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Sex and power are strong lures. Sam used very poor judgement and committed (possibly) illegal actions. It is tempting to say Sam is only human, excuse his mistakes and let him stay in office and let's get down to taking care of Portland's business.

But Sam lied to a LOT of people. If he thought we wouldn't believe him then how much LESS are we likely to believe him now. HIs integrity has been compromised, to say noting of his ability to lead.

He needs to resign ASAP! Thanks to him, Portland will have to go through the emotional and monetary expense of yet another election. Better to do it NOW than to drag us through a nasty recall mess as well.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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I taught in PPS for 27 years and share the frustration about meeting TAG needs. We used to HAVE separate TAG classes, I taught one years ago at my school site. And despite tchrs' best efforts, meeting TAG needs and NCLB's AYP is (not politicaly correct to say this) darned near impossible.
I retired early from teaching in large part due to the frustration of impossible mandates for tchrs AND students. I have long felt that all this emphasis on raising everyone to benchmark standards cheats our best and brightest (not to mention leaving behind the very LOWEST students). The only way to get everyone achieving at the top is by lowering standards to mediocrity for all. (Shall we follow Texas' lead?)

Public schools are expected to be all things to all students, not possible with over crowded classrooms, unfunded mandates, music, PE and other "specials" cut from curriculums in order to fund more reading specilaists, recess cut out in the panic about reading test scores.

I do not really hold public schools totally to blame. Unless America (Oregon) is willing to fund it adequately, public education will be less than it could be. It has been the whipping boy since I can remember the Russian's launch of Sputnik. It is easier to blame the schools than to look deeper into our society to see where the problems lie.

7 hours a day, even in the very best classroom cannot compete with or make up for other disractions, travesties and inflences upon the nation's children, from abuse, and neglect to hours spent in front of TV and video games.

The best thing about teaching for me was always the kids, first and foremost. The most difficult thing was what happened to my students OUTSIDE the time I had them in the classroom. And that, I continue to believe, believe is where the biggest challenge lies.

I am not a conspriacy theory person, but I do truly believe that NCLB was meant to destroy (privatize) public education. It is a set up for failure, for ALL kids, from brightest to the most struggling. At this it is succeeding!

posted 4 years, 3 months ago
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