March 7, 2008
by Steve Rawley
(Forwarded by Lakeitha, a little joke that’s floating around the Web, origin unknown.)
The basketball version of what is going on in education right now.
- All teams must make the state playoffs and all MUST win the championship. If a team does not win the championship, they will be on probation until they are the champions, and coaches will be held accountable. If after two years they have not won the championship their basketballs and equipment will be taken away UNTIL they do win the championship.
- All kids will be expected to have the same basketball skills at the same time, even if they do not have the same conditions or opportunities to practice on their own. NO exceptions will be made for lack of interest in basketball, a desire to perform athletically, or genetic abilities or disabilities of themselves or their parents. ALL KIDS WILL PLAY BASKETBALL AT A PROFICIENT LEVEL!
- Talented players will be asked to workout on their own, without instruction. This is because the coaches will be using all their instructional time with the athletes who aren’t interested in basketball, have limited athletic ability or whose parents don’t like basketball!
- Games will be played year round, but statistics will only be kept in the 4th, 8th, and 11th games. This will create a New Age of Sports where every school is expected to have the same level of talent and all teams will reach the same minimum goals. If no child gets ahead, then no child gets left behind. If parents do not like this new law, they are encouraged to vote for vouchers and support private schools that can screen out the non-athletes and prevent their children from having to go to school with bad basketball players.
Steve Rawley published PPS Equity from 2008 to 2010, when he moved his family out of the district.
8 Comments
March 6, 2008
by Steve Rawley
The PPS Equity Portland election coverage continues, with Commissioner #2 candidate Ed Garren’s response to our questionnaire. Ed talks about the city, the school district, organized labor and the business community collaborating to gain efficiency, among other things.
We now have responses from Garren, Commissioner #1 candidate Chris Smith, and Commissioner #4 candidates Randy Leonard and Martha Perez. Comments are open on all of these pages.
Steve Rawley published PPS Equity from 2008 to 2010, when he moved his family out of the district.
Comments Off on Election ’08 — Ed Garren
March 3, 2008
by Steve Rawley
Tonight – Tuesday, March 4 – any time from 5:00 p.m. to closing:
Please Come To the “Jefferson High School Family and Friends Night” at McMenamin’s Chapel Pub, 430 N. Killingsworth Street. Treat yourself and help our graduating Jefferson seniors.
McMenamin’s is generously donating 50% of the evening’s sales to the Jefferson PTSA to help fund the Jefferson Senior Class Trip. Mention to your server that you’re there to support Jefferson.
Steve Rawley published PPS Equity from 2008 to 2010, when he moved his family out of the district.
2 Comments
March 3, 2008
by Steve Rawley
PPS parent and graduate Martha Perez is challenging for incumbent Randy Leonard’s council seat #4.
Comments are open on her page.
Steve Rawley published PPS Equity from 2008 to 2010, when he moved his family out of the district.
Comments Off on Election ’08 — Martha Perez
March 2, 2008
by Steve Rawley
Chris Smith is the first candidate for council seat #1 to return his PPS Equity questionnaire, with some words about school choice, disinvestment and strong neighborhood schools, as well as the relationship between the city and its school districts.
Comments are open on Smith’s page, so feel free to weigh in!
Steve Rawley published PPS Equity from 2008 to 2010, when he moved his family out of the district.
Comments Off on Election ’08 — Chris Smith
March 1, 2008
by Steve Rawley
Yesterday, I sent out a questionnaire to all candidates for city council and mayor. Randy Leonard, the only incumbent in the race, responded right away.
Despite being a virtual shoe-in, Leonard took the time to provide thoughtful and even provocative responses. I encourage you to participate in the discussion on the candidates responses (comments will be open on their own pages), and help shape the city-wide debate going into the May 20 election.
Steve Rawley published PPS Equity from 2008 to 2010, when he moved his family out of the district.
Comments Off on Randy Leonard Kicks Off the PPS Equity Election ’08 Coverage
March 1, 2008
by Steve Rawley
You won’t hear me say that very often, but with Friday’s editorial, “Firing up the bulldozers”, the Oregonian’s editorial board correctly questions whether Portland Public Schools should “reverse course on any recent program changes to avoid costly fixes or unnecessary facilities upgrades.”
The O cites the hasty reconfiguration started by “Hurricane” Vicki Phillips, the inadequacy of many former elementary school buildings to handle K-8 schools, and the temporary housing of eighth graders at Madison High as reasons to rethink things before committing to radical, long-lasting and expensive physical plant changes.
Most surprisingly, the O acknowledges “anecdotal enthusiasm among the stroller set,” which augurs an end to declining enrollment in the district, as long as we can keep our “schools attractive enough for families to stay.” This is the demographic change that those of us with young children in the district are keenly aware of, but is not accounted for by the PSU demographic studies PPS depends on.
We may finally be seeing baby steps in the right direction from Portland’s elites on public school policy. I’ve been asking for a few weeks now for the district to state the reason for continuing with Phillips’ K-8 conversion. I appreciate that the Oregonian editorial board is asking the same question.
Steve Rawley published PPS Equity from 2008 to 2010, when he moved his family out of the district.
Comments Off on On the Same Page with the Oregonian
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