A Leader for the Children of Seattle

There was a time when schools were primarily about children, now we are faced with public school systems across America that are primarily places of employment for adults. They have evolved from learning centers to employment centers. It is much easier for a an adult to derail the successful school career of a child than it is to derail the career of a school employee.

This is wrong and we need a change. 

Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Education (CE3)

Is a gathering of African American and Africans focused right now on Seattle Schools hiring a Superintendent that is capable of leading Washington's largest school district. The past 25 years has been terrible for the well being of African American students as scholars.  Policies, funding, curriculum, and methodology have worked against poor, brown and black children for too long. They need a champion, a Superintendent who will change the status quo of adult focused education and put the focus where it belongs, back on the children. 

We are pleased to have three African Americans positioned on the Seattle Superintendent Search Committee; Mona Bailey,  Kevin Washington and Wanda Hackett as an alternate.  All are connected to our community Kevin is Education Chair for Tabor 100, and Mona retired from Seattle Schools as Deputy Superintendent and is a Past National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Wanda is Education Co-Chair for Seattle/King County Black Child Development Institute. All have shared in establishing the characteristics that we see as good for our children. We thank them for volunteering their knowledge, skill, and experience for the good of our children.

Teams of CE3  participants are meeting with School Directors to assure that they understand the importance of a School Superintendent who can bring equity and excellence to African American students. African American and African students make up the largest non white student population in Seattle schools (19.2%) So far we have met with Betty Patu, Susan Carr, Marty McLaren and Sharon Peaslee to brief them on what we think is important in a superintendent who can bring equity and excellence to a student population that is diverse. We have a focused and special interest in one who has elevated the education for African Americans and African, or a non white, non privileged population of students left to linger at the bottom of the achievement ladder. There are clear differences between them and we think we have found a few  School Directors who are clear in their thinking about closing the achievement gap that places African American and African students at the bottom of outcomes. 

The Issue of Literacy

I have attached one outcome measure that I would like all African Americans and Africans in Seattle to know and see as an opportunity for community to make a difference. 

You might have heard that if a child can not read at grade level by 4th grade their chances of entering the juvenile justice and subsequently the adult corrections systems are increased. The longer they go without adequate literacy the the chances are greater. So If you will take a look at this outcome measure for Seattle's African American students you will see that 47% or 282 of African American 3rd graders are not reading at grade level. of these 120 are well below grade level. The amount of funding directed at getting children to standard is quite significant. 

What if the African American community received these funds for enriched learning that is being given to those outside of our community?  I believe that as a community we could teach 282  8 and 9 year olds how to read and read well. Also how to add, multiply an divide.  Of our We Can. More about an idea for this is in my next blog. 

Report on Charter School Site Visit

Report back to the Community on Charter Site Visit to Los Angeles

On Jan 17, 18 and 19 I visited Los Angeles with a team assembled by Partnerships for Learning. 

WA State Rep. Eric Pettigrew (D-37th)  has sponsored legislation that would allow communities to be engaged in creative teaching that has the potential to bring about better outcomes for poor, brown and black children. Public Charter Schools are funded by public education funds. They exist primarily to bring excellence to the education of children living in urban areas the success of these schools require curriculum and methodologies geared to to elevated learning outcomes more hours on task of teaching and learning, data driven adjustments and the engagement of parents makes public charters successful. 


Los Angeles is not Seattle, so it is difficult to compare what is possible there and what is needed here. I have spent considerable time in Seattle school rooms located in SE Seattle. I have seen the best of teaching and some that is lacking. Of all the things that struck me as needed in our traditional schools is:


1. Consistency in excellent instruction
2. Data driven decisions for educating a diverse student body
3. A stated and highly publicized message that the purpose of educating is to prepare all students to meet the requirements and possess the ability to enroll in and complete a four year college education. (Even if they chose not to.)  


Students know that the career of their teachers is linked to their school success and this links them as a team. Nice!


Green Dot Locke High School is a converted from one of the lowest performing in LA Unified School District and created into 7 academies. This is a NY Times Article  about Locke a school that was a prototype of LA school violence,  a safe haven for ineffective teaching to one that is now almost violence free and filled with students who know they are learning for the purpose of going on to college. One young lady in the AP Calculus class said prior to her enrollment in this school, she did not know the existence of college entrance exams such as ACT, PSAT, SAT, she did not know there were such courses as Advanced Placement. No one had ever told they were not part of discussions with her peers. Now she is doing well in AP Calculus and like the other 20 students in the class she knows with an assuredness she is going to do well on her college entrance exams, her AP exams and attend UCLA and graduate.  Nice!  If you read the article about the cost be sure to read the closing paragraph. Is it worth spending two times the average cost to turn around a school that has created blight for an entire neighborhood? I say yes, the people deserve to be rewarded for years of failure dumped upon them by an non caring ineffective drop out factory. 


We visited the highly touted Knowledge is Power (KIPP) charter it was not my favorite, and I am not sure why. There was a stated formula for learning and applying data to what is taught and how it is taught. The students and teachers seemed less relaxed than the other three we visited. Can not quite put my finger on what it was. 


I really liked Aspire College Prep Academy it was much more relaxed and learning seemed more natural, like it was really part of the DNA of the teachers and students. There was a healthy and informed conversation with Dr. Roberta Benjamin, the LA Area Administrator. She and the Ms. Jennifer Garcia the Principal were comfortable in discussing the differences in learning and teaching to Latino and African American students. They knew the differences and were comfortable in the conversation.  Very Nice!


LA Charters do not reflect the kinds of diversity that we have in SE Seattle and Hilltop Tacoma Schools.  I especially wanted to visit a 2nd grade classroom because my reference to Seattle Schools is through curriculum and methods in the primary grades.  I could not perceive a major difference in the curriculum for reading and language arts, or the methods.  The charters we visited were pretty much one race schools, with more than 97% Latino. South Shore K-8 school in SE Seattle has several races and cultures to educate. As a traditional public school is doing as well or better than those visited in Los Angeles. I believe if they became an innovative campus they would perform better than the charters visited.


Yet we have schools in SE Seattle that would benefit from a conversion to a fully funded public charter school an innovative school with creative leadership and teaching team.   


Unlike the schools visited in LA with large majority Latino students,  SE Seattle has major diversity of non white students. Black, Latino and Asian Pacific Island immigrant and refugee populations learn together in one school. Not so easy to teach to this kind of diversity unless you see all the children worthy of an excellent education and differences are integrated into creative teaching. Mercer Middle School and  South Shore K-8 are proving this can be done in our current environment. Very Nice!


All communities must be engaged in the conversation if we are to have charter schools, innovative schools or what ever brings about the kind of radical changes we need to bring equity.  


Synergy Charter School is a co-located school that brings together Latino and African American students at the elementary level. It was started by two former traditional school teachers. This school was started by a husband and wife teacher team and grew out from within an engaged community. 


There are several articles written by anti-charter school thinkers that point to cherry picking for admission. Each of the four distinct public charter schools visited showed us their applications and spoke of their admission policies were to admit all who applied with the capacity of their school. There was no place on the application that would distinguish academic ability.  I was not sure why there were so few African Americans enrolled in these areas that have large African American populations; Compton, South Central L.A.   tWe were assure that every child had to be accepted including special education students had to be provided for.  


The students at Locke said they did experience many suspensions.  At Aspire, we were shown a Reflection Center where students having a bad time in a classroom was sent to another classroom to sit at the Reflection Center where they could write out their feelings, look at pictures or just sit and reflect.  


The Schools had panels of students,  eager and well able to answer our questions with enthusiasm and candor.  In general the students presented themselves as self assured, confident and they knew education was their road to a four year degree. 


WEA will not support Charter schools for Washington, and the Democrats are not going to support what WEA does not want. 


Poor, Brown and Black students are much more school dependent learners than their white and privileged peer group. They need longer school days and a longer school year. They need consistency without the intermittent short weeks, and half days that the SEA has built into the school year.  They need a teacher union that allows its members to experience the creativity and joy of educating the students they want badly to prove they can teach. Charter Schools in L.A. can form a collective bargaining unit with 51% of teachers in a school voting for this.  Green Dot was a union school (Charters teachers have formed their own union.)   SEA teacher union has historically been successful in blocking what is needed to move our schools to higher ground for non white, non middle class children.  No to charter schools. No to Teach for America. No to outcome based evaluations that does not encumber huge amounts of time taken away from a principal's ability to support the entire school.


No, no no!  Organized labor with such a high disregard for their members need and desire for pride of product is unusual.  Teacher support consistency in learning for their students. An effective teacher has great angst about sending their children they have elevated to a teacher they know will create a loss of ground for the very same student.  

The Teamsters, Autoworkers and Machinists are tough unions yet, planes are not falling out of the sky on a regular basis, an improperly made car is recalled and fixed, and a driver who has any accident,  is automatically taken from behind the wheel and grieves their way back into the cab.  Imagine the education of every child being as important as the safety of every car, plane or truck on the road.   What if not being able to teach to each child in your class was an automatic with a need for a negotiated return to this place of trust. What if the state provided  a pay rate that would support high levels of teaching and classroom management? That would be very nice!

The SE Seattle Community is well engaged with many initiatives to make our schools more adaptive to student excellence. These initiatives are attracting community involvement. Rainier Beach is on a course to become an International Baccalaureate School. This is a difficult and worthwhile undertaking.  There is though riff between those who should be working together. School reformers can not deliver charter schools without a buy in of non white communities understanding what they are and clamoring for them. Their is a neutrality about charter schools within the African American community.  The African American community is much more cohesive than what appears to the majority population and they are much more capable of knowing what is in their best interest and who is in their best interest than it might appear.  There have been many mistakes made by those who propose to speak for communities of color, to know the best solutions. It is so much easier to gain trust than to recoup it once lost.  

Charter Schools are not the be and end all of solving the education mess that Washington public education presents for our diverse student population. A recent MIT study tells us that Charter Schools have their best outcomes in urban areas and not so good in school districts outside of urban areas.  Since the majority of our parents have children in private schools or areas that are not part of the urban core, what would be their interest in charter schools?  How are they convinced that what is good for students of color is likewise good for their children. There are no images coming across the media of charter schools with large numbers of white students. This translates to them not serving the needs of poor children, just non white children.  Washingtonians can not engage in conversations or race based solutions to any of its problems. The reformers will need to have that conversation with those they need to vote for charter schools. 


Charters schools will not pass a Democratic controlled legislature if the reformists fail to put into place effective strategies for community education, outreach and organizing. They must get beyond the few people of color they feel most comfortable with and expand their knowledge of the people they propose to help. The questions posed by Trish Millines Dziko have not yet been answered. There will be no movement within communities of color until they are answered because she is trusted and heard on issues of education institution building.  



Unfortunately,  some of the best and most respected community and parent organizers are found lacking by those who want charter schools the most. This difference between what make the school reformers comfortable and who is respected and heard in communities they want to address is a major set back for many reform measures. 


It is in the hard and consistent work on real problems,  best solutions, and parent and community engagement that comes from with the community that attracts the bulk of my attention and energy.  I owe this to those who are doing the heavy lifting from the ground up. They have accepted the baton that has been passed from generation to generation for as long as there has been oppression and inequity present among us.  


Rest in Peace Charles Rolland, Anthony Matlock, and Trayvon Martin.  

Why are our School Systems Failing African American Children?

The answer to this question is complex but let me share  insight gained from living long. 

The failure of African American children comes from multiple directions. I will speak to a few of them.

A traditional public school system is complex with funding sources that reward schools failing to educate with equity.  What would it be like if those who make up the public school systems were passionate and intentional about educating African American children?  What if we had a society that really believed that diversity was key to our longevity as a leader nation?  I saw recent footage of an interview with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when asked about the elements that drove his movement for nonviolence he said that it took passion and intentionality. Intentionality means to be informed by intention and to act on it toward a specific end. When teaching parent classes I use the example of bonsai to bring this point home. Most get it. 

I live an intentional life committed to an excellent education for children our public schools policies cheat and have been cheating for decades.  What we offer our children does not have to be filled with gimmicks or even fancy.  It just needs to be an education offering that allows a child to know the joy of reading, writing and problem solving.  

We look but can not find the level of intention and passion modeled by Dr. King, in the reversing the wrong of a failed system we know as public education. No creative thought, no responsibility for multiple generations of failure, that have locked whole families into sustained poverty.  Chattel Slavery was a system that lasted for 400 years. Can America sustain as a world leader without freeing children and their teacher to learn what is easily teachable. Reading, writing, mathematics and problem solving? Of course we can and we should not need a civil war and emancipation proclamation to do this. 

Though complex, the public school system is one that parents must learn. Even bad systems will work for those who become familiar with the "work arounds."  This ability to work around what is not working in a system is the reason why the same system failing a child at Van Asselt is educating children at View Ridge. First of all, the populations of white and privileged parents dictate what goes into the system, they are the primary users. Parents, teachers and principals of brown, black and poor children have to learn and understand a system for which they are at best tertiary users.  Intentionality will create the work arounds. Unfortunately as soon as the system is learned, it is again changed and again fixes and new systems are not put in place to favor those who need most a system of education geared toward equity and excellence for all children. 

it is a learnable system and little expectation should be placed upon teachers to anything other than teach. They are not hired to apply skills learned or to practice for proficiency. They are not a constant relationship for children parents and families are and families are the greatest determinant of whether a child will grow to be a successful contributing adult in society.  That is not a race based assertion it is true for all children in all parts of the world. 

Children learn from other children and model up only a few years. So the children your children play with make a difference. I knew that the children in our neighborhood who could walk to the store alone and cross Rainier without an adult before they were two digits, were on a slippery slope toward mediocrity other indicators were sure indicators of total failure and yes in two instances early death. Then there was the one child in a terribly functioning family who has done well among the many.  When asking this now 30 year old man why? He tells me, she was not my real mother, and that he knew his father who did not raise him but talked with him about things the other children did not hear from their mother or father.  I found that quite interesting and I observe him to be a devoted father. So all not visibly present to others can be very present to a child. 

Back to education of African American children and even others who are cheated of what it takes to function well in society, any society.  Time on task is missing in too many homes. We have all witnessed the baby who is said to be turned around, they are awake all night and sleep all day. This is how so many parents are. They seem to be turned around doing things backwards with their children, even though doing things more to the norm would be easier.  A child who reads is much easier to manage than one who does not read or one who watches television of hours without interruption.  Reading calms and television agitates. A child who understands numbers, learns to see the complex as less complex because they learn the art of problem solving.  

Okay, I make it sound as if it is easy, it is. And as my friend Josie always says "Dawn, you surely are not a social worker." Meaning, I can not hear the excuses, though I am empathetic and a good support system for many. Why help a person be less than God intended. In a nation where it is said the average person is using only 10% of their brain's ability, why help a person use 5%. How harmful could a push to 15% be?

I write a blog now because I used to share these ideas with a broad spectrum of people. I was surprised by those who found it bothersome and almost an insult to receive these "long messages."  Long? I thought they were short given I used to write snail mail letters that were multiple pages and receive the same from people. I am old enough to hold on to communicating in full words and sentences. By the time the world is speaking only in abbreviated phrases I will be blind, old and babbling and maybe not. One of the great possessions I preserve from my time as a Legislator is a letter from constituent, Iola Davis, in the letter she wrote and mailed she told me she is 92 years old, and proud of to see one of us doing so well." It was a two page letter I guess it should be in a museum.  She lived to be 101 and I attended her 100 birthday party.  

So within families and communities comes the push for excellence. In an Essence interview with President Barack Obama when asked about education and poor families, after saying his daughters do not watch television on school nights, he responded "A poor parent can turn off a television."  

Here is an article written by a parent in 1984 it continues to guide me in my work helping parents learn new skills. Just like with anything it takes many times doing something to change a habit or pattern of behavior. 

Getting Ready for new School Year and the Rest of My Life

Summer 2011
Usually, only children or families with school age children think of end of summer as an event and transitional time of the year. Retired folks like myself, well each day and season seems to move effortlessly along. Well not for me; My enjoyment of being with parents and helping them through the rough journey of getting their children educated makes life quite eventful.


This summer was the 2nd year of the Math Camp. The Village has adopted Fear No Number Math Academy as our focus on elevating math literacy for especially African American children and their parents. The "and their parents" is key to the success we are seeing for so many kids.


We think of the arts and sports when speaking of performances, well a performance component has been added to Fear No Number Math Academy. On Thursday at the Boys and Girls Club located at Rainier Vista in Seattle, elementary age students performed for a room full of their peers and adults a complex algebraic equation. Just as we sit and wait for our kids to hit that homerun, or complete their dance routine, we sat and watched with awe as the team filled up two white boards, talking us through the mathematical process and turned around and received their applause when they got to the end with the correct answer.


These are children representative of the children being denied by too many school districts of the joy of learning and knowing math as something familiar and fun. We are so grateful to Norman Alston for stepping in and up to this wonderful contribution to the Village.


We need grant writers to help get funding so we can compensate teachers, buy more materials, and supply the experiential activities to students that expands their use of math. If anyone wants to join the team, make a donation or be a guest teacher. Let me know.


Rainier Beach Back to School Bash
For the past few years, this event at Baer Sheva Park on Rainier Beach, organized by RB Empowerment Organizing and convened by Gregory Davis attracts hundreds of families. Please think of what you do and how it can add to the outreach to parents and join in being a resource.


Education and Support for Special Needs children
God sent to me three additional children and their mother. As with much of what I do, I look at the gifts I receive from God as puzzles. What am I to get from this gift, what am I to learn, how am I to share the learning. What I have been learning is that every agency with a sign up is not necessarily in business to help families. I learned that there are agencies and providers who get held up in high esteem and when you scratch the surface, they are not all they propose to be. I found that the old stand bys such as Salvation Army and St. Vincent De Paul continue to know their mission and hire people who seem actually happy to be helping.


I have been introduced to ARC of King County, they care about children and adults with disabilities, they were so very responsive. Even sent someone to our home to interview the mom. This was not a mom being too lazy to go to an office, it is an agency that understands the daily pull on a parent of a special need child, and then add a new born to the mix. I have a special place in my heart for First Place. I invested time, talent and funds to this wonderful agency for families in transition never knowing I would one day need to seek out their support. They helped this family in ways that made a drastic difference. They made sure that they were able to get that key to their newly leased home. Again, came out of their office and accompanied the mom to negotiate with the landlord; such things as deposits, etc before the lease was signed. First Place is ending homelessness one family at a time. They ended it for this family that I referred.


This year's Mason Family Fish Fry was a grand event, with collards cooked by guest chef Jason Vickers, fish fried by the team of Deacon Joseph Mason and Chris Bennet of KRIZ/KZIZ Radio and Medium News. We were honored to have again for the 3rd year straight King County Executive Dow Constantine. Also Randy Dorn, Supt of Public Instruction and Erin Jones and another of his Admin. Staff were a welcomed addition and MLKing Co. Councilmember Larry Gossett as well as Pete Holmes, Seattle City Attorney,Seattle Councilmember Bruce Harrell, Sen. Adam Kline (37th Dist) were in attendance. A host of candidates got a chance to shake hands of 200 people who consumed close to 80 lbs of fried fish, gallons of macaroni salad, corn bread baked beans and collards. We were serenaded by Josephine Howell and inspired by the spoken word of Melody Ivory. Also Mwansa Luchembe recited his 9 times table to 1,000 (I stopped him at about 400) At the end of the evening our guests made new friends, left not a scrap of food, brought the sunshine we were looking for in Seattle and it has been with us since. There is a truism "It never rains on Fish Fry Wednesday"


I will be working on development of Parent Involvement materials for the next few weeks. Will share the information when I am done.

Fear No Number - A Math Academy is Born

When Seattle Public Schools posted for public view and analysis, yet another year of failure for African American students and others living and attending school in Rainier Valley, Norman Alston knew it was time to return home.

For the past 12 years prior to 2010 much of his time and energy had been spent on teaching the children in East King County home to Microsoft, and many who make their wealth in the technology industry. They had hired Mr. Alston, a former teacher at Zion Prep Academy, an African American private school, his reputation as an excellent teacher with a unique way of transferring his love of math to any who entered his sphere of influence.

A meeting was organized by Twanda Hill, the parent of one of his former Zion students and with her help the first Saturday Math Academy was established back at his old stomping grounds, Zion Prep Academy the Saturday Math was extended to Summer Math Camp.  For Mr. Alston a gifted teacher, something was still missing for him and out of frustration and other challenges he decided to not proceed with this foray into the area of King County with the greatest need for math enrichment.

By chance, I (Dawn Mason) read a message he posted on Facebook seeking 10 computers for teaching.  I responded and through Parents for Student Success, an education organization I founded and direct I acquired 10 laptops licenses for Microsoft Word and Excel and placed them on loan with Moving Beyond Arithmetic through which Mr. Alston consults on issues of math enrichment.  This struck up a relationship that eventually created a joint venture between MBA and PFSS the Fear No Number Math Academy was born.  What had been missing and what PFSS was able to supply was the engagement of parents in their children's math education.

Yvette Duiobate stepped up as Coordinating Parent to work with PFSS to help inform, organize and represent parent interests, concerns and contributions.  With only Norman as the teacher with no real skills in managing, parents took on the responsibilities along with Marilyn Alston in the management of Fear No Number Math Academy.  Without a hierarchy of officers or a membership dues and rules, parents worked together and with Mr. Alston to improve weekly FNNMA, they paid a tuition of $100 a month.  Parents unable to pay supply sweat equity as an investment in what is being established.

FNNMA remains in inquiry without any absolutes on what it takes to reverse the downward spiraling of math literacy for children who deserve so much more for their time spent in school. We know that parents can make the difference but we needed to know would they make the difference for their children. In most cases they are making that difference and experiencing joy in the elevations of their children's love for numbers and eagerness to attend class.

The Academy, is established to address the critical condition of math literacy for African American children who are at the bottom of every outcome for math and science.  They are leaving school non competitive for admission to four year colleges, academic scholarships, or gaining the kind of education that prepares them for future technical based careers or creating employment for self and others.  Though African American students are the reason for the establishment of FNNMA, and the instruction is based on African cultural norms for education, the classes attract children from other race and ethnic groups and span the economic spectrum.

The first school year is ended but Saturday Math continues throughout the summer. Mr. Alston will teach 1 or 100 students so a drop of students for the summer, does not shut the doors of the Academy.  The Academy moved at the end of the school year to the Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club. This arrangement should attract even more students to FNN Math. It will take careful oversight to make sure that parents are clear that the Academy is not a drop off enrichment kind of learning. That to work, the parents must be invested in some way and shed their own fears of numbers.


 and using shape the methods that would bring parents into the classroom with their children. This immediately appealed to some parents, for others it was not so easy, but eventually there were classes in which there were as many adults in the classrooms as children.

The name Fear No

Year End Summary of Parents for Student Success

This year Parents for Student Success, will be the beneficiary of the 19th Annual Mason Family Fish Fry..  Parents for Student Success is located in Seattle. through outreach, capacity building and advocacy for equity in education for all children.  There is a need along WA's I-5 corridor for greater excellence for African American children and others who for too long languish at the bottom of education outcomes in public school.

Through strategic partnerships they expand their reach and vision for a safe Village in which when asked "How are the children?"  it can be said,  "They are well, they are doing very well."

Some of the accomplishments of PFSS during 2010-11 school year:

• Convened Sept 2010 Community Educators Gathering  with Asst. Supt of Public Instruction, Erin Jones
• Sponsor Critical Conversations in the Community with Dr. Maxine Mimms - monthly at Life Enrichment Books
• Developing the prototype for Elders in Residence with South Shore School 
• Support for Successful Young Women Project 
• Conducted 10 Parent to Parent Workshops (for capacity building)  - First Place School, Saturday Math Academy, South Shore School, Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club
• Fiscal agent for AAKEWO and American Museum (Delbert Richardson)
• Partnered with Rainier Valley Rotary to expand support for literacy for children attending Rainier Valley Schools
• Creating dialogue that expands our reach to parents who are need of more effective ways to be engaged in and take responsibility for their children's education
• Initiated the development of a knowledge and support base for African American parents of developmentally disabled children; ARC of King County, Northwest Center, Special Olympics, Office of Education Ombudsman

Life Enrichment Books - 16 years of service to the Puget Sound

Life Enrichment Books known as LEMS, located on Rainier Ave in Columbia City neighborhood of Seattle hosted an Anniversary weekend that had no rival in gathering African Americans from throughout the I-5 Village in WA State. Hundreds of people came by to wish Vickie Williams and Aliyah Messiah well and thank them for their contribution.  Life Enrichment is the only full service Black book store in the State and NW Region.  They are not a non profit, yet they have not seen a profit for many years. I feel honored to have had the opportunity to emcee this grand gathering of wonderful African Americans who came from all over the Puget Sound to spend three days of celebration.

They are more than a book store, they provide their space for cultural gatherings and is a meeting space for book clubs, natural hair club, spiritual gatherings, Women United for Peace Through Prayer gather there, and on the 3rd Friday of the Month Dr. Maxine Mimms our Elder of Distinction hosts the phenomenally popular and well attended Cultural Coversations Seminars.  At a time when book stores are closing their doors Vickie and Aliyah are finding ways to keep theirs open.

The weekend was filled with people meeting new and making new friends, re-acquainting with those they have not seen in years. Zambuko Marimba Ensemble led by Sheree Sereste filled all of Columbia city with their music other performers were Josephine Howell who never disappoints her audience and led us in one of the most spirited renditions of Lift Every Voice any has heard. Akua Kariamu plays a violin in a way so unique there is no way to describe her musical presentations made along with spoken word.

M L King Jr County Councilmember Larry Gosset was inspiring and was appreciated for his support of all that is done for sake of cultural enrichment, we really do need more elected officials who like us enough to spend an entire Sunday afternoon enjoying his constituents. Dian Ferguson, who is running for a seat on the Seattle City Council also came and participated in a way that makes us know we are not just a vote but people she knows and enjoys being with.

Dr. Mimms spoke of Life and Health and Nutrition, she is a model for elderhood as it can be when we take care of ourselves and honor our bodies, minds and spirit. She invited other elders in the room to join her for a photo op. Dr. Mimms is 83, Frances North is 91 and Dr. Ruth Kelly McIntyre is 73. They are beautiful, healthy and without any loss of mind, energy and humor. They are really full of banter, stories and laughter.

Patt Butler Lathan did a great job of organizing the celebration along with Vickie and Aliyah, she says she just wanted to do something to help these women who contribute selflessly to the community.  She is leading the campaign to gather pledges to assure that this space remains available to the Village for our gatherings.

No celebration is complete without food there was an abundance and Solom who owns the newly opened Ethiopian and Eritrean Restaurant of the same name donated a full course dinner enough to feed the entire crowd.  Her restaurant is beautifully decorated and besides being a good cook, she is a grand hostess. Please drop in and have a meal with her at 5100 Rainier Ave South just south of The Royal Esquire Club.

The Village is Alive and Well May 23, 2011

What an ambitious weekend we had in the Village and I am inspired by my participation with two great events.  I wish more people would report on their activities so we can all have the advantage of the many positive and energized activities we participate in. For those who do report backs to Community please let me know so this information can be shared even more widely.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority had the Bellevue Hyatt abuzz with all their pink and green. I loved their quilt design Western Regional Conference bags. Phyllis Lowe was my hostess for Saturday morning, I participated on a panel discussion, facilitated by Soror Dorothea Johnson, from Sacramento CA, who was like a walking encyclopedia on policy, redistricting, and the governmental structure.

We discussed ways to be connected to community. I spoke of the importance of African Americans  seeking public office at all levels of the political scheme. Become a Precinct Committee Person, your name is placed on a ballot and people vote for you. This was my first elected position. Serve on Commissions, this is where public policy gets started. Each Governmental jurisdiction has commissioners for all kinds of policy interests.  The Legislature now has only one African American, Rep. Eric Pettigrew, given our population we should have at least 6. We have had only 8 to serve in this very important body during the entire existence of the WA Legislature.  We must get involved in and   run for all the positions that make up our community, local, county and state government. For every person in an elected position, there are hundreds on the ground, organizing, researching, planning and getting the work done. Be Connected

Councilmember Victoria Woodards spoke of how being a protege of former Pierce County Council member Harold Moss, prepared her to be an elected official. We applauded her willingness to likewise step into the role of Director and President of Tacoma Urban League. When Mr. Moss retired, this very active UL fell apart, lost its beautiful building.

Roz Jenkins was another panelist, she has moved on from the Governor's Office as Director of Commission on African American Affairs, and will focus on education at League of Education Voters. Unfortunately, Kris Kosmos, who is LEV Director made a misstep in eliminating Dawn Bennett's job in order to establish Roz's position. I have good feelings about Kris and her vision, but I am thinking that she thinks one African American is enough for LEV. Another case of an organization who gets money because of the plights of brown and black children and the funding is used to assure employment for white people.  The same who assured us they were color blind and did not need Affirmative Action, so voted against it.  Dawn and Roz are as different as peanut butter and jelly, but both of them need to work together to make the perfect team we need.  Roz is an attorney and policy specialist, Dawn is a community organizer, well known and loved by the expanse of the Village.

Dr. Artee Young, is energized in her role as Director of The Evergreen State College, Tacoma Branch. This is as close to a Historically Black University and College as we have in Pac NW.  It is the Branch campus established by Dr. Maxine Mimms.  Artee is likewise a brilliant attorney and was a wealth of information about restoration of voter rights and redistricting.  Did you know that even though they do not allow  incarcerated felons to vote, they get counted as residents in the rural areas where WA has built correctional institutions.  There is something very wrong with this. These areas get funding based on census numbers. So when there is an advantage to having a population of color, well they have a diverse population that is poor, and without having to pass them in the aisle of the grocery store.  Having black and brown people incarcerated in rural areas creates employment without having to consider sharing these jobs with black and brown people. When they are released the incarcerated do not stay in these communities they are sent back to the Village.

Lakewood City Councilmember, Claudia Thomas was front row and her usual wonderfully pleasant and supportive self. She hosted us for coffee break and we got so into our conversation with each other, we arrived back for the second panel a bit late.  CM Thomas has earned the right to be acknowledged as the "political mother" of our African American elected officials. She is gracious, knowledgeable and supportive. Please make it point to get to know her, or just send her a note to thank her for her commitment to public service in ways that can make the entire Village and our allies feel a bit more secure in our lives.

More tomorrow.

Parent to Parent to Parent Trainings

This month I have been busy researching, developing and delivering training to parents of school age children. Three workshops at South Shore K-12 in Rainier Valley and Rainier Beach H.S. Successful Young Women parents and students.

These workshops allow parents to learn and share information that increases their knowledge of ways they can be more effectively engaged in supporting their children's academic achievement. We do hands on activities that parents can do with their children at home.  Shared online resources available to parents, played games, discussed how to be better prepared for parent/teacher conferences and the importance of having children read out loud and practicing math. We discussed what a child misses when playing with video games or texting while riding in the car. They do not see the trees, or even the huge Mt. Rainier, they do not engage in conversation which increases their vocabulary, they do not read the names of the cars that pass them and they do not even know where they are in their own neighborhoods.

Parents do not know much about the schools their children attend, each school has a school improvement plan and most parents and unfortunately many teachers can not even tell you what the elements of the plan is. Imagine a team member of a sports team not knowing the game plan or the importance of practicing their sport every day.  We seem to understand this but do not apply this to our children and their education. If a child is to do well in school, goals need to be set. Something as simple as, this week you will read 3 books and tell me about your favorite character. By Friday you will know how to spell 10 new words and their meanings. The teacher can teach the skill but the parents have to be the coach and practice the skills learned. Many parents do not know what their child should know at each grade, this is so unacceptable. We must begin to communicate with children in ways that makes them think, have them show us what they know, each child should be able to teach their parents how to do the math they learned in school.

If a child comes home from school with homework they can not do, that requires a communication with the teacher. The teacher needs to know that the child did not learn a lesson well enough to do the work sent home. Homework is not enough a child must practice and practice and practice until they are excellent in their subject matter.

That is what is on my mind today.

The Village is Alive and Well May 9, 2011

Many things are occuring that elevates the well being of African American children, families and the population living within the I-5 Corridor Village in WA State.  


Campaigns to Watch
Of course I am watching the many campaigns popping up. Dian Ferguson, long time Democratic leader (37th and 11th Districts)  champion for women; Women Funding Alliance, Director; and for freedom of speech as Director of Seattle Community Access Network which was recently ceased by Seattle City Council. She has worked for the City of Seattle and helped the City get funds for children and families from the Federal Government.  Dian has done her work in ways that has benefitted the many over caring just for the few and should receive broad support. She is running for Seattle City Council Pos. 9. Her Kickoff is May 27, 6 p.m. at First AME Church. 


Bruce Harrell is seeking re-election. He has been a good for Seattle on the City Council and we should support his re-election. No other candidate has sought my support. 


President Obama Re-election Campaign
Get involved sign on to re-election 2012.  I will be attending an organizing and strategy session on May 24. I want to be able to say yes our African American Village is ready to go forward with our President. We know that small and frequent donations are helpful, even $5 will make a difference. 3 million supporters giving $5 on any one day makes a significant difference. 


Saturday May 7, was West African Art Day at Seattle Center. Dr. Joye Hardiman did a great job as Emcee and Griot.  I left with a very creative wall hanger made with hand carved stamps we learned to make.  The music and dance, arts and crafts of African cultures filled the Center House. All seats were filled.


http://www.nwtapconnection.com/ is having its recital on May 14 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. we are told tickets for 6 p.m. show is sold out and both shows will be SRO. Good job Melva Ayco, Program and Artistic Director, young tappers and parents. 

Thank you to MLK Church in Renton and St. John's Church in Tacoma for having Rev. Jeremiah Wright here for Spring Revivals. The workshop on Race in the 21st Century led by Rev. Wright at MLK Baptist was incredible. We  hope that the many pastors who attended will keep the momentum of being informative will continue.

Rev. Al Sharpton is present in the Seattle/Everett area for a few days. Saturday he had an organizing meeting at New Hope Baptist(Rev. Robert Jeffrrey, Sr.)   for National Action Network;  Sunday he preached at Greater Trinity in Everett (Rev. Paul Stoot, Sr.) , and Mt. Zion Baptist Church (Rev. Aaron Williams)  with messages and a spiritual awakening much needed in the Village. Thank you to Deacon, Joseph Mason, Rev. Paul Stoot, and Chris Bennett (Seattle Medium and ZTwins) for their many hours of work on this.  Tonight, Monday May 9, Rev. Sharpton will be on a panel discussing Education Reform at 7 p.m. Campion Tower. Here is a recent interview with Wall Street Journal as to what he thinks Pres. Obama should be thinking about as to African Americans. 

Tomorrow, Tuesday May 10 I will be at South Shore School conducting a Parents for Student Success Train the Trainer Parent workshop. It is our intent to help South Shore Principal Keisha Scarlett, parents and teachers make this K-8 school filled with  black, brown and  poor children the best in the District and State.   I love working with Keisha and So. Shore parents and teachers. The school environment is friendly and working toward raising the achievement of every student. Getting a handle on raising academic achievement requires getting parents and community to focus on each child. Making intellectual attainment a priority for children and adults.  

Pick a school and make a difference. Find a child and listen to them read or show you an arithmetical computation. Our children desperately need and deserve our attention and models of excellence.


www.khanacademy.org is a great site for learning how to do math and other subjects in 15 minutes segments. 

Fear No Number Saturday Math Academy is doing a great job of raising an interest in math Norman Alston of Moving Beyond Arithmetic seems to be ever present in the Village and every Saturday 9 - 11 at Zion Prep Academy we find him exciting his students with applications of mathematical concepts. This past Saturday the elementary age children were introduced to architectural plans and had fun measuring and drawing plans for their own dream homes. 

Zion Preparatory Academy's Director Rev. Doug Wheeler has announced that ZPA will close its elementary program and focus on early childhood education. The economy has forced many parents to place their children back into pubic schools, so it makes sense to focus on preparing the babies so they have an even start as they enter public elementary education. Thank you ZPA for all you do for the education of our children.

This is something that inspired me today. Malika Cyril  speaks about motherhood and social justice. How her mother through positive struggle gave her purpose. Also click on her video. She gets started slowly but has a great message.

Let me know if you something of good or informing to share with others.

Fish Fry Is Coming Again July 20,2011

The Annual Fish Fry is an event we, the Mason Family has been hosting for almost 20 years.  It is an opportunity for us to bring together our friends, family and acquaintances who we have met along the way.  They make a small donation and get to eat as much as they want.  We intentionally make this event diverse in honor of us living in 98118 the most diverse zip code in USA.

We need RSVPs because this event attracts hundreds of people.  The parking is challenging but available throughout the neighborhood. The Event is listed on Facebook.

Spirit of West Africa Festival at Seattle Center

Makeda Ebube Invites all to celebrate African Culture through dance and music. Please come and bring the children.

 "Spirit of West Africa Festival" @ The Seattle Center in the Center House.  The festival takes place on May 7th, 2011 (Saturday) from 12:00 noon til 8:00pm. My Congolese Dance Workshop takes place @ 12:00 noon. The dance class is the opening of the festival. The festival is FREE.

 

Our own Dr. Joye Hardiman will be our mistress of ceremony. Also included on the program is Alpha Yaya Diallo (Guinea), De Cajon Project (Afro-Peruvian), Thione Diop - Producer - Yeke Yeke (Senegal) Featuring Dora Oliveira (Brazil), Kutt-N Up Theatrical Hip-Hop, Best of Both Worlds Fashion Show by Nansare Consolata, Naby Camara & Lagni Sussu (Guinea), Yirim Seck (Senegal/USA), Mapathe Diop, (Senegal) featuring Fama N' Diaye (Senegal), Foday Musa Suso, Kora Master (Gambia) and Many Vendors with lots treasures.

 

Please share this information with everyone. I would love for everyone to come and "MOVE" with me. Especially, because there is no regular community class I offer at this time. Thanks so much for your gesture to pass this information on. I appreciate it very much!!

 

Makeda Ebube 

Somewhere Under the Radar

This is about not waiting for others to teach our children with expected equitable outcomes.

Last September I organized a gathering of about 30 individuals who are delivering education without much notice to African Americans of all ages. This gathering was inspired by an article I read by James Tooley who writes about education being delivered to children living in developing countries. He uses the term "under the radar" and not on government data sheets. He tells of quality learning in unusual places.  Along the I-5 corridor we have much the same occurring. Under or unfunded initiatives that come from internal rather than external inspirations.

In his documentary essay, Private Schools for the Poor   Tooley describes in his book "The Beautiful Tree" schools that are show up when the government does not deliver quality education to poor children. They are low or no tuition schools with from a few to many hundreds of students. Parents want quality education for their children and give support to their children and their teachers.  In Seattle there is First Place; a Seattle school for very poor children who are homeless and or living with the traumas associated with being poor too long. Unlike our public schools a parent event is as much as 80% participation.

When reading his essay two years ago, I thought of Dr. Maxine Mimms, Delbert Richardson, Doug Wheeler, Rev. Paul Stoot, Sr, Black Child Development, Parents for Student Success, Dr. Debra Sullivan, Marcia Tate Arunga, Dr. Emma Jones, Norman Alston and Fear No Number Math Academy, Black Starline Early Learners, NW Tap Connection, Danna K. Johnston, Technology Access Academy, this is not an exclusive list, there arevscores of others who educating children, our public schools will not or can not educate with equal outcomes for African Americans.

These are those who did not wait for funding, they saw the need, tapped into their inspiration and stepped up to the challenge.

Meet Those Who Inspired Me This Week.

Grateful for Inspirations

Being mid 60's gives me a major benefit and privilege on life. I am still young enough to enjoy learning and doing and being retired allows me to do what it is I want and to leave on the side of the road that which I do not.  I do realize that it is more than just age the state of being with God and centered in self is key at all phases of our human development.  Being spiritually centered diminishes the vestiges of victimhood.  I want to introduce to others some of the people who inspired me this week and for who I am grateful.

Dr. Melody Ivory
Consider walking away a job that pays well and gives you high levels of respect, because you see a life well lived with purpose a higher calling?  Not in a "Take This Job and Shove It" kind of way, but a response to a life altering crisis.  A conversation with Dr. Melody Ivory a person relatively new in my life, is a young brilliant woman who is a very special person with many gifts.

Melody Ivory's website is worth looking at. She has many products as a result of her gratitude for life and brilliance. I am I think addicted to her great tasting herbal teas and I am sure they are instrumental in my much needed weight loss and renewed energy.  To her credit she is the first and so far only African American woman to receive a PhD in Computer Science from Berkley.  She is moving forward on the expansion of her vision and with intent. To me intent is having a vision and doing whatever it takes to make it happen.

Cultural Village
Marcia Tate Arunga inspires me in her growth around her work with Cultural Reconnection. She is a testimony to what occurs when a person follows purpose and takes full responsibility and is able to elevate humanity through their work. Here is an article in March Seattle Magazine  which gives insight into how she has made a difference for many through the work she does with the Vision And Planning Team and The Institute for Cultural Reconnection and the 78 CR Delegates made up of African American women. A publication is being developed that will tell of the 12 years and beyond of inspired, focused, and active participation in the development of relationships within the African Diaspora.

Rev. Harriett Walden
New knees can make the difference for quality of life for we who are aging in good health but worn out body parts. Last August I had a spinal fusion to rid myself of the pain of spondolythesis (slipped disk) it made a major difference for my well being. Harriett, a long time sister in the struggle for justice,  followed suit and went and got herself some new knees. I spoke with her today she is at Washington Center a culturally competent rehab facility in Rainier Valley, Seattle.   I think Harriett wore out her knees over the many years of walking for justice we especially love Harriett for her inspired creation of Mothers for Police Accountability.  It is now up to our younger generations to pick up the baton and keep the movement alive. Which brings me to my young friend Marselas.

Marselas Owens
Marselas inspires not only me but millions. Last year he received  major media attention for his advocacy that moved forward the Health Care reform bill.    Marselas and his grandmother Gina are personal friends of mine. Marselas has a Mii on my Wii. He is again in the news after walking 50 miles to Olympia with his grandmother Gina to again give a real voice to why the wealthy should be taxed and that our legislators should not put the biggest burden of the economy on the backs of the poorest among us. Meet my friend Marsalas and think, "If Marsalas and his grandmother can walk 50 miles surely I can click on www.leg.wa.gov and send a message to my legislative delegation.

President Barack Obama
I hear people make uninspired statements about this inspired man and I want to gag. I am gearing up for re-election 2012. Election 2008 consumed much of my life and I expect the same level of involvement.  So the first task is to get as many people as possible to "GET IN" that is get involved with Organizing for America; sign onto the campaign. If you are not ready to make your financial donation, sign on anyway the key to getting out of the donation page is to click on 2012.  

*Village is used to denote African Americans living along the I-5 corridor. Villages are usually denoted in spacial terms but for us who are scattered off the many exits of I-5 it is our cultural connection that makes us a Village.  

Good Health and Diversity, Education and Legislation

I awoke today thinking of a few things that I needed to jot down. Medical Care my own and others, parent support for their children, and housing for the homeless families.
Medical Care to the South of Seattle
Because I live in Seattle, I believe that all that is good and wonderful resides within the city limits of the Emerald City. Seattle is not much different than the story "The Wizard of Oz" tells. It is not the answer to all problems, and the Mayor of Seattle is not in fact the ruler of all the Puget Sound, and there is medical care beyond Swedish and Harborview, for me these were the only two hospitals that needed to exist. And then Vally Medical Center and the City of Renton entered my life. So my attention has shifted South. Life and humanity is like that you know we stay focused on what we know until we know something else. So the Mason family has discovered Valley Medical. Anisa is an RN there, our visitor from Kenya who was very ill during her visit was healed there last summer and just recently my son, was kept there in the hospital for 8 days until they came up with diagnosis and cure and he is now well on his way to good health again.  Walking around VMC is much like the community it serves the diversity is everywhere, not just in food service and cleaning. This is not so at Swedish, where it remains pretty white. I am not sure if UW Hospital has improved but a few years ago, I asked if they had any African American nurses at all in that hospital. I was told yes.

While speaking of good health, today I was reminded from an article read, that cleaning the nasal passage daily is a key to good hygiene and good health.  I clean my nasal passage daily with salt water. I was a candidate for a second sinus surgery and then I found the salt water cure and 10 years later, I have not even had to visit the ENT physician.

My spinal fusion is healing well and I am pretty much pain free. The pretty much means that my age brings about some natural aches on cold and dreary days, and here in the Emerald City and its surrounding areas we get enough of those. After years of suffering horrible back pain, I went to a neurosurgeon, Dr. Srinivasan an incredible physician, and she fixed me up. The cost was prohibitive without insurance, and I feel so privileged to have had good insurance through the City of Seattle. The kind everyone should have. I  now am on Medicare and so far I am pleased with my coverage. I think that if a person has several pills and drugs they take it could cut into your income. I am not in that category and hope that cleaning my nasal passage with salt water daily will keep me from prescription and drug induced poverty.

Education and Parents
What are we going to do about getting children educated and ready for life as they will experience it. There are somethings that have changed the world, such as social networking and computers, and video games. They are here and they are good things to have.  There are somethings that will never change. People will always have to know how to read, I believe that the written word is precious, I love words and language to communicate.  I am volunteering at South Shore School and see the differences between children who are receiving supplemental learning and enrichment beyond the school and those who are totally school dependent for their learning.  Today, I am doing a workshop for parents, as parents we will have a good discussion on why parents make the difference.  I do not assume a parent knows what to do, so we will have several hands on activities for reading and math. Norman Alston will do his magic of transferring Fear No Number.  He is a jewel among us and with him living in the Puget Sound region, there is no reason for any child to not know and love math.

HB2048
Everyone needs to know the value of making a call to their State Legislators.  Too many who are so very  government dependent, do not make these calls. They are easy calls to make or notes to send. www.leg.wa.gov will guide you through the process of finding and contacting  your Senator and House Representative.  I am a former WA State Representative and know the difference the calls make in how we vote and how things get amended.  I will call my delegation and tell them to vote for HB 2048, within it there is the funding for programs and housing for the poor and in housing kids are helped through the traumas of homelessness.

What is that insurance they tack onto your credit card account?  When a person dies does anyone in the family know to collect on it? It seems like such a small thing about $2.00 but they have millions of customers.

What makes me think of Horace Mann and William Lloyd Garrison

I am most fascinated by both the abolitionist movement of the 1800's and the public school reform movement of the same years.  With just a little research, (this is merely a reflection of my thinking, not a research paper) I find that both Horace Mann and William Lloyd Garrison were white men born in Massachusetts within 9 years of each other 1796 and 1805. Our children today really use some abolitionists and school reformers of any hue.

Today the equity and democracy in its purist form, is eroded by the poor delivery and outcomes of education for brown and black children.  This is especially onerous along the I-5 corridor and for African American students.  Is there really democracy when public systems are established in ways that give a handicap to those of European ancestry?

"... It is for us the living to dedicate ourselves to the great task remaining before us;  that cause for which many gave the last full measure of devotion that this new nation will have a new birth....." 

Abraham Lincoln.  

The writing of this was inspired by my watching Ken Burns', Civil War on KCTS while writing this blog. 

 Horace Mann is known for his commitment to many progressive ideas, but he is most prominently known for his commitment to public education.  I consider his life's work important to my own. Of all the things I am committed to, a public education that delivers equitable outcomes for all students is my life's purpose.  Myself, I had the advantage of an excellent public education, I was well prepared for life long learning and I was not a straight A student, in fact that letter eluded me throughout my K-12 education.

These white me remind me that we are interconnected as human beings.  Mann was the first President of Antioch,  I am associated with Antioch University, where I received my Masters in Education, served on a board and am an adjunct professor.  Antioch does not have sports teams their sport of sorts is progressive liberation.  Antioch's motto and something I subscribe to,, is a quotation from a presidential speech; (He died soon after. It is said but not substantiated, that his speech was outdoors and so long he got pneumonia)

"Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity."

Horace Mann, address at Antioch College, 1859

Here is one from William Lloyd Garrison the great abolitionist and founder of the Liberator Newspaper.  This is evidence of his intense commitment to abolishing slavery. 

I will be as harsh as truth, and uncompromising as justice... I am in earnest, I will not equivocate, I will not excuse, I will not retreat a single inch, and I will be heard.

William Lloyd Garrison

I am wondering when public schools shifted from centers of learning for children to centers of secured employment for adults.  When did this happen and how do we get to being able to supply the needs of both?   It is time to make schools a year round event this would be good for both teachers and students and society.  Summer vacations were not really vacations, they served the needs of an agrarian society, the crops needed to be tended to and harvested.  If family needs could be met early on, why are we unable to meet the needs of today's families? Parents do need children at home in the summer, to the contrary, they need them in school year round.  Raise the expectations of teachers of children who are expected to join the technology revolution and evolution, train them to teach to where we are going, not where we have come from.  Pay the great teachers well, increase the number of children they teach let those who can not or will not adapt to the needs of today's children find another craft. 

When I was in the legislature, representing the 37th District in Seattle, John Stanford was the Superintendent, he was a bright burst of energized force relative to public education. He knew his time with us was protracted and he took no prisoners on his short term and aborted time with us in Seattle.  He used words such as unforgivable acts. He and I visited schools together unannounced.  He thought it unique that the Superintendent and State Representative would do this on a regular  basis.  It was and has not happened since. Why would a State Legislator spend considerable amounts of time visiting and knowing intimately our schools, the teachers, principals and students?  Because the state constitution dictates that assuring a public education for all is the "Paramount Duty" of the legislature. It is not medical care, roads, Social Welfare, they are important of course and necessary but not specifically applied for in the way that public education is.

Mr Stanford like Horace Mann died while winning victories.  The motto hanging in his office:
"Do What You Say You Will Do."  He liked to point out that it is a palindrome the same coming and going.  (DWYSYWD)

So this morning I thought of Mann and Garrison and Stanford and I am inspired.