Last week, my regular weather segment on KUOW’s Weekday was canceled. As the whole incident has unfolded, I’ve realized it isn’t about Northwest weather or my occasional comments on math or science education. It is about the essential nature of public radio.
The facts are clear. For 16 years, I have contributed to KUOW, mainly through a five- to six-minute spot on the station’s Weekday program. I volunteered my time because I loved doing it and thought it was important. From the beginning, I insisted that it be more than a weather forecast; my segment had to provide the “whys” behind our local weather and reveal the technology underlying weather prediction. It was meant as scientific outreach, patterned (in a poor way) after the work of my mentor Carl Sagan.
Because KUOW listeners appreciated this approach, the segment continued under a variety of KUOW Weekday hosts. Over time, my topics expanded naturally to include advocacy for new coastal radar (which we got!) and even evaluations of the skill of local TV weathercasters. Based on my day job—teaching thousands of University of Washington students—I became increasingly concerned about the lack of math skills of students coming out of high school. Hundreds of my colleagues felt the same way. And I talked about that on a handful of occasions on my radio segment.
But problems started to develop a few years ago. By that time, Steve Scher was the only host on Weekday and a new producer had taken over as his aide. At first, my rare forays (perhaps twice a year) into talking about math education were no problem, but everything changed on a program when I discussed the role of “discovery” math (not direct instruction but students having to “discover” the principles, lots of group and calculator work, etc.) and the need for better math standards than the “discovery” approach in our state. Advocates of such teaching approaches at the UW College of Education and a separate math-education group in the math department bombarded KUOW with complaints. I was told by Scher and his producer never to talk about educational issues again. They said I was essentially part of KUOW news since I was a regular, and thus they had to present both sides. I countered that it was ridiculous to consider me a KUOW news staffer (after all, I had never been paid by them) and, besides, they had many regulars advocating issues without “balance” (like Rick Steves and his push for pot legalization).
This debate between us went on for a while, and then they laid out an ultimatum—talk about education even once and I was off the program. I caved, considering that if I quit, the Weekday listeners would lose out on quality weather coverage. Scher and his producer never seemed to care or consider the listeners. A year or so passed, and last month, the Seattle Times had a front-page article about strong straight-A students being rejected by the UW in order to secure high-paying out-of-staters. I am an undergraduate adviser with access to student records, and after a discussion with the dean of admissions, I knew the story was deceptive and inaccurate. (As confirmed by the dean of admissions, the only straight-A students who were being rejected were those with cream-puff classes, poor SAT scores, or some other significant deficiency. He also confirmed, as I had found out, that out-of-state students accepted were generally stronger than in-state students—e.g., higher math SATs). Furthermore, the previous discussion of this topic on Weekday‘s “Week in Review” session was misinformed.
The next week, when my segment was moved to the second hour, I mentioned the facts.
That sealed my fate. Shortly after, the Weekday producer sent me an e-mail saying I was forbidden from talking about issues other than weather. I waited a week to respond to this provocative e-mail and tried to be conciliatory, yet principled. I wrote back to say that while I was not looking to talk about other issues more than a few times a year, I could not agree to self-censorship and such restrictions were out of keeping with the nature of public radio. The next day, in a note from Steve Scher, I was fired.
The reaction by the public stunned me. My blog has received almost 300 comments, my e-mail inbox was filled with over 400 supportive comments, a Facebook page was created with more than 1,500 supporters, and KUOW’s Facebook site and e-mail inbox were inundated with hundreds, if not thousands, of critical comments. People really cared, and the discontent extended well beyond my situation.
The huge reaction to my firing reflects the importance of public radio to so many and the isolation of many public radio staff from those they should be serving. Thousands of Northwest residents clearly care about public radio and its role as a “community center” for discussing the major issues facing our region and nation. Furthermore, beyond my situation, all the comments and e-mails suggest an unhappiness with many aspects of KUOW’s offerings and a feeling that this public radio station no longer reflects the public’s interests or cares about their needs.
It appears to many that when a KUOW host has control of a public radio show for decades, he comes to feel that the program is his to do with what he likes, rather than the public’s. It is his show, not theirs. Increasingly, local public radio has become isolated, rigid, and unresponsive to those it serves, even as it requests increasing public support. The rise of social media has shown that other modes of creating an intellectual commons are possible, and the contrast with an aging and inflexible local public radio enterprise has become stark and obvious.
I would love to return to KUOW to continue to talk about the amazing weather of the region, but I don’t want to do it with a muzzle—unable to discuss my concerns as an educator. Weather is important, but our society’s failure to properly educate many of its youth is a crisis, and both deserve open discussion on the public airwaves. 
I find this bit from Cliff Mass’s blog a much simpler explanation for why he’s trying to burn KUOW to the ground.
I don’t think Cliff is trying to burn KUOW to the ground – just hold them accountable for a bad decision. I am a listener and financial supporter of KUOW, and I’m completely on Cliff’s side.
And what he points out in the quote, @1, isn’t wrong: it has annoyed the crap outta me on many occasions that Cliff gets pushed into the second hour of Weekday (which I’m consistently unable to listen to due to work), I end up missing him for the week.
Cliff is a great meteorologist, and a valuable local voice. If something is important enough that he wants to talk about it, I want to hear him say it.
I don’t think Cliff has said all of KUOW is wrong. He points out his conflict with a couple of people and how he didn’t have this issue for a very long time.
“They said I was essentially part of KUOW news since I was a regular, and thus they had to present both sides.”
Well, KUOW can’t have it both ways. Over at Publicola, Guy Nelson, the station director, says Cliff is a “guest.” Is he a guest or a regular, make up your mind.
I almost never heard Cliff talk off topic and so this seems weird to me. I can’t believe it was that big an issue for KUOW. That their Friday pundits got basic facts wrong is no big surprise and that Cliff works for and is on an admission committee for UW seems pertinent to him making a comment.
KUOW, except for reporter Phyllis Fletcher, consistently gets education stories wrong. I don’t know why but it’s vexing to hear the Friday pundits go on about a story (like the Ingraham principal firing) and have basic facts wrong.
I”m still boycotting KUOW. Either listeners get to have some input or they don’t need the money.
Professor Mass,
This will sound harsh, but I have no empathy for you. I recognize that you volunteered your time, but the reality is you deviated on more than one occasion from doing the job they asked you to do–the thing you are an expert on–the weather. The bottom line is you broke the rules, even after they warned you. Anyway, you have a huge following. Quit whining, get off your high horse, and get your own show. Problem solved.
The fact is we have dozens of politicized media outlets. We subsidize “Public Radio” so that it can be above that. When KUOW serves itself, it does not serve the public. I could not name 3 programs on KUOW, but I could easily listen to an educated insider such as Cliff Mass give his opinions on various topics in higher education. As for “breaking the rules,” rules followers are putzes. I bet you work an hourly job, #4 . Guys like Mass rise above that, people such as yourselves follow orders. I know who I’d rather get information from. And I question your one premise, that he’s not an expert on higher education. He’s a multi-decade member of higher education, and he has intimate knowledge of the subjects he’s commenting on. I agree he deserves his own show, probably outside the KUOW cocoon. This recent episode is reminding me why I hardly ever listen to public radio.
It seems a little strange that a weather expert would complain when asked to restrict his opining to the things he’s an expert on.
Although I can’t stand Steve Scher and never listen to his show, I don’t think he was out of line to ask you to report on the weather and not whatever else you felt like talking about. Also, Steve Scher’s show IS his show. It’s not the public’s. That’s a ridiculous statement. If it were the public’s show, I might actually listen to it.
Cliff Mass’ weather segments have been a highlight of my Fridays for the past nine years. That said, I don’t think it was unfair for Scher and the Weekday producers to stick to their guns. For Mass to expect to parlay his 5-minute weather segment into punditry, regardless of his tenure, delusional. In his statement on the matter, Scher wrote that he would be happy to bring Mass on to discuss other issues, just not during the weather segment. I love Mass’ work both in academics and on his blog, but I think he’s the one in the wrong.
The point is not that Cliff was a volunteer, nor is it that he strayed off topic. The point is that lots of other guests stray off topic when they’re on the show and they haven’t had their segments cut at all. (Rick Steves, Joni Balter, et al, to name a few.) This is PUBLIC radio, and plenty of people other than UW, contribute to its funding and as such, should take their concerns seriously. That’s why so many people are upset.
TL;DR http://cliffmasstldr.blogspot.com/2011/0…
If you’d like to see Cliff back on the air, please sign this petition: http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/cl…
What exactly is Steve Scher’s expertise? Talking?
@12-Steve Scher has a PhD in windbaggery, with a minor emphasis on talking over and misinterpreting his guests’ important points.
I just listened again to the April 22 show from 11am. The biggest problem with Steve Sher’s argument about Cliff Mass being “only” a weatherman for the show and that there needs to be an opposing viewpoint that must be scheduled for any other topics Cliff wants to discuss, is that the opposing viewpoint was in the studio at the time! Joni Balter wrote the article that Cliff was refuting and she was on the air at the same time. Opposing viewpoint: Check
Hold on a second, @6 and others: Are you saying a professor at UW isn’t informed about education issues? What exactly qualifies as an “expert” if not an actual teacher?
And anyway, 99% of what he discussed on Scher’s show was weather-related, and even when he got into educational issues, it was still nearly always tangentially related to climatology…it’s not like he went off about how incoming students had no poetry skills or couldn’t speak French.
KUOW is attempting to portray this as a simple hiring/firing issue, and not about suppressing opinions inconvenient to a well-placed few.
The fact is, Scher claims his show is about controversial topics, and both sides of the issue need to be presented. Cliff had largely capitulated to his request that he confine his comments to the weather, rather than the controversial topic of education that he is well-qualified to comment on. Hrm. Then when Scher didn’t have anyone else to argue the opposite side of the Seattle Times article, Cliff felt compelled to speak up. So he got canned.
Scher is the worst kind of hypocrite. He exercised what he felt to be his right to terminate Cliff, a well-respected local figure. (Don’t mess with our weathermen, Steve.) He should just be prepared to deal with the fallout: a bunch of well-informed Seattlites (Ross Reynolds assertion that we haven’t read Scher’s vile letters and Cliff’s blog is silly; most of us wouldn’t be upset if we hadn’t) who see what he’s doing and are willing to withdraw their support to KUOW over an issue that ought to be something actively discussed and covered on Public Radio.
Maybe Steve would be more comfortable working at a Fox News type situation. I would certainly be more comfortable.
If you just want Cliff back, go here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Put-Cliff…
They have over 1900 fans at this point, and could well outstrip KUOW’s Weekday at the pace they are going. They’ve already left The Conversation in the dust.
If you want Scher and Sewall gone, go here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tell-KUOW…
Cliff doesn’t endorse the second page or have any involvement with it. I run it with a friend. Like Scher, we are exercising our right to do what we want regarding things we feel fall under our purview. I’m doing it in a way that is not offensive or braying. I keep a civil tongue because I know that’s how you win an argument.
It’s a rude thing to ask for someone’s termination, especially in this kind of economy. But in addition to the events of the last week, Scher is just plain lousy at his job. That alone ought to get him the sack, regardless of what happened with Cliff.
If Scher were doing his job, he would have invited Mass to participate in the discussion about UW admissions, and would routinely invite him to participate in any discussion about math and science education.
The Stranger should have Cliff Mass as a regular contributor. I would totally read a bi-weekly “Cliff Mass says whatever he wants” column.
@7: KUOW has a community broadcast license, you dipshit. The airwaves are a public good. KUOW is using our airwaves, and they are most definitely accountable to us.
To your readers,
In case you’re interested, KUOW’s decision on Cliff Mass comes from management and station policy. Steve Scher’s action was simply in compliance with those.
The decision to end Cliff’s segment is completely in line with standard practices both here at KUOW and in public radio in general.
That practice is to book guests and contributors to speak on specific agreed-upon topics. If they don’t want to confine themselves to the agreed-upon topics, we won’t book them.
In fact, all traditional media have editorial rules to determine who gets to speak and what they can speak about. Enforcing those limits and agreements is not censorship. It’s done for a higher purpose – to keep the programming focused, fair and balanced.
KUOW’s editorial rules differentiate between those who may give opinions on our airwaves and those who may not. Hosts and reporters are not allowed to take sides on issues. Guests are allowed to opine freely and be rigorously challenged by the host and listeners.
In his Friday weather segment, Cliff Mass had the distinctive role of contributor. As such, he functions journalistically, as we do – remaining informative and objective. He can speak about science, but he’s not free to digress into any topic he feels like, especially policy issues that may be controversial or polarizing.
Critics point to Rick Steves as a contradiction to this policy, but there is a difference. Rick has appeared as a guest on KUOW about once a year for the past five years. As such, he can freely discuss many topics, including legalizing marijuana.
Cliff has also appeared as a guest on KUOW (most recently 12/09) – again, guest, not contributor – and in those interviews he’s had the same opportunity.
Cliff is a passionate advocate for certain causes such as math education and coastal radar. As worthy as those causes may be, we believe our listeners want us to thoroughly examine them by providing differing viewpoints and opinions, not just comments tossed about randomly.
We’ve talked to Cliff many times about his differing roles and expectations. Unfortunately we were not able to come to an agreement that would allow him to continue.
It’s true that certain practices have changed at KUOW over the years. Some types of comments and discussions that were once permitted are no longer so. That’s simply an evolution of our editorial practices as station management continuously re-evaluates what we do. We strive to produce solid radio journalism and refrain from providing an unchecked platform for any individuals or interest groups.
And let me state unequivocally that this decision is not political in any sense. No one is being censored, no outside pressure came from the UW or anyone else. We value listener input and will continue to explore ways to work with Cliff that meet our mutual needs and desires. We wish him well in his future endeavors.
Sincerely,
Guy Nelson
KUOW News Director
Guy Nelson–
Bullship. Stop treating your listeners like idiots. We are not.
Guy Nelson–
You had a reporter talking about the UW admissions policy for an hour with no balanced alternative to her opinions. Then someone who was actually involved in the UW admissions process and had spoken to the Dean of Admissions was available to relay first-hand knowledge and perspective. That person was Cliff Mass. Any credible journalist would find themselves lucky to have such an articulate person to “balance” the opinions of your first guest.
Your response to this situation is Bullshit. Stop treating your listeners like idiots and stop backing the unprofessional actions of your host who ended a 15-year relationship with a snarky email. “See you at the gym” has now become a snarky way to end something. Well, a lot of your listeners are saying, “See you at the gym, KUOW–our money is going elsewhere.”
Much as I generally respect you Guy, I think you’re off on this one. Others have pointed out Joni was on for almost an hour.
Your letter sounds like corporate weasel speak – I don’t think it’s going to win many converts.
I swear to never listen to Steve’s show again. What Cliff said is right on, an really, this seems like an ego issue, something that Steve pretends NOT to have. Perhaps Weekday should only discuss flowers and what affluent mothers, stay at home mother do while their children are being taken care of by nannies? Or Seattle’s favorite chic restaurants? Or what books to read that will make you seem like an intellectual, or how to make compost, or which coffee joints have cups that are biodegradable, or the best exhibits to see on your lunch break… Cliff only added value to the show, and science and math education has long been a problem. His ideas stand up on their own merits and worthy of our consideration. It’s not like he’s talking crazy-talk –defending the display of the confederate flag, intelligent design or the rapture. This incident seriously cast a shadow of a doubt on Steve and his producer. I think they did it without really understanding how much we love and are fascinated by the weather here. They are watching a parade go by and thinking, hey, where did that come from? There’s a parade today. This is a shameful waste of a public resource and only adds another log to the fire of defunding public broadcasting.
Start calling Joni Balter a regular cuz gawd knows she gets enough airtime on KUOW, can her ass for one-sided axe grinding, and we’ll call it even.
Also, fire Scher on the general principle that anybody who interacts with the public for a living, thinks it’s a good idea to fire somebody by e-mail, signs off with “see you at the gym” and publishes it unedited – must be stupid or a sleaze ball HR disaster-in-waiting.
Since Rick Steeves has had a weekly travel show on KUOW for at least several years Mr. Nelson’s statement above, I’m sorry there just isn’t any other way to put it, is wrong. Doesn’t the KUOW News Director even know what is on KUOW? Besides, this is really an extraneous point.
How long has Prof. Mass taught? As a full professor, an apparent expert in his field, in which mathematics is a major component, his experience on the state of math. education is more than “mere opinion”. In a few decades, less if we are lucky, the results of the changes in math education will show us who is correct. Meanwhile, I for one, want, and expect, public radio to air divergent information. Even if it “steps on the toes” of other “powers that be”. Esp. if it steps on the “toes of powers that be”! It is abundantly clear that Prof. Mass is speaking for himself when mentioning math education. Only someone not paying attention would think otherwise.
As some would say, KUOW “man up” and do the right thing!
Since Rick Steeves has had a weekly travel show on KUOW for at least several years Mr. Nelson’s statement above, I’m sorry there just isn’t any other way to put it, is wrong. Doesn’t the KUOW News Director even know what is on KUOW? Besides, this is really an extraneous point.
How long has Prof. Mass taught? As a full professor, an apparent expert in his field, in which mathematics is a major component, his experience on the state of math. education is more than “mere opinion”. In a few decades, less if we are lucky, the results of the changes in math education will show us who is correct. Meanwhile, I for one, want, and expect, public radio to air divergent information. Even if it “steps on the toes” of other “powers that be”. Esp. if it steps on the “toes of powers that be”! It is abundantly clear that Prof. Mass is speaking for himself when mentioning math education. Only someone not paying attention would think otherwise.
As some would say, KUOW “man up” and do the right thing!
Why are the Mass supporters so , well Ayn Randian? Just sayin’…
Sorry Cliff, there are more ways than one to receive “quality weather reporting.”
Yeah! Put Mass and his 162k salary back on the air!
Let that entitled whiney fuckface have more of a platform to get bookdeals.
Hey Dr. Mass how the fuck hard is it to be a weatherdouche in fucking Seattle?
Oh and thanks for blowing the Thanksgiving snowstorm. You got tons of cred.
I really liked Cliff’s weather segments and will miss them, but holy shit, people, he’s not a martyr and this is not a First Amendment catastrophe. Cliff, the more you go on about this, the more you are sounding like a big whiner who has gotten a little too accustomed to the academic Ivory Tower and the fawning of the people who think you’re neat. In the real world, people get canned all the time for reasons they don’t agree with and that may in fact be less than fair. It’s not a humanitarian crisis, a travesty of justice, or proof that public radio is a sham. Time for everybody to find a little perspective and move on.
I learned many years ago that if you have to fire someone, the bigger failure is yours. In this case, KUOW could have taped his spots and edited them to make sure he was on topic, if they were so worried. But they chose to do nothing: they obviously didn’t care enough about his contributions to keep him on the air. That’s the decision KUOW’s management (loosely defined) needs to own.
Cliff Mass will be fine. KUOW doesn’t care. We, the listeners, are the only ones who miss out. I hope the KUOW board understands when volunteers or donors ask about this next time they’re expected to fund this trainwreck.
I’m pretty sure the “guy nelson” commenter is not Guy Nelson.
There are only two instances of this comment, one on blatherwatch and now here. None through official channels.
So, @19 is a big fake.
Being an expert in a science that involves mathematical modeling does not actually make you an expert on k-12 mathematics pedagogy. Ask anyone who’s had to suffer through grad school under a hotshot advisor: being a successful researcher in your field IN NO WAY implies being able to teach it to others (or to be able to prescribe the methods by which to teach the ten-years-aforehand prerequisites of your field, as Mass presumes to do.) And I’ve never seen any evidence that Cliff Mass has credentials regarding pedagogy.
I do think that he should go on KUOW for an hour against someone who actually knows shit about pedagogy, though, that would be useful.
@32 I’m a tad suspicious, too. I would hope KUOW would respond officially via the Stranger staff, rather than diving in the dangerous waters of The Comments.
Side note – “We wish him well in his endeavors” is mealy-mouthed HR talk for canning someone. Always sounds snarky and disingenuous.
The real problem is UW vested interests putting pressure on KUOW, combined with some prima donna ossification within the KUOW institution.
Oh come on. Guy Nelson’s remarks about contributors remaining on-focus make perfect sense. You can’t have a show where every guest or contributor feels free to opine on whatever bothers him that day. Well, you can, but it wouldn’t be a very good show.
Cliff Mass was not invited on KUOW to talk about feline homeopathy, deep-vein thrombosis, or math education. He was invited to talk about the weather. When he decided unilaterally that he could say fuck-all to KUOW, he was canned. Appropriately so. And I like Cliff Mass.
Cliff has (for good reason) built a following around here. Great for him – I’m one of those followers. But I’m disappointed in his reaction to this decision by KUOW. Move on, they have every right to cut him off. I don’t even care what the reason is.
Assuming Cliff is half the personality and influencer he thinks he is, he’ll just move on to a bigger and better forum. Any other action on his part comes across to me as an egocentric power play – with a kind of desperate and pathetic aspect.
Cliff Mass is painting himself as the world’s biggest martyr. So he got canned. Boo hoo. It happens all the time in the real world, Prof. Mass. And most of us survive and move on instead of creating Facebook campaigns.
How Mass thinks that listeners want to hear about math and UW admissions practices during his five-minute WEATHER segment is beyond delusional. I enjoyed listening to his WEATHER segments as much as anyone, but if he wants to use it as a soapbox to talk about math or music or methadone centers, well, I’d want KUOW to find another talking weather-head to replace him.
People who don’t believe that #19 is really Guy Nelson? Geez, get a clue – Contact KUOW and see for yourselves that yes, that is he.
And for everyone calling for Joni Balter’s head: Have you not noticed that during the Friday news wrap-up segment, your beloved Stranger’s Eli Sanders is also sharing a microphone w/ Ms. Balter? Off with his head, too!
Finally, shame on The Stranger: The cover of this week’s issue promises “Cliff Mass vs. KUOW,” but all we get inside is a one-sided regurgitation of Mr. Mass’s blog screed. If you really wanted to offer a “Him vs. Them” feature, you would have brought in Steve Scher or Guy Nelson or Katy Sewall for a Point-Counterpoint with Mr. Mass.
Shame on KUOW – They even tried to force all their BETTER broadcasters to not say their names when they were on the air – ! because supposedly it would make them into on air-personalities. Heaven forbid that local radio should have actual people. Especially if station supporters might develop a like (or dislike) of broadcasters – then KUOW couldn’t fire everyone “at-will”.
Scher is out of line. Fine, Dr. Mass pounds the pulpit on occasion. But. Steve is so used to having a script of questions handed to him by the governor & mayor when they are on and Steve does his stuttering Eddie Haskall suck-up routine with people of “power” I think he’s playing the big brother & slapping down Cliff because he can.
KUOW is out of line in so many ways it is time to us this as an opportunity to clean house. We pay all wages through the “U-dub”. They work for us. Steve makes near 90K a year…
BY the way, why are employees of KUOW considered essential state employees & not being forced mandatory time off??
In many, many ways Steve Scher has jumped the shark. Did you catch his time with the mayor at the time of the murder of the Indian carver? Steve claims he a journalist, he should have nailed the mayor but really he could care less, his near 90K a year is more important than truth..
Dr. Mass if you would have pushed legalizing pot like Rick steves does on a regular basis, you would have been: “ok”.
I like Cliff’s contributions on KUOW, but he is being a big crybaby and it is very unattractive. I doubt he has the support of his colleagues at UW. Cliff should do himself a favor and listen to those who have told him to back off–they are his friends.
People did warn him, but he has a messiah complex.
This was Cliff’s final warning on the air:
http://www.kuow.org/mp3high/mp3/WeekdayB… Scher warns him.
@ 37: Yes, they have the right to cut him off. It just seems like they let the minute letter of the law get in the way of the larger picture: were the lapses really so great that it meant purging one of the most interesting and beloved of contributors? Really? I guess they feel clean, knowing they are following their rules, but from the listener’s perspective, they just chose to dump a huge asset. All of their legalese can not make up for it.
#33
K-12 experts on pedagogy are getting things wrong, and that is the issue. If your goal is to give people good math education and after 12 years of math education people in your charge clearly know less than their counterparts from other states and countries, your methods are not working.
You are more likely to succeed as an educator if you follow methods that have been proven successful elsewhere rather than coming up with things like “discovery math”.
Discovery math versus math books used in Singapore? Hmmmm, I wonder which ones would serve better for my kids. I really want my kids to know and appreciate math.
I have two daughters in elementary school. They very clearly do not benefit from working in groups nor do they seem to discover much of math when at school.
Their teachers are wonderful people, but they have to follow the Seattle public schools curriculum.
I got seriously alarmed when, come fifth grade, my older daughter still did not understand how to use the equal sign. I began paying closer attention, and sure enough, my third grader is clueless when it comes to the equal sign. For God’s sake. The equal sign.
Luckily, I have enough time and passion for math and now I tutor my kids. They are not as dumb as I was afraid. They simply receive bizarre instructions.
#43, #38
Cliff Mass is not painting himself as a martyr, he is not a cry baby. He cares about things that you probably give a damn about and thus you do not understand what is the big deal.
@38: as a total side note, Ms. Balter takes up a LOT of that hour’s airtime. She jumps in as if she is the appointed default speaker, and then talks over and interrupts the other guests. It is, frequently and tediously, her forum.
I can’t comment on the specifics of the KUOW decision, but I can say this with a high degree of authority: Cliff Mass is a narcissistic East Coast know it all whose way of communicating in person leaves the other side feeling like he’s all talk and no listen. This is hardly the first conflict Cliff has had that at heart is basically just a personality/communication issue.
It may just be that the doors at KUOW were no longer big enough to accommodate his fat head.
If keeping programming focused and on track is a priority for KUOW, Jesus Christ, then why is Steve Scher on the air at all? The guy has as much focus as a fart; he’s a walking non-sequitor.
@33: As an undergraduate advisor and as someone involved in the admission process, it sounds like Mr. Mass is a well positioned front line witness to the failures of the touchy-feely hokum presented by “discovery math” and other failed education approaches.
An article about the Mass/KUOW riff written BY Mass. That is SO Mass. Was I the only one who noticed the constant pitches for his book or where he would be giving a lecture and signing his book. Give me a break. This is a Mass tantrum about losing free public face time to promote Mass Inc.