tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post4479857600554204098..comments2024-02-28T22:24:07.299-08:00Comments on Community Forum for HCC (APP) in Seattle Schools: Garfield 9th Grade Honors Classes getting CutAndrew Siegelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06830585083467140758noreply@blogger.comBlogger203125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-60800695614291380422016-07-05T09:16:55.260-07:002016-07-05T09:16:55.260-07:00I'm closing this off due to the high number of...I'm closing this off due to the high number of comments.<br /><br />You can continue discussing here:<br />http://discussapp.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-number-of-comments-has-grown-to-be.htmlBenjamin Leishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10974191081762367425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-843557824703104732016-07-04T21:53:51.990-07:002016-07-04T21:53:51.990-07:00This discussion is revealing. The elimination of h...This discussion is revealing. The elimination of honors classes at Garfield isn't being done to help kids learn, it's being done to attack innocent HCC kids who are, through no fault of their own, being told that they are the root of the problems other kids have. Those who defend this proposal aren't talking about underachieving kids, because they don't actually care about them and because this isn't about them. Neither is this about student learning, as neither the teachers nor the parents supporting this idea have been able to explain how different learning levels will be accommodated - it's not even an afterthought. It literally doesn't matter to them. <br /><br />There is no objection to this proposal that is deemed legitimate, because its defenders dismiss any criticism as coming from a place of racist privilege. Parents are now no longer allowed to advocate for their children's needs and if they do, they'll be gaslit as fragile or as hostile.<br /><br />This proposal will be deemed successful as long as it blends all kids in one class. Even if advanced kids and underachieving kids don't have their learning needs met, it won't matter, because their teachers are saying that those needs don't count and are not relevant. That's a pretty horrifying development and one that should scare every parent in SPS - especially parents of color, who are being told that their kids should be denied the advanced classes they'll need to get into college.<br /><br />MadnessAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-22623837454113955232016-07-04T19:00:18.578-07:002016-07-04T19:00:18.578-07:00I know you are irritated with us, Maureen, but I t...I know you are irritated with us, Maureen, but I think it is reasonable to ask if the student had ever been in an HCC class or not when the family is making judgements about whether gen ed (or honors in name only) will be sufficient for the following year. I don't think it is necessarily accusing. HC is just a little vague- is s/he saying s/he is excited about a broader range of students than the student had access to in middle school or is s/he saying his/her student has been fine in gen ed all this time, and she was too in high school, so be quiet, it's fine.<br /><br />Different points.<br /><br />Personally I am still digesting that this is supposed to be fine because if the students are so gifted they should seek learning outside, go "deeper" elsewhere. Would we expect that of gen ed or special ed students? Wouldn't we just expect the class to give them what they need? Or at least purport to? <br /><br />-sleeperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-11403998985280509422016-07-04T18:43:13.971-07:002016-07-04T18:43:13.971-07:00Um, ok. Whatever. A distinction without a differ...Um, ok. Whatever. A distinction without a difference. (Unlike AP vs. APP.)<br /><br />Because HC students belong to the HCC. If not, they are merely hc (or smart, brilliant, gifted, intellectually advanced... something, in other words, without a label with initial caps.)Maureennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-38871835329421857302016-07-04T16:50:28.151-07:002016-07-04T16:50:28.151-07:00Why does Ballard have honors LA and History for 9t...Why does Ballard have honors LA and History for 9th grade? I heard they moved from honors option to separate honors classes in those two subjects just a couple years ago.<br /><br />What gives?Twananoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-2562700616575710902016-07-04T14:19:45.012-07:002016-07-04T14:19:45.012-07:00HC - Highly Capable (a student)
HCC - Highly Capab...HC - Highly Capable (a student)<br />HCC - Highly Capable Cohort (a group of HC students in a HC pathway school)<br /><br />ABCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-34666094214538171942016-07-04T14:01:53.446-07:002016-07-04T14:01:53.446-07:00??
What is the difference? ??<br /><br />What is the difference? Maureennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-1817739979467102212016-07-04T13:39:33.471-07:002016-07-04T13:39:33.471-07:00Incoming-
The other question would be if you mean...Incoming-<br /><br />The other question would be if you mean HC or HCC - they are different.<br /><br />-??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-81024569343848782442016-07-04T12:14:48.842-07:002016-07-04T12:14:48.842-07:00@ Incoming, what was your HC child's middle sc...@ Incoming, what was your HC child's middle school experience like? Were they in HCC, a neighborhood school, or elsewhere? How was the level of challenge?<br /><br />ex-HCCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-40369301565881152362016-07-04T09:16:55.335-07:002016-07-04T09:16:55.335-07:00There are many bright, high achieving non-HCC stud...There are many bright, high achieving non-HCC students at Garfield. My child has obviously taken classes with them as there are no HCC-only classes. My child has also taken electives with students who talk loudly about what they plan to shoplift to get money for the weekend's pot purchase, who were removed from class for stealing the teacher's wallet, who curled up and slept on the floor during class, and who were loud and disruptive and made learning impossible.<br /><br />The majority of students in blended classrooms won't behave like this but if three or four do, your child won't be engaged or learning or happy. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-82744021721491947252016-07-04T09:06:56.100-07:002016-07-04T09:06:56.100-07:00Anonymous at 8:46 am -
What a disparaging and cru...Anonymous at 8:46 am - <br />What a disparaging and cruel comment. Do you know this for a fact? Has your child attended classes with non-HCC kids? I can assure you that there are many non-HCC students at GHS just as committed to learning and excelling as yours. - Capitol Hill ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-26272106642752564692016-07-04T08:46:08.246-07:002016-07-04T08:46:08.246-07:00I'm not sure that's very meaningful coming...I'm not sure that's very meaningful coming from someone with no experience at Garfield. Where and when did you go to high school? Did you have high school classmates who couldn't read? <br /><br />Your child's English and history teachers will be focused on behavior management and on engaging students who are not interested in learning. They'll be doing less reading and writing than they did in middle school and the assigned reading will by necessity be much less complex. I expect they'll be reading aloud in class - a common tactic for teachers whose students won't read outside of class. <br /><br />How long has it been since your child took a general education class in a core academic subject?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-52587154596066765802016-07-04T08:03:17.637-07:002016-07-04T08:03:17.637-07:00FWIW I've got an HC student headed to Garfield...FWIW I've got an HC student headed to Garfield and am not upset about this change. He will have plenty to learn. As an HC student myself in high school most of my classes had a broad range of student profiles. In fact, the 2 classes that most-impacted me and made me reach academically were not honors or AP level. I think our kids are going to be fine and challenged if they wish to be.<br /><br />IncomingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-56861510438912748582016-07-04T00:26:03.675-07:002016-07-04T00:26:03.675-07:00Experiment? This is no temporary change.
I read t...Experiment? This is no temporary change.<br /><br />I read the article too and wondered about our students who aren't the conveniently organized and self-directed paragons of responsiblity many teachers expect them to be. Are their needs considered in these secret plans? Don't get me wrong, my kid is still passionate about learning - just not necessarily for independent literary analysis. No, I remain convinced that teachers are obligated to instruct our students too - and to plan engaging, meaningful activities for them. That's what they're paid to do.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-29542996052775252852016-07-03T23:57:50.388-07:002016-07-03T23:57:50.388-07:00I'm sorry, I was typing quickly earlier and di...I'm sorry, I was typing quickly earlier and did not mean to insult any group of students. By underachieving I meant that there are certain cross segments of students as defined by demographic data whose majority tend not to meet grade level standards as defined by state expectations of mastery or by national testing. (For what either of those is worth, which I sometimes think is not much.) I certainly did not mean any single individual in those groups does not achieve, nor that classroom achievement is not attainable, nor that achievement outside the classroom is not possible and important.<br /><br />I also hope I haven't steered the discussion down a rabbit hole. The greater idea was that I thought the article reflected many educators' belief that highly capable students can and do have the material and the ability to go deep and or broad in classes that also contain students working on meeting, vs. surpassing, standards. I believe this is the belief of at least some of the Garfield staff. I imagine it is also the majority viewpoint of the district's upper management. Extrapolating, I do not think we HCC parents are going to get very far in the coming months trying to change Principal Howard's experiment for the coming year's freshmen. <br /><br />Thank you tinker for reading the article and for your comments.<br /><br />One parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-85260922469763950692016-07-03T23:32:08.588-07:002016-07-03T23:32:08.588-07:00One parent. Thanks for the article reference. My t...One parent. Thanks for the article reference. My take away is this Walla Walla student found a much deeper appreciation for learning and learned much more when she took ownership and responsibility of her learning. It didn't mean her teacher and curriculum weren't relevant. But her effort and the sense that SHE controls her learning is the key to her success. She became far more self reliant and confident for it. It's a maturity process. Learning by doing, by teaching oneself, by inquiring, by investigating, by throwing in and living it-- that is possible to do at any age, anywhere, anyplace, anytime. At some point in HS, it's healthy for teens to develop this awareness. <br /><br />Kudos to her - she'll do well at university and in life. I'm trying to impress my own fledgling who'll be leaving the nest soon of this same lesson. Take control. Be more independent. Look inward for self direction instead of always expecting to be given step by step instruction/ direction to follow. Create your own roadmap and how to get there.<br /><br />tinker<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-74639249093973787782016-07-03T22:12:44.363-07:002016-07-03T22:12:44.363-07:00What a strange tradition, achieving nothing. I too...What a strange tradition, achieving nothing. I too wonder what segments of the population are being referenced.<br /><br />watsonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-82236589567145710992016-07-03T21:46:08.564-07:002016-07-03T21:46:08.564-07:00Michael Christophersen - go cause trouble somewher...Michael Christophersen - go cause trouble somewhere else. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-48098753716016325792016-07-03T21:41:44.481-07:002016-07-03T21:41:44.481-07:00You know, everyone not in HCC....non-achieving. Wh...You know, everyone not in HCC....non-achieving. What?? <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-2942341127852760412016-07-03T21:03:43.876-07:002016-07-03T21:03:43.876-07:00"traditionally non-achieving segments of the ..."traditionally non-achieving segments of the population"<br /><br />Meaning...?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-71506472223402401852016-07-03T20:50:25.765-07:002016-07-03T20:50:25.765-07:00If we lose this fight and the district forces 9th ...If we lose this fight and the district forces 9th grade HCC families to seek outside supplementation for instruction in Language Arts and History that they fail to provide, can anyone share good resources for tutoring, outside classes, and the like?<br /><br />Here's one option posted on Save Seattle Schools: <br />How convenient that the UW Robinson Center is starting online classes:<br /><br />https://robinsoncenter.uw.edu/programs/online-courses/What Next?noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-4661712726243741372016-07-03T19:40:10.734-07:002016-07-03T19:40:10.734-07:00I think a good number of us would have thought twi...I think a good number of us would have thought twice about enrolling our kids at Garfield if we had know about this before Open Enrollment. It's not fair to make this change now.Thinking Twicenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-26418898537264383662016-07-03T18:31:52.218-07:002016-07-03T18:31:52.218-07:00Anyone read this student essay in The Seattle Time...Anyone read <a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/student-voices-i-asked-my-teachers-why-i-didnt-feel-challenged-in-my-classes-and-their-answers-surprised-me/" rel="nofollow">this student essay in The Seattle Times</a> a few days ago? It is by a student who went to her teachers saying the class was too easy for her. The teacher told her that wasn't the case. That there are ways for individuals in any class to go deeper or broader. <br /><br />This, I believe, is the mindset of the Garfield staff, and the majority of staff in this district and beyond. They do not believe a self-contained classroom is necessary to challenge the vast majority of students, even if they are working at different levels. (I suppose child prodigy examples are not part of this thinking.) The idea that HC students can have their needs met at the same time that traditionally non-achieving segments of the population are given a stronger and higher bar is appealing. Especially when there is little money to try other solutions.<br /><br />I note in the article the onus is on the student, not on the teacher, to provide the "differentiation" she found she needed. However, she did find it. I am not trying to argue this perspective, just supply the thinking of many professional educators, especially those in a building that seems particularly attuned to the ideals of social justice.<br /><br />One parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-90287533303260669822016-07-03T17:31:51.725-07:002016-07-03T17:31:51.725-07:00sorry hippy that should have read
silly hippy, t...sorry hippy that should have read<br /><br /> silly hippy, they are told they are good enough for gen ed, but that's all?<br /><br /><br />bsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-19278583718987404352016-07-03T17:27:32.791-07:002016-07-03T17:27:32.791-07:00BS,
the gened kids don't know there are honors...BS,<br />the gened kids don't know there are honors classes and HC kids at Garfield?<br />How do they keep it secret?<br /><br />HippyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com