Monthly Archives: July 2008

Calling out to an upset mother

By Roger Phillips | Published: July 31, 2008 | Comments closed
   A woman called the paper this afternoon and left a voice message. She said her special-needs child was “pushed down” by a teacher at school and suffered abrasions. She wanted to discuss what happened. Without getting into whether this story is true or not, there’s a big problem. The woman who called did not leave her [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

Board races update

By Roger Phillips | Published: July 30, 2008 | Comments closed
       Those interested in running for a school board seat have until Aug. 8 to file with the Registrar of Voters.                Barring a late rush of entries, the contests appear pretty much set. Until this morning, it had been more than a week since I’d last checked to see who [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

First day at Madison Elementary

By Roger Phillips | Published: July 25, 2008 | Comments closed
    A lot of attention is being paid this year to making the first day of school for SUSD a special one.     In February, an expert from a national organization visited Hazelton Elementary to advise parents and officials there on their opening of the 2008-09 school year. New SUSD superintendent Tony Amato has been making [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

Attention: schoolies

By Roger Phillips | Published: July 23, 2008 | Comments closed
       Today when I came to work, there was a fax awaiting me about Franklin High School’s upcoming orientations. What I’ve decided to do is to open up this blog to SUSD and Lincoln Unified people and invite you to email me your opening-of-school events — any information you’d like readers to know. [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

Help for stutterers and their teachers, parents

By Roger Phillips | Published: July 22, 2008 | Comments closed
    Here’s something new: a post on something that does not involve a school controversy or the latest idiotic statement by a radio shock jock.     Today in the mail came a release from the Stuttering Foundation, which is based in Memphis. With schools opening over the next month — Stockton Unified starts next week — [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

New York Times on Michael Savage’s comments

By Roger Phillips | Published: July 21, 2008 | Comments closed
    He stands by his comments about autism.
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

Silva running for reelection

By Roger Phillips | Published: July 21, 2008 | Comments closed
       Area 3 trustee Anthony Silva has decided to run for reelection to the Stockton Unified School District Board, after all. Last week, Silva said he was undecided as to whether or not he would seek reelection. But a visit this morning to the Registrar of Voters revealed that Silva filed Friday to [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

Dropouts (this post) and hate talk on the radio (next post)

By Roger Phillips | Published: July 18, 2008 | Comments closed
    First of all, please read the post below this one as well. It’s from earlier today and should pique the interest of anyone with special-needs issues or anyone who has an ounce of humanity about them.     Next, I’m not trying to pour salt on Stockton Unified’s wounds, simply to point out the dire situation. [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

Michael Savage on autism (updated)

By Roger Phillips | Published: July 18, 2008 | Comments closed
    I’m the parent of a child with autism. It’s an epidemic affecting 1 in 150 children. And here’s what right-wing shock jock Michael Savage had to say on the subject Wednesday, according to the Web site mediamatters.org:     “Now, you want me to tell you my opinion on autism? … A fraud, a racket.” Savage went [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

Yes, no, maybe

By Roger Phillips | Published: July 15, 2008 | Comments closed
    In less than four months, Stockton voters will make the most important choice they have to make, one that comes along every four years.     No, I’m not talking about Obama vs. McCain.     Rather, the topic of the moment is school boards. There’ll be a story in tomorrow’s paper, but here’s the bottom line:     *In [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed