It’s not lost on me that school shootings are a complicated societal issue and that everyone is invested in school safety. I am suggesting, however, that when we have an issue that everyone is invested in solving and we still haven’t solved it, we might want to start thinking about it in a different way.
School shootings: Problem-solving with my kindergarten daughter Read More »
What we haven’t acknowledged is that the pain that police officers felt in schools impacted them in negative ways just like everyone else. Now, add power to the equation. A scorned police officer using real, possibly negative school experiences as a foundation. That’s a scary concept.
Police were once students, and what that means Read More »
This new Colorado bill is needed because no federal law currently exists outlawing the practice across the country. Data from public schools telling the truth about seclusion is nonexistent, because most schools have not had to report on or conduct research about the practices and outcomes of using it.
Seclusion must be banned by all school districts in Colorado Read More »
Last Friday’s board work session was refreshing. The meeting was a thoughtful discussion among peers who were asking questions of prepared and informed staff on topics that matter — the welfare and academic achievement of children.
A refreshing change: Some DPS board members focusing on what matters most Read More »
The controversy over discipline in DPS schools in part underscores how many students and parents are confused about discipline practices.
How discipline is supposed to work in Denver Public Schools Read More »
For a district seemingly obsessed with power and control at the higher echelons, the safety plan is rather vague. There are no timelines for implementation or completion, no specific tasks to key leaders, no cadence of progress updates, no rollout timeline, no KPIs, no specifics on budgeting, and much of the language directs decision-making to principals.
What happened to safety in DPS? Read More »
Repeatedly using deliberately inflammatory language (incarceration room instead of de-escalation room, for example) and premeditated outrage, Denver school board Vice-president Auon’taiAnderson and his willing accomplices are destroying a man’s reputation long before all the facts are in and any investigation completed.
It’s irresponsible for public officials to lead a rush to judgment Read More »
This excellent commentary on the illegal Denver school board executive session last March was written by Quentin Young, editor of Colorado Newsline, and first appeared on that website: https://coloradonewsline.com/
It shouldn’t take court prodding for elected officials to follow transparency laws Read More »
While the district is trying to frame the firing as the removal of a principal who violated federal privacy law and meted out discipline disproportionately to kids of color, that sounds like putting a politically palatable veneer over a load of BS.
Kurt Dennis firing shows DPS is rotting from the top down Read More »
“Schools need to do more; they need to figure out how to meet the needs of all their students and not just push out the kids who they are scared of,” says school psychologist Erin Pier.
Reframing the debate over how to make schools safer Read More »
