Anthony Watts is the second school board candidate, along with first-time candidate Todd Sturgis, to accept my offer to post an unedited message about why he's running for CUSD School Board.
More school board candidate messages are forthcoming. Then I'll move on to Chico CIty Council candidates. Followed by candidates for local dog catcher, baker, and candlestick maker.
As to why he's running for re-election, here's Watts in his own words:
"Many know me from years of public service providing weather forecasts for radio and TV. My role as Trustee for CUSD the last 4 years was my way of continuing that tradition and repaying a community that has been wonderful to my family and me. I'm a husband and father of two children. As a business owner, I understand the importance of staying on budget.
While serving as Trustee, I have consistently voted to maintain a balanced budget, even though some decisions were personally painful. I've also worked to bring additional revenue into the district, such as the Solar Power Project at Little Chico Creek School, which will save CUSD 2.3 million dollars during its lifetime. Being involved in the media, I've also worked hard to improve relations with newspapers, radio, and TV and to improve relations with our employee groups.
I've improved public participation in CUSD and City Council meetings by implementing a live Internet webcast system. I supported hiring of our new superintendent, whose focus is on individual student achievement, and creating a collaborative district wide approach to learning. I would be honored to continue and to have your vote in November.
More info: www.anthonywatts.com
-- Anthony Watts, CUSD School Board Candidate
In addition, now that Watts is an official candidate, he can no longer benefit from "free" media exposure through his professional work on the radio. This is due to FCC equal time rules for candidates.
Here is Watts' press release:
School Board Candidate Watts to remove himself from radio airwaves
Beginning Thursday, August 24th, Anthony Watts will resign from his position as meteorologist for KPAY and Mix95 Radio in order to pursue his school board candidacy.
FCC rules require that any radio station that has a regular on-air personality and whom is running for office in a general election must either provide equal time to all other candidates or remove the on-air personality until the election is complete on November 7th.
Watts will take a leave of absence without pay for over 60 days saying "While this will be a bit of a financial hardship for my family, it's the right thing to do, and I look forward to continuing to serve the community as Trustee for Chico Unified School District.
Dino Corbin, General Manager of Deer Creek Broadcasting said that "I see Anthony as a valuable asset to the school board, his absence from radio is a small price to pay to continue his service to the community".
Today's Scrabble word is weather, the state of the atmosphere at a given time and place, with respect to variables such as temperature, moisture, wind velocity, and barometric pressure.
How do you feel about school vouchers, Anthony Watts?
There has recently been a surge in people running for school boards in order to influence the teaching (or nonteaching) of evolution or creationism. What are your thoughts on the teaching of these two subjects in public schools?
What are your thoughts on military recruiting on high school campuses? Do you think it's ok that schools release private student information to military recruiters?
If, due to budget constraints, you had to choose to cut either the sports program or the arts program at a school, which one would you prefer to cut, and why?
Do you agree with Neil Bush that calculus is 'terribly useless and obscure'?
Can I answer Tasker's questions?
I support school vouchers. But the schools they are used for need to meet the state frameworks and standardized testing. The CTA has too much of a monopoly as it is.
Biology courses must have an evolution component. Creationism could be taught in a social class on world religions, but this is best left to the churches. I think most honest churchgoers don't really want the government providing religious teachings.
I would cut back on both the art and sports programs. Neither are basic for educated persons.
Calculus has been described as the greatest discovery of Man. It was made independently by both Newton and Leibnetz. God (or Nature)'s language is mathematics. It is beyond most people, yet without an understanding of calculus very little of our technology would exist (no cars, no large buildings, no internet, no tv, no movies, not even hairdriers). People who dont undertand this think the world is all about human relationships and gettting their own piece of the pie. Newton, et al, made the pie much, much bigger. As a result, I for one am fully satisfied and have plenty to share with other.
These are well framed questions, to be fair, you should ask the same questions to other candidates such as is done in a televised public forum.
How do you feel about school vouchers?
This idea would distribute monetary vouchers (In California possibly valued between $5,000-$7,000 to match ADA funding) to parents. Parents would use the vouchers applied towards the cost of tuition at private schools including those dedicated to religious themes, such as parochial schools.
Vouchers can seem like a good idea to increase the options parents have for educating their children. But, vouchers pose a threat to the democratic values on which this country was founded. These voucher programs when applied to schools with religious curriculums can weaken the principle of separation of church and state and undermine our system of public education by taking away funding from those schools.
I much prefer our Charter School system, which operates under the umbrella of public schools and the purview of the locally elected school board. We have two wonderful Charter Schools in Chico that are quite successful and I support them. Chico Country Day School and Nord Country School. Nord has been particularly successful in its first year; nearly doubling it’s attendance.
There has recently been a surge in people running for school boards in order to influence the teaching (or non-teaching) of evolution or creationism. What are your thoughts on the teaching of these two subjects in public schools?
I have no designs on either issue, as neither is part of my platform. But I do believe in balance, and if one subject is taught, the opposing view should also get attention. Ultimately, parents should discuss religion with their children, as it is a personal choice. The debate over creationism versus evolution goes back decades, and is now part of our American History. A student needs to know that history to make an intelligent choice about how they view religion.
What are your thoughts on military recruiting on high school campuses? Do you think it's ok that schools release private student information to military recruiters?
I think Military recruiters should get the same opportunity as any other job recruiter on campus, no more, no less. The issue of “private student information� related to Military recruitment was before the CUSD board in 2003, and I chose to support keeping student information private.
If, due to budget constraints, you had to choose to cut either the sports program or the arts program at a school, which one would you prefer to cut, and why?
I would not settle for cutting any more programs, there is far too much of that that has happened already. I would prefer to solve the problem by managing one of the things that is within our control to affect, and that is student attendance. Right now CUSD has about a 95.5% attendance rate. Good by large city comparison, but we can do far better, and just a 1% increase in attendance within CUSD could easily save sports or music programs. I’ve been pushing this issue openly in CUSD meetings the last two years, and last year I met with attendance clerks throughout the school system to get their input. I reported my finding to the board last year and it was concurred that it is something we can work on to our benefit. A lot of it has to do with parent education since there is still a wide belief that an “excused absence� from school does not hurt the schools attendance records, and thus state funding that is tied to it. For example if you child needs to attend the doctor, stopping by the school in the morning, seeing the attendance clerk and picking up assignments allows the student to be counted that day. Likewise three-day weekends where the parents leave Friday morning could benefit the school (and the student) by stopping by the school attendance office to report and pick up assignments.
We have it within our grasp to affect this, and I’ll stand out in front schools in the morning talking to parents and students and handing out pamphlets to drive this point home if need be. Our new superintendent, Chet Francisco tells me he’s working on a plan to improve our attendance.
Do you agree with Neil Bush that calculus is 'terribly useless and obscure'?
For him it could be. But for me, who has studied it, I see the value of it and how to apply it. But this statement illustrates the differences in the way people perceive and learn. Some are analytical, and numbers, equations, and theory speak to them. Others are visual or hands on type learners, that see little use for numbers but whom can draw from everyday experience and become craftsmen or artists of the physical domain. Two of my heroes, Einstein and Edison illustrate this dichotomy. Einstein worked in thought, but Edison worked with his hands. Yet both were geniuses at what they did.
Our educational system needs to encourage both kinds of learning and its application in life. Right now we are losing some kids (part of our attendance problem) to disinterest in college prep programs. These are kids that could become master mechanics, or craftsmen, or artists, or computer network administrators…if we could reach them with something that holds their interest.
That may be at hand. CUSD and Butte College Trustees are having a first ever joint meeting to discuss the possibility of turning what was the ill-fated Canyon View High School site into a joint 9-14 technical high school and Early College. This would be a smaller, focused school that would allow students to pursue trades or higher learning, or both. With this type of focus, it would not need the trappings of a larger comprehensive high school like Canyon View was originally designed to be, such as a gymnasium, football field, track, etc. making it possibly affordable within the finances approved by the Measure A bond in 1998. Operating costs could be shared between CUSD and Butte. This has a real chance of working, and it could become a real magnet for kids all over Butte County as well as the North Valley. Plus those kids can continue on at the same school to get an Associate Degree if they wish, with option of continuation to Butte’s main Campus or CUSC or other colleges for a full Baccalaureate. With trade skills and an Associate Degree in something that interests them they have a fighting chance in life at earning a living wage. See more info on the CUSD-Butte Joint board meeting in this ER article and also about the Early College High School Initiative whom will be helping us mold this idea into reality.
Anthony,
Should paddling be reintroduced as a means of correcting bad behavior in schools?
Should high school science classes teach students that global warming is caused by sun spots, not human activity, and therefore we should continue to burn fossil fuels until they are all spent?
Which TV show do you think was better, "Room 222," or "Welcome Back Kotter"?
Anthony - Kudos for you in your assessment of vouchers, which I fully agree with. I've got a question about your statement below:
I have no idea how the local charter schools fair, but overall, charters schools aren't doing that great. Check out the Aug. 27 NY Times editorial. Here's a snippet:
From what I can tell, the local charter schools are affiliated with the public school system, and so at best are no better than the public schools (according to studies). So, why have them?
Should paddling be reintroduced as a means of correcting bad behavior in schools?
Corporal Punishment aka "paddling" has been a part of child discipline since parenting began. Done correctly, it is designed to inflict temporary pain and embarrassment, but no permanent injury. Like the idea or not, there is no denying that such a punishment can be a powerful motivation to avoid repeating the act which caused it in the first place.
In schools it has been on the downturn nationwide, partly due to a landmark legal case in 1970 which illustrated how such discipline can get out of control. The case was Ingraham v. Wright. The summary of the case is that on October 6th, 1970 a group of pupils at Drew Junior High School in Florida were slow in leaving the stage of the school auditorium when a teacher asked them to do so. The principal, Willie Wright, Jr., took the pupils to his office to be paddled. One pupil, 14-year-old James Ingraham, refused to accept the punishment. An assistant principal and an assistant to the principal held Ingraham prone across a table while Wright hit the child over twenty times with a paddle. The beating caused a hematoma, from which fluid later oozed. A doctor had to prescribe painkillers, laxatives, sleeping pills and ice packs. The child had to rest at home for over ten days and could not sit comfortably for three weeks.
In a case like that, it is clear that school administrators crossed the line of common sense and decency. But having myself been the recipient of a paddling in high school (horsing around in wood shop class, the absolute worst place to do so) and reflecting now upon the fact that it was done with careful determination and not malice, and the fact that it had a powerful effect upon me, and most importantly the desired effect, that I never repeated my mistake, I think it should be re-examined. If a child has no fear of punishment for bad behavior, what tools have we left? I know many parents that spank their children, and I also know many whom would never consider it. Some see it as an important tool, others see it as a throwback. Perhaps, like religion, it needs to be a personal choice, one that parents make in the type of discipline a child can or cannot receive at school. I think that should it ever be reinstated, it should be done in full witness of the parents.
Should high school science classes teach students that global warming is caused by sun spots, not human activity, and therefore we should continue to burn fossil fuels until they are all spent?
For that to happen, Mr. Flannigan makes an assumption in the question- that individual school board members can set classes, tell teachers what to teach or not to teach, or modify textbooks to fit personal views. Of course that is not true. Textbook content is approved at the state level, and local boards have teachers familiar with the curriculum form groups to choose the textbook from the state approved book lists that they think best fits the course they will be teaching. They then take that book to the board for review. I've reviewed all sorts of textbooks during my time on the board. I also have never voted to reject one brought to the board by a teacher textbook committee. Most of the textbooks in use already give great credence to the "CO2 cause of global warming theory". While I happen to have different views on the cause of global warming due to my training as a meteorologist and having been involved with astronomy due to my association to the Chico Community Observatory (another great student and teacher resource in Chico) my personal opinion on that subject has not been reflected in my service to CUSD. I can say however that while I think the cause of GW may be different than current popular opinion, that I still strongly believe in conservation, alternative energy, and pollution reduction. As proof of that, I am the only CUSD board member to install solar power on his/her home and I also spearheaded the Little Chico Creek Solar power project, which is the first for CUSD and the largest Solar PV array on a school north of Sacramento. Note that the webpage for the project does in fact discuss CO2. Being a board member means making decisions that will affect a large number of students, and in the most beneficial way. Personal opinions must give way to making the decision that will benefit students the most. I think the solar power project will provide an excellent example and hands on lab for students that wish to explore alternate energy, plus it will save CUSD about 2.3 million dollars in PG&E cost offsets during its lifetime.
Which TV show do you think was better, "Room 222," or "Welcome Back Kotter"?
What I think about TV shows that fictionalize education for entertainment is irrelevant. Besides, I can hardly remember either one.
From what I can tell, the local charter schools are affiliated with the public school system, and so at best are no better than the public schools (according to studies). So, why have them?
That's an excellent question. The answer can be quite long and detailed, but I'm going to streamline it.
The simple answer is: Charter Schools get more flexibility to design their own educational programs without having to be under as many constraints as regular public schools. This makes for a more efficient use of tax dollars if its run well. It provides a different learning environment that some parents prefer. Contrary to some misconceptions, it does not cost parents money to send children to a charter school. It is a public school.
The Charter School experiment has been compared to "the new math" of the 1960's by some. It is yet to be seen just how well it works over the long term. It's true that nationally some charter schools are doing academically worse or no better than public schools. But some, like charter schools in Chico such as Chico Country Day School and Nord Country School have been very successful. While both of these schools create their own curriculums and methods, they also must answer to state standards and testing. They must also operate efficiently and safely with the best interest of students in mind and they are accountable not only to the state, but also to the locally elected school board. Charter schools must show ongoing diligence in the educational mission in order to have their charter renewed by the local school board. About three years ago, Chico Country Day School wanted to expand and offer a new JR high school concept. But at the time, there were problems. The schools administrator had been under fire from parents and I learned from one of them of potentially unsafe conditions, which triggered a call to a city fire inspector. When I learned that some classrooms didn't have working fire alarms, I brought the issue up in open session and said I could not support a school with such mismanagement and voted with other members of the board to deny the expansion they requested. Members of the CCD charter school board and concerned parents, to their credit, recognized that their entire charter may be in danger, removed their administrator, and hired a new one with a new vision. The next year the CUSD board voted to renew the CCD charter, and I voted in favor. CCD thrives today, and is doing well. Just last week they provided a report to the CUSD board showing their API improvements.