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Mar 5 northender commented on Seattle High School Teacher's Race and Social Justice Curriculum Suspended After Parent Complaint.

I recall a teacher of first graders many years ago who divided her class between the blue-eyes and the brown-eyes. Imagine the discomfort those kids faced as they became angry and hurt because they were treated unfairly. That was a time when parents wanted children to understand the injustice that so many have endured for so long. Golly gee, that teacher would be on the bench if she were around today. Because you don't want your child to endure a single moment of soul searching or discomfort. Well, discomfort is part of growing and learning and opening your mind. I'm disgusted that people like you always seem to win these days. In the end, we all lose.

Mar 5 northender commented on Seattle High School Teacher's Race and Social Justice Curriculum Suspended After Parent Complaint.

I just read the parents response to this thread. They seem to think they're the only ones who know what is right. Given the testimony of all the kids who have had that class, perhaps you - dear parents - need to sit down and think about your actions. "Intimidation" comes in many forms. As a teacher myself, I'm not always sweet and fuzzy. Getting kids to think demands difficult strategies. "Discomfort" is a sign that learning is happening and attitudes are being questioned. I'm sorry you don't get that when so many others do. You are perpetuating the unfortunate attitude that so many in our society have who cannot come to terms with the hostility faced by several generations of people earlier in our history. Antonin Scalia being the most notorious and current. Those who dismiss history or choose to forget or ignore it (because it is uncomfortable) are doomed to repeat it. That so many students have found it life-changing that they've actually become advocates for societal change and understanding is all the proof I need about your agenda.

I have no sympathy for you nor do I have any respect for your need to put asunder what so many people have found to be life-changing for them. But then, they came to learn. And learning is change. If you don't like what your child learned or how that may have changed them, then you are the problem. You are society's problem. You are the kind of people who perpetuate the hate.

I recall a teacher of first graders many years ago who divided her class between the blue-eyes and the brown-eyes. Imagine the discomfort those kids faced as they became angry and hurt because they were treated unfairly. That was a time when parents wanted children to understand the injustice that so many have endured for so long. Golly gee, that teacher would be on the bench if she were around today. Because you don't want your child to endure a single moment of soul searching or discomfort. Well, discomfort is part of growing and learning and opening your mind. I'm disgusted that people like you always seem to win these days. In the end, we all lose.

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Mar 5 northender commented on Seattle High School Teacher's Race and Social Justice Curriculum Suspended After Parent Complaint.

Well,dumb-down comes to Seattle. Next stop, Texas - a return visit. How said. We cannot be a thriving democracy if people can't visit issues that make them uncomfortable. Hell, everything makes someone uncomfortable. If I had been in charge, I'd have told them to move to Texas . . . or Mississippi . . . or even Idaho. Mmmmm. . . eastern WA perhaps?

Mar 3 northender commented on Seattle High School Teacher's Race and Social Justice Curriculum Suspended After Parent Complaint.

It's true we don't know the details. I bet, however, that it is a student whose own bigotry was challenged. I guess we are guessing from our own experiences but that's my take. We'll see.

At my son's school, parents have wreaked havoc from time to time over-reacting to their kids' complaints. I tell my son: respect your teachers and do your work. And participate in any discussion that comes up because it isn't the topic but your ability to thresh it out with civility and facts that's important to me. These kids are young adults. Let's give them some credit.

Dec 29, 2012 northender commented on What We Really Want to Hear from the Candidates Running for Mayor.

Bikes are low maintenance when it comes to roads. Also, they keep cars off the road. Imagine even bigger traffic jams at rush hour. You might try to develop your imagination and enter the twenty-first century where fossil fuels are low tech and climate change is upon us. Your posts sound like those of another old angry white guy who is trying to match the juvenile language word for word from those of a trying-too-hard-to-be-so-not-pc SECB.

Dec 29, 2012 northender commented on What We Really Want to Hear from the Candidates Running for Mayor.

Bikes: I'm for bike lanes. But, does anyone else have trouble seeing the damn things at 6:30 pm on a rainy, windy night as they approach a busy intersection with their one teeny tiny Christmas light? Crazy idea: add the bike lanes in the center of the street where drivers can easily see them and create an ordinance that all riders must be wearing a reflective garment.

I've thought a lot about this and placing bikes on inside lanes down the center of the road would work. Yes, there would have to be right-turn bike crossways but that could be worked out. Think about it before tossing it as just another crazy idea. I've thought of many anti-arguments myself but I've worked out a solution for each one. We need creative thinking in transportation.

Dec 29, 2012 northender commented on What We Really Want to Hear from the Candidates Running for Mayor.

A bit off-topic but . . . why doesn't that coal train leave Montana and go north to Canada giving them the opportunity for a brand new coal-dust paradise to the coast? Why the route through Washington?

Dec 29, 2012 northender commented on What We Really Want to Hear from the Candidates Running for Mayor.

I believe in density. But I believe it can be balanced by controlling height. Views are important to all of us. The over-building of a city affects how people behave within the confines of that concrete jungle. Also, they find something like 300 dead birds a day in NY. We can do better than that. A good starting place is smaller apartments rather than taller buildings.

Dec 15, 2012 northender commented on Teachers Are "Parasites" and "Terrorists".

The demonizing of teachers is all about unions and corporate America's desire to rid this country of unions. It is as simple as that. And anyone who follows the news - the real news - knows it. It is no secret except to those who follow the propaganda promoted by those who have hated unions and labor and FDR's New Deal since it began. Thus the assault on all the programs that benefit those of us who work for a living. It is easy to start with women. Mark my word: it will be nurses next. Then firefighters and police. The Heritage Foundation and it's members hate all organizations that benefit the working people.

Teachers and public education are the first victims. Well, not really the first. Just the first in public service. When are we going to stop it and take our country back?