[This comment is written in response to an op-ed by Dr. Maria Goodloe Johnson, superintendent of Seattle Public Schools in the Seattle Times (our last print daily) Here is a link:]
It is very disappointing to read Ms. Goodloe-Johnson’s vague evaluation of SPS, starting with her goals. As the parent of a graduate of SPS and an educator, I disagree: we educate our children to prepare for civic participation by fostering critical thinking skills and encouraging the imagination. Working toward this goal, students will develop life preparation, whether college, apprenticeship or other career paths lie before them. I do agree with her that the current approach (and we need many) fails most students but it is by focusing on quantitative results instead of teacher support and student aspirations. However, her vague analysis and feel good story subvert any serious address of the problems facing public education.
The focus may appear on the superintendent, but it is the board which has failed. A superior administrator was in the district and the board neglected him. Anti-public education forces encouraged the present board constituency. We need a city wide response and community process to address both crisis and long term solution. I’m not satisfied with letting the "leaders" do it.
Alice Dubiel has exhibited her work in the US, Asia and Europe for more than 35 years. Since 1994 she has created paintings and prints as well as installations and projects concerned with ecology and the politics of representation. She has worked with community based groups and exhibits in similar spaces. The Landscape Tale and Implode the Dome were conceptual works to stimulate community-based land use dialogue, appearing at Bumbershoot, the Seattle Arts Festival, 911 media arts and in ArtPapers, published in Atlanta. In 2007, she co-curated with artist Deborah Lawrence, Syndicalism: The Art of Tend and Befriend, a group exhibition by Art Cartel at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center.Dubiel has received public funds for artmaking and research including the National Endowment for the Humanities. In 2007 she received funds from 4Culture in King County, WA for The Hazel Tree Mother and again in 2014 she received 4Culture funds for travel to Korea. In 2006, she was artist in residence at North Cascades National Park.Ā Her work appears in the collections of the University of Washington and Swedish Medical Centers, the National Museum of Women in the Arts and is represented in private US collections. Her work appears in Women Artists of the American West by Susan Ressler.Born in Berkeley, CA, she received a master's in painting from San Jose State University and an AB in English literature from UC Santa Cruz, and pursued graduate literature studies in medieval literature, art and critical theory. Dubiel works and lives with her family in Seattle where she volunteers as an amateur naturalist.
ZNetwork is funded solely through the generosity of its readers.
Donate
