‘Readers of Time’ of Orca Elementary School are the 2010 City Final Champions.
Cleveland High School’s girls basketball team members celebrate their first-ever state basketball championship March 13 at Tacoma Dome:
Congratulations to Cleveland High School’s girls basketball team, which won the school’s first-ever state girls basketball championship March 13 by upsetting top-ranked Holy Names, 47-44, in the 3A final at the Tacoma Dome. The Eagles, which finished the season with a 22-7 record, were led by junior Cheyenne Wilson, the MVP of the tournament, who scored 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Calah Scott, a sophomore, scored 10 points and Shacolby Jenkins added eight points and six rebounds. In addition, the Seattle Times named second-year Cleveland Coach Stephanie Wheeler-Smith the All-State Girls Coach of the Year. The Seattle City Council is declaring April 5 “Cleveland High School Day” in recognition of the championship.
Aki Kurose holds fund-raiser to support arts at the school:
The Aki Kurose Middle School Academy on March 2 showed off its visual and performing art programs, along with visual arts displays and performances by drama, choir and band students. The fund-raiser was held at the Daniels Recital Hall (First United Methodist Church). The Aki Kurose Academy Community Arts Bash raised money to support arts at the school. Art teacher Scott Anstett, band teacher Michael Ayer and theater arts teacher Hannah Williams prepared their students for the evening.
South Lake High students get money wise:
South Lake High School’s entire student body and teaching staff, including the administrative team, counselor, and college/career center specialist, recently took three buses to Junior Achievement’s Budget Challenge in Auburn to learn how to live within a budget. Students entered the 6,600-square-foot business park, known as the JA Finance Park, that holds 18 local storefronts, including Quadrant Homes, Wells Fargo, Home Depot, Puget Sound Energy, as well as a car dealership and more businesses.
Every student was given their very own simulated life situation which included their age, marital status, income and some even had kids. Students created and maintained a budget based on their net monthly income and made appropriate financial decisions such as buying a house, a car, choosing a health insurance package, tracking investments and paying utilities.
South Lake High School students learned how to live within a budget at the Junior Achievement’s Budget Challenge in Auburn.
Van Asselt to get new playground: Volunteers from Van Asselt Elementary School, The Home Depot and KaBOOM! are joining forces to build a state-of-the-art playground on Thursday, November 19, 2009, at Van Asselt Elementary School. More than 200 volunteers will build a new playground in one day. Elements from students’ drawings were used to create playground blueprints and prepare for the construction of the playground.
South Shore K-8 kindergarten teacher receives education award: Huyen T. Lam, a kindergarten teacher at South Shore K-8, was selected as KCTS-9 TV’s “2009 Golden Apple Award” winner for making a positive difference for pre-K to Grade 12 students. Lam was included in a list of six other winners across the state. Her winner profile is posted on the KCTS-9 Web site. Each of this year’s winners will receive a “Golden Apple” statuette and $250. PEMCO Insurance will also award each Golden Apple recipient a $1,500 grant to use to support a classroom, school or educational program. The winners will be featured in a primetime broadcast on public television stations statewide in February 2010.
John Muir teacher selected Teacher of the Week: Emily Autrey, a teacher at John Muir Elementary, was selected last month as a Star 101.5 Teacher of the Week. The radio station awarded Autrey $100 and a plaque. Autrey was nominated by student Tatiyana Wilburn. Star 101.5 worked with Tatiyana’s grandmother and John Muir principal Awnie Thompson to keep it a secret until a team came in to surprise and recognize Autrey in her classroom. Students were dressed in pajamas for their Marble Jar Party Day.
U.S. Census director speaks with Maple Elementary students: Maple Elementary fifth-grade students in Marcia Ventura’s classroom spoke with Dr. Robert Groves, the U.S. Census Director, as part of his Census in Schools rollout. Groves included a story about the Maple Elementary students in his Director’s Blog. On October 29, the students interviewed Groves and learned how the Census will be counting the homeless population, a major goal for 2010. Also, students learned that the Census will be available in 59 languages.
Filipino association holds Back-to-School event at Cleveland: The Filipino American Educators of Washington (FAEW) held its annual Welcome Back-To-School event, called PISTA SA ISKWELA on September 26 at Cleveland High School. South Shore Principal Sherrie Encarnacion spoke about the L.A.P.I.S. program (Learn, Achieve, Plan, Inspire, Succeed.) Workshops were held that included tips for parent conferences, information on the new graduation requirements and assessments, post K-12 options, scholarships, what families can do at home to support their students.
Franklin HS Principal honored for distinguished work: The Washington Association of Secondary School Principals (WASSP) recognized Franklin High Principal Jennifer Wiley, Garfield High Principal Ted Howard, and West Seattle High Assistant Principal Anitra Pinchback-Jones, as the 2008-09 Distinguished League Principals and Assistant Prinicpal of the Year. Wiley and Pinchback-Jones were selected from the association’s Metro 3A league. Howard was selected from principals who are members from the association’s 4A football league. A recognition luncheon was held during the association’s October 19 conference at the Yakima Convention Center. WASSP is composed of high school principals and assistant principals from around Washington state.
The Upward Bound Program at the University of Washington recognized Cleveland and Franklin high school students Samuel Abera, Jazmine Calhoun, Michael Dugar, Emil Floresca, Sherese Hooper, Jia Jun Huang, Rayman Hui, Wilson Huynh, Akerei Iese, Annie Ng, Jade Pruitt, Sushen Tu, Cynthia Wanjiku, Hannah Wei, Christopher Williams, and Jessica Velasco who competed in the national 2009 TRIO Quest activities sponsored by the University of Washington.
The students won both gold and silver medals and the teams were semifinalists in the ThinkQuest TRIO activity. Students were required to work in teams of 3-6 to research information, write, design and collaboratively create educational Web sites. The sites of these students were chosen out of more than 100 Web sites created by more than 400 TRIO students across the country. Coffeewon a gold medal and Smokingwon a silver medal. Winners received digital cameras, medals and certificates. Read more.
After competing for weeks on America’s Best Dance Crew (ABDC) and making it within the top three, the reign of south-end break-dancing troupe Massive Monkees came to an end last night when the group lost to all-female crew “We Are Heroes” in the Decades Of Dance Battle.
The crew will return to the show next week to do a group performance with the rest of the ABDC competitors.
The Massive Monkees crew grew from members’ friendships as students at Franklin High School in Mt. Baker. Photo Courtesy of Massive Monkees
Last Sunday on America’s Best Dance Crew, the south-end group Massive Monkeys battled against Rhythm City dance team and won! The theme of the show was MTV Video Music Award dance craze challenge and their song was NSYNC”s “Tearin Up My Heart”. Massive Monkees are now in the top three, and will compete next week to move on to the championships.
Go here to see Massive Monkees on the last episode of America’s Best Dance Crew and look for next week’s episode to air this Sun., Sept. 20.
World-class B-boys and south-end dance group the Massive Monkeys has made it to the next round of America’s Best Dance Crew! From MTV:
Massive Monkees are bringing their massive resume from Seattle to the America’s Best Dance Crew stage. Two separate dance groups, Massive and Untouchable Style Monkeys, merged in 2000, forming the super group known as Massive Monkees.
This breakdancing crew is no stranger to competition; in 2004, they won first place in the BBoy World Championship 4-on-4 event in London and have appeared in many contests since then. They have also been featured on an episode of MTV’s MADE and have danced on stage with artists such as Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Public Enemy, Ludacris and 50 Cent, among others.
Although they have made quite an impact on the international dance world, they also continue to focus on their local community. They offer breakdancing workshops to Seattle’s youth and teach the kids to express themselves through dancing (the mayor of Seattle even named a holiday, “Massive Monkees Day,” in honor of this crew’s contributions).
Jerome thinks that experience, chemistry and unique style will be exactly what the Massive Monkees need to be America’s Best Dance Crew.
Go here to see Massive Monkees on the last episode of America’s Best Dance Crew and look for next week’s episode to air on Sun., Aug. 16.
Massive Monkees:
Brysen Angeles
JD Rainey
Jerome Aparis
Marcus Garrison
Timothy Soriano
Samnith Ly
Weenta Benyam-Stephanos (right with Seattle City Councilman Bruce Harrell) is a 16-year old junior at Franklin High School in Mt. Baker. She atended this week’s Youth Violence Prevention Summit at Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club where she presented the following poem:
Tick, Tick… Tock
Tick tock gun shot
The time passes by will he live or will he die
Tick tock gun shot
Homies are gone what to do
Now who’s gonna stick up for you
“It’s all good in the hood”
no, it’s not good; getting shot with an AK
No that ain’t good
Getting shot in your own hood
Numerous shots enter your body, from an SK or is it an AK
They use them in the war
The one that should have never happened
Who supplied weapons for both
Once again a mother is left crying from a fallen soldier
On both sides
You two are not that different
Fighting for causes
Good or bad who knows
Tick tock gun shot…
The Office of the Historian of the U.S. House of Representatives has announced that Ronald Hailey, a teacher from Franklin High School in Mt. Baker, has been selected as a 2009 House Fellow.
Hailey, who is from Rep. Jim McDermott’s congressional district, was one of 24 teachers selected as part of a highly competitive process to participate in two one-week intensive programs on the history and practices of the House. Hailey will attend the 2009 program session held between July 27 and 31, experiencing the House first-hand, then return to school in the fall to share their insights with their students, fellow teachers, and administrators.
Established in 2006, the House Fellows Program brings together secondary education teachers of American history and government for a week-long intensive institute on the history and practice of the House of Representatives. Each component of the House Fellows Program is designed to help educators improve their knowledge and understanding of the “People’s House.” Nineteen teachers from around the country participated in the 2008 program’s two sessions.
For the last 10 years, they’ve been contorting, flipping, turning, hands supporting.
Seattle break-dancing troupe Massive Monkees celebrates its anniversary with a party and dancing competition at evo Saturday night.
“Our goal is to maintain us, our relationship, our crew and our integrity,” said member Brysen Angeles, 28.
There are 25 Monkees, with the majority living in Seattle but also in England, Egypt and Michigan. The crew grew from members’ friendships as students at Franklin High School; they range in age from 24 to 35. Many live together and dance full time; others work in a variety of jobs, including karate sensei, graphic designer, photographer, lacrosse coach and Army Ranger. Read more.
The Massive Monkees crew grew from members’ friendships as students at Franklin High School in Mt. Baker. Photo Courtesy of Massive Monkees
KOMO reported last night that police are investigating the attempted rape of a student at Franklin High School in Mount Baker: According to police documents, a 15-year-old girl was walking with another girl in the hallway after her lunch hour on Tuesday when a 16-year-old boy grabbed her by the wrist and forced her into [...]
After competing for weeks on America’s Best Dance Crew (ABDC) and making it within the top three, the reign of south-end break-dancing troupe Massive Monkees came to an end last night when the group lost to all-female crew “We Are Heroes” in the Decades Of Dance Battle.
