Comments on: Publishers vs. librarians: PPS chooses publishers http://ppsequity.org/2008/05/15/publishers-vs-librarians-pps-chooses-publishers/ Covering the beat of Portland Public Schools Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Steve Rawley http://ppsequity.org/2008/05/15/publishers-vs-librarians-pps-chooses-publishers/comment-page-1/#comment-1669 Steve Rawley Wed, 21 May 2008 16:29:22 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=98#comment-1669 Thanks, "Juande." I can't argue with exposing our middle schoolers to Howard Zinn, and I didn't argue specifically against the merits of the materials chosen. (But I do question buying "canned" kits vs. developing curriculum and materials in house. The district seems to have split the difference by augmenting with Zinn, which is better than nothing.) My argument was about priorities and timing. As far as crises for our middle school students, going without age-appropriate libraries, restroom facilities, or computer labs because of poor district planning two years ago trumps a 20-year lack of new text books. Thanks, “Juande.”

I can’t argue with exposing our middle schoolers to Howard Zinn, and I didn’t argue specifically against the merits of the materials chosen. (But I do question buying “canned” kits vs. developing curriculum and materials in house. The district seems to have split the difference by augmenting with Zinn, which is better than nothing.)

My argument was about priorities and timing. As far as crises for our middle school students, going without age-appropriate libraries, restroom facilities, or computer labs because of poor district planning two years ago trumps a 20-year lack of new text books.

]]> By: Juande Ramos http://ppsequity.org/2008/05/15/publishers-vs-librarians-pps-chooses-publishers/comment-page-1/#comment-1662 Juande Ramos Wed, 21 May 2008 07:24:11 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=98#comment-1662 Publisher of series of middle school social studies books is based in California http://www.teachtci.com/prodev/compBackground.aspx plus Howard Zinn http://books.google.com/books?id=tf6GAAAACAAJ&dq=young+peoples+history+zinn&lr=&source=gbs_book_other_versions_r&cad=1_2 Publisher of series of middle school social studies books is based in California http://www.teachtci.com/prodev/compBackground.aspx

plus Howard Zinn

http://books.google.com/books?.....mp;cad=1_2

]]> By: Clyde Tolson http://ppsequity.org/2008/05/15/publishers-vs-librarians-pps-chooses-publishers/comment-page-1/#comment-1644 Clyde Tolson Tue, 20 May 2008 19:55:55 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=98#comment-1644 The principal at Mt. Tabor has closed the library and turned it into a DIY thing, while the teachers there request an "Extreme Principal Makeover." The principal at Mt. Tabor has closed the library and turned it into a DIY thing, while the teachers there request an “Extreme Principal Makeover.”

]]> By: Zarwen http://ppsequity.org/2008/05/15/publishers-vs-librarians-pps-chooses-publishers/comment-page-1/#comment-1619 Zarwen Sun, 18 May 2008 20:44:32 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=98#comment-1619 Just curious: is the publisher located in Texas? It seems to me like PPS has been ordering a lot of materials from Texas ever since Mincberg came to town. Why the hell is she still here??? Just curious: is the publisher located in Texas? It seems to me like PPS has been ordering a lot of materials from Texas ever since Mincberg came to town. Why the hell is she still here???

]]> By: Steve Buel http://ppsequity.org/2008/05/15/publishers-vs-librarians-pps-chooses-publishers/comment-page-1/#comment-1581 Steve Buel Thu, 15 May 2008 20:46:27 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=98#comment-1581 Wow, you and Peter and Nicole are right on it. I also believe that having the availability of standardized material is a positive thing. But the lack of library materials, staffing, etc. is an incredible sorespot in the district. I guess if you look at certain schools they have library budgets and staffing. The middle school problems have been my baby for years and we are making almost no progresss in those lower income neighborhood middle schools (now middle grades). Of course, since certain neighborhoods aren't nearly as bad off we don't really have to consider it a crisis. Kudos to you all for fine presentations. Keep up the good work. Wow, you and Peter and Nicole are right on it. I also believe that having the availability of standardized material is a positive thing. But the lack of library materials, staffing, etc. is an incredible sorespot in the district. I guess if you look at certain schools they have library budgets and staffing. The middle school problems have been my baby for years and we are making almost no progresss in those lower income neighborhood middle schools (now middle grades). Of course, since certain neighborhoods aren’t nearly as bad off we don’t really have to consider it a crisis. Kudos to you all for fine presentations. Keep up the good work.

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