In 2008, the Tacoma School District implemented a boundary invasion policy, which prohibits interaction that is deemed a personal or one-on-one form that includes face-to-face, phone call, email, social networking or written letter forms.

Restrictions like these only permit interactions between school staff and students/parents of what is deemed educational or within the approved curriculum and school-related business. If students bring up personal issues, staff are required to refer students to the counselor/guidance staff.

However since the policy’s implementation, staff members still violate conduct laws as Donte Lipscomb and other staff allegedly have done. The policy does little to prevent …

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Since the early 1970s, we have worked hard to include students with disabilities in the mainstream classroom, to exercise and enjoy, as they are able, their right to a free public education. Their presence teaches us all a bit about our humanity, how we can help others and share the bounties of this democracy.

If teachers are to be evaluated on standardized test scores, and that test data is not adjusted for the particular students in a teacher’s room, then that teacher will be punished and discriminated against, even though the students may have accomplished academic miracles relative to their …

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Re: “Tweaks won’t cure flawed system” (letter, 2-20).

The letter writer made two serious errors. He reported that a group of white Marines didn’t learn history, and from that example he concluded schools are failing.

While the Marines defended their shenanigans (posing in front of a Nazi SS banner) with ignorance, I contend that they not only knew it was a Nazi flag, but took pride in the symbolism as a designation of their swift and lethal response. Of all the flags in the world, why would this one be chosen?

As far as history in the schools, it …

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It was ironic that Leonard Pitts Jr.’s column (TNT, 2-16) about the Marines posing with an SS flag would appear the same day as Peter Callaghan’s column putting the best face on the latest pathetic efforts to pass a please all/solve nothing education reform.

Pitts rightly deplores history no longer being taught. Sadly, it was a necessary sacrifice to make room for all the trendy edu-gimmicks that have brought modern education down to the level it wallows in today.

As long as the Washington Education Association maintains its stranglehold on the process and the politicians who fund it, …

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It is time for lawmakers to stop playing shell games with education funding.

For the past several weeks, Washington lawmakers have been spending lots of time and energy on worn-out distractions and false solutions to our state’s education needs.

First we were told charter schools would be the magic bullet, but across the country a ridiculous number of charter schools are either failing or are bogged down in controversy. Then lawmakers chose to focus on punitive teacher evaluations, a distraction from the real issues facing our public schools. And then came their money-losing health care scheme, which would punish educators …

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Re: “Education ‘innovation’ is meaningless if the fundamentals are weak” (Viewpoint, 2-10).

I want to compliment Kathie Zurfluh for her well-written article on education innovation. It is refreshing to see someone who operates “in the arena” muster the courage to attack the nonsense of “innovation” that is unsupported by outcome-based research.

For many years I have been away from public education, but I can remember the frustration of watching well-publicized educational strategies come and go without resulting in improved standardized test scores.

However, while Zurfluh clearly points out the proven strategies available to teachers and schools, I have a …

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I am writing as a community member who has been a student in the Clover Park School District in the recent past. I graduated from Lakes High School in 2007 and prior to that attended Hudtloff Middle School and Idlewild Elementary School.

There are many good reasons to pass the upcoming educational programs and operations levy. Eighty percent of levy spending goes to support the classrooms by maintaining smaller class sizes, purchasing current textbooks, and providing academic and career guidance. The levy also provides support for safety and security, like campus resources officers and fire alarms.

Voting yes for the …

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My thanks to the citizens who have posted an informative campaign sign about the Feb. 14 Peninsula School District levy renewal request. The sign says the cost per student in our district is $9,459.

I notice the tuition at Bellarmine Preparatory is greater than $12,000, and the upper schools at Annie Wright and Charles Wright Academy are in excess of $20,000. These costs don’t include books or transportation.

Private schools also have to solicit donations and hold fund drives to keep their tuition as low as it is. It would cost even more if they had to meet the needs …

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