Naming public schools can too easily become a dumb political distraction from the real issue: how much learning, and of what quality, occurs in those schools. Recent events in the south Seattle suburb of Federal Way provide a case in point. Still unresolved and gobbling up time and resources is a controversy fueled by a proposal to name a middle school after late Puyallup Tribes chief Bob Satiacum, who championed tribal fishing rights, but fled the country after a racketeering conviction.
The Tacoma News Tribune notes that a school board member has now resigned, storming out of a public meeting in anger after the board punted a decision on the school's naming to students. In Federal Way, district policy is that middle schools have Native American names (one notable exception being an outstanding charter-like school named Federal Way Public Academy). The Puyallup Tribe and supporters wanted the new middle school named after Satiacum; others prefer an homage to Patrick Maher, a local cop slain in the line of duty.
At this point, I'd say just name the facility "Feathered Muskrat Middle School," and get on with the mission-critical work of educating children. For further instruction there, take a close look at the district's one middle school not given a Native American name: Federal Way Public Academy is a model of academic rigor and college prepatory focus. The way to honor the Native American community, and parents and students of all hues, is to focus on getting public school students ready for college. This requires that local officials statewide - and state legislators - eschew the condescending White Guilt agenda of pandering to minorities with "alternative" testing tools, watered-down curricula, and politically symbolic window dressing.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at April 15, 2005 09:45 AM | Email ThisIt was the member that resigned that encouraged the Satiacum people. I believe, but I may be mistaken, that he also encouraged the Maher people. Without him, there may have never been any controversy.
The board pretty much considers this a non-issue and have said so many times. President Hoff said on many occasions that he wishes people were as concerned with academics as with the naming of the schools. He frequently schedules academic issues before the naming issues so that people that show up for the naming get to see what the board really spends its time doing.
During the naming issue, the board had held work study meetings on the following topics:
- How to get parents more involved in academics
- How to prepare more kids for college or the workforce
- How to rework high school schedules to better coordinate college plans and the rising requirements of them.
- How to help students who want to attend the industrial schools in the areas rearrange their schedules so they can still be ready for college.
- How to better advertise the fact that FWPS is a choice school district, and parents can send their kids pretty much anywhere they like.
- Core Knowledge and other rigorous curriculum
So don't think that this fervor with the naming has been clouding out the important issues, at least not for the board and the district. It's a very minor issue.
Do a little research on K-8 and you'll find some very promising things.
Posted by: Jonathan Gardner on April 15, 2005 10:59 AMA bit OT but
I've been involved in both Tribal and School District governments for only a few years. Here is what I've seen so far:
1. Non-Natives don't know why Tribes have "special" rights and others don't
2. Tribes sold land and resource rights for these "special" rights. Between governments that's called a Treaty
3. Tribes found a few loopholes
4. Non-natives hate that Tribe's found the loopholes
5. Tribes feel discrimated against
6. Non-Natives feel discrimated against
So my question to you is how do you get the Tribes out of the pockets of the Dems?
John Carlson asked me the same question about 4 months ago I am still having a tough time coming up with a solution. The only thing I could come up with is GOP leadership/college sponsorship programs in Indian Country. Note that is Indian and not Native American Country?
John
Sauk-Suiattle
What about opening (tax free) gambling to all, not just to tribes?
The Federal government made the decision that Tribes are equal to state governments with some exceptions when they signed the treaties. Tribes do not have taxing authority to the best of my understanding but still are required to collect taxes for the State.
The State of Washington signed a compact with many, not all, of the tribes and agreed they do not have the authority to tax tribes. So what did the State and Tribes agree to? I don’t know all of it, each compact is different. I do know every tribe that operates a kasino pays a certain percentage to the local, city and county, law enforcement agencies for additional protection. I also know the Tulalips pay over 2 million a year. No it’s not a tax but an agreed upon fee for the tribes to operate. How much do the non tribal kasinos pay in taxes? I’m sure a lot more but they are under the jurisdiction of the state not the Tribes.
How about some tribes being the biggest violators of ecology issues with fish entrails and poor sewage plants?
I won’t make excuses for breaking the law. Wrong is wrong and it doesn’t change with skin color. I am doing all I can to make sure my small tribe does not violate our environment or the law.
What I’ve found is where one family in a tribe has had control of the tribal government for an extended period of time you have corruption, abuse and a disregard for the law. It’s no different than state politics, you have the Dems in control for a long time and they disregard the law when it suites them. We have the same problems.
What IS an even playing field in your mind?
I’ve never said level or even the playing field. The land you live on was paid for in return for treaty rights the Tribes and Indians have. If you feel it is just to take our rights away should we demand the land and resources back?
--Not mad, just don't want to be hosed around by ANY political party or interest group. Hope you understand.
I couldn’t have said it better. When my tribe negotiated the price for our land and property rights we expected the government to hold up its end of the bargain. Instead we find ourselves fighting like bill collector to get just a part of our payment. I hope you can see this side of the story.
I hope this helps.
John