Monthly Archives: October 2008

A frothy mixture of football and education

By Roger Phillips | Published: October 31, 2008 | Comments closed
Once upon a time — OK, 2 years and 26 days ago, but who’s counting?  — life was much different. I covered the 49ers for the Oakland Tribune until getting the big haircut one day from my lovely downsizing former employer. So now, I try to cover education for the Record. And I just saw a [...]
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‘Happy Halloween – now go home’

By Roger Phillips | Published: October 31, 2008 | Comments closed
I received a phone call this morning from an SUSD mom. I won’t say what school her seventh-grade daughter attends because I only have her side of the story and it’s not exactly a blockbuster. Anyway, she sent her daughter to school today in what she said was a “fairy” costume. Then she got a [...]
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Back in business at SUSD

By Roger Phillips | Published: October 29, 2008 | Comments closed
NOTE FIX IN SECOND ITEM:     Tonight’s SUSD board meeting was the first in a month, and it began with a celebration of arts education.     Actors from Kohl and musicians from Van Buren performed. Fremont arts magnet students created posters for the event.      One criticism: A student who was portraying a reporter wore a derby. Real [...]
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A quiet night at Lincoln Unified

By Roger Phillips | Published: October 23, 2008 | Comments closed
There was no yelling. There was no screaming. There were no histrionics. What kind of a school board meeting was this? Actually, it was a Lincoln Unified meeting Wednesday night. It more fit the stereotype of a snoozer of a board meeting than the rock ‘em-sock ‘em sparring sessions that have been typical of Stockton Unified. It wasn’t [...]
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Increasing parent involvement a tall order

By Roger Phillips | Published: October 16, 2008 | Comments closed
Early in Wednesday night’s SUSD candidates forum, several of the contenders suggested that one of the key components if the district is to improve is for parents to become more involved in their children’s education. “We have to bring back parents in making decisions,” Area 1 challenger Gloria Allen said. “We have to work together as parents [...]
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SUSD, Lincoln candidate forums Wednesday

By Roger Phillips | Published: October 14, 2008 | Comments closed
Wednesday is public forum night for Stockton Unified and Lincoln board candidates. An SUSD forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Central Methodist Church, 3700 Pacific Ave. in Stockton. Nine candidates are running for three seats. Candidates for the Lincoln board have been invited to a public forum from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the multipurpose [...]
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"Virtually every school will fall short"

By Roger Phillips | Published: October 13, 2008 | Comments closed
The New York Times ran an interesting article over the weekend about No Child Left Behind, focusing on California. The gist of the article was that the federal law’s goals for schools are completely unrealistic — namely the requirement that six short years from now every student is expected to be proficient in math and [...]
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Oh, Canada

By Roger Phillips | Published: October 6, 2008 | Comments closed
A few weeks ago, I linked to an excellent “Fresh Air” interview with Harlem educator Geoffrey Canada. Co-worker Zachary Johnson just alerted me to a profile on Canada recently airing on public radio’s This American Life. If you found the “Fresh Air” interview interesting, you’ll probably want to listen to this, too.
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Another SUSD candidate forum

By Roger Phillips | Published: October 4, 2008 | Comments closed
Candidates for the three Stockton Unified School District Board of Education seats that will be voted on in next month’s election have been invited to appear at a public forum scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at St. Gertrude’s Church, 1663 E. Main St. in Stockton. The 90-minute event, organized by People and Congregations Together, will include [...]
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Did a board member steal ketchup?

By Roger Phillips | Published: October 3, 2008 | Comments closed
No, not an SUSD board member. They only battle over borrowed refrigerators. But here’s a bizarre story, and a warning: So the next time you ponder stealing a 14-ounce bottle of ketchup from the local college cafeteria, keep in mind that doing so might cost you a $250 fine.
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