Christmas stories are a tradition in many families.
You hear of folks talk about watching Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” every year.
These days, in some school districts both teachers and administrators are being evaluated to some extent based on student performance on standardized tests, and their jobs may depend on how well their students perform. Back in the day, with less diversity, there would have been only a few problems using students’ scores on standardized tests as a significant part of a teachers’ evaluation. However, in some areas student populations have dramatically changed in a variety of ways.
In the Nov. 11 edition of the Kent Reporter, Charles Hoff wrote a commentary on the need for community involvement in our schools. As a Kent School Board member, former teacher, college professor and longtime community supporter, I couldn’t agree more. Research and common sense is very clear - the more the adults of a community get involved in our schools, the better our kids’ chances will be for informed, prepared, prosperous, healthy, happy and impactful lives.
Graduating from high school is one of those achievements every person is able to accomplish once in a life time.
I like to watch movies. I grew up watching movies with my grandma and I knew all the stars from the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s by the time I was 10.
My column this week was going to be about a political issue until I noticed the date Wednesday morning.
My calendar lists Dec. 7 as “Remember Pearl Harbor” day.
Frank Shiers, Jr. editorial cartoon of the week.
On Sept. 21, I participated in a rally at Occupy Seattle.
I did so to support the movement and specifically in protest of our country’s over-reliance on a carbon-based economy and the mega corporations that profit extravagantly from its continuance to the detriment of our environment.
The 2011 political season is one I will not soon forget.
It ranks up there as one of the most interesting I have been involved in for several years.
We don’t really have a budget problem – we have a jobs problem.
When the economy was good, the budget was fine. So the question is this: How can we balance the budget while creating jobs?
If you haven’t started your holiday shopping, you might want to hold on to your wallet. Gov. Chris Gregoire wants the state to dig deeper into your pocket to help bail-out the state budget.
I started thinking about food today, probably because of Thanksgiving — the great American food day of the year.
I could be a great critic of school systems, especially in the light of all the battles we have fought during the past 20 years to dismantle the structures in the system that foster disproportionality and a number of disparities affecting impoverished students of all colors. However, educators are not the only ones responsible for educating students in a given community.
A political cartoon from the desk of Frank Shiers, Jr.
This past week the National Assessment of Educational Progress put out its annual report on the achievement levels of fourth and eighth graders in this nation. This assessment is done by taking a random sample of students from each state; local school districts have been involved in the past, comparing them to previous year’s achievement.
Washington, like nearly every other state in the country, is still feeling the economic drag that’s resulted from the worst recession our nation has seen since the 1930’s. Heading into the 2011 session last January, the legislature faced a $5.1 billion budget hole for 2011-13 biennium. Before we adjourned, we passed a bipartisan budget that not only filled that gap but also spent nearly $750 million less that the experts predicted we would collect in revenue during the next two years.
Frank Shiers occupy political cartoon published in the Oct. 21 edition.
The 2011 Legislative session was the hardest for me and for most lawmakers, even those who have been serving for many years. As we prepare for another round of heart wrenching budget decisions, I want to stop and share some good news that came out of my work from last session
This is an unusual column for me.
It is a political and personal story about a candidate that goes to the core of American politics and far beyond.
Following the Tahoma and Kent school district cross country teams has been a great experience for me.
I ran cross country all four years at Sammamish High School, so it is fun for me to write about it, having once shared their perspective.
