How much is oil really worth? And what would be left over for other things?

Image by Anders V via FlickrGiven that we've built a society entirely dependent on cheap energy, it's important for leaders and concerned people to think about the implications of that dependence --- such as "What happens to our institutions when energy is no longer cheap" and "how much could we wind up paying for oil, and what would that do to our tax revenue, which is how we pay for public goods like schools, police, fire protection, etc."

Just nine days left to vote for Salem-Keizer School Board races

At 8 p.m. a week from Tuesday, we will have elected two new members to the Salem-Keizer School Board, responsible for overseeing Oregon's second-largest school district.

In Zone 6, an incumbent is running unopposed; in Zone 4, Jim Green is running against a nominal opponent who actually filed for three different races and has only campaigned for transit board.

An in Zone 2, the only actually contested race, one of the two candidates is your LOVESalem HQ editor, who suggests these two pieces as important food for thought on the state and direction of our schools: "Dear Secretary Duncan" and "The Testing Machine," a vital warning about what happens when standardized "achievement" tests dominate thinking about school performance.

The local paper's endorsement (and link to the one-hour joint interview) is here.

A gloss on the contested races here.

Last month, the Chamber of Commerce asked candidates a series of written interview questions and promised that the questions and answers would run in the local business monthly. Oddly enough, with no warning, that didn't happen for some reason. So I am publishing the questions and my responses here:

Questions:

1) Very specifically, what do you feel is the greatest barrier to the school district helping students achieve their full academic potential?

Our greatest achievement barrier is our failure to specify and publish detailed learning and measurable intermediate and final performance objectives for all K-12 subjects and our failure to link annual student progress and ultimate grad standards to meeting those objectives rather than to endurance of classroom hours.

Failing to provide detailed learning objectives and performance standards makes it hard for students and families to check their own progress through the curriculum; it also makes students depend on teachers rather than allowing motivated students to progress through the curriculum at a pace that maintains interest. It also makes it hard for students and families to create and implement an individual education plan tailored for each specific student.

But with those learning goals published, parents and teachers can meet annually (joined by the student when older) and agree on their child’s specific goals for the year, targeting the specific objectives to be tackled that year. The job of the district is then to help the family choose and then provide the optimal instruction methods and experiences for the agreed learning, given the student’s learning style, the family willingness to take responsibility for helping the student, and the specific goals selected.

2) How would you create a system to reward high performing teachers for their positive impact on student success?

Students are not widgets. Teachers cannot be ranked like factory workers applying a uniform coating to widgets.

The costly, wasteful, and ineffective fixation on standardized testing is driven by the misconception that you can get better results by ranking individual teachers, giving greater rewards to some and punishing others, as if teachers just don’t care to do a good job now.

Reality: ultimate student success at graduation (or dropping out) appears largely determined before school begins, probably before age three. Teachers whose students enjoy the necessary success attributes in life win awards; the same teachers, with too many students lacking the success assets, will struggle heroically against these deficits, but be labeled failures.

We need measurement not of teachers but of the district. We need long-term monitoring tools to tell us how well we helped families prepare their students for healthy, successful lives. It will be hard to learn to do, but we need to get and use as much data as we can on these real-world outcomes, so we can continually improve our results. Hard, but not impossible, and a crude measure of something important is better than a precise measure of something irrelevant, like standardized test scores.

3) How can you give parents a voice in helping quantify the performance of teachers?

By instituting a system of annual individual education plans for all students, where parents and teachers (and the older students) jointly plan and commit to the goals for the upcoming year, we create the opportunity for accountability, not just for teachers but for all the parties essential for educational success.

Letting parents play a bigger role in selecting learning objectives each year will enhance opportunities for and the commitment to parental involvement and support for the agreed learning program. Critically, an agreed set of specific learning and performance objectives for each student each year lets parents monitor the school and the student both, assessing student learning and identifying specific problems and weaknesses.

Then, as part of the planning for the following year, the parents and the district review the student’s performance against the agreed goals, including how well the parents thought the student did, how well the teachers thought the student did in mastering the learning, and the reason for any discrepancies. Where results have fallen short of expectations, the most important question is whether the school let the partner student and parents know early enough to respond or not.

Start on Mother's Day, be in business by Father's Day, Successful by Labor Day

Image via WikipediaFrom Marion-Polk Food Share's new Community Gardens Director, Ian Dixon-McDonald. You can reach Ian by phone at 503-581-3855 x329, or on his cell at 503-798-0339. Or send an email to imcdonald@marionpolkfoodshare.org.

The following gardens have rental plots currently available for the 2011 Season. Prices vary, and some gardens are free. Please contact the listed coordinator to sign up or get more info!

Calvary Chapel Community Garden
1550 Hoffman Rd. NE, Salem
Michael Harrington
503-304-8840

John Knox Community Garden
452 Cummings Ln., Keizer
Mary Jo Emmett
503-393-0404

Julie’s Garden
590 Elma St. SE, Salem
Cindy Kimball
503-385-1876

Our Savior’s Lutheran Community Garden (1 plot left!)
1770 Baxter Rd. SE, Salem
Bruce Stock
503-399-8601

Orchard Heights Community Garden
Orchard Heights Park, West Salem (5 left)
Angela Jones
angelajjones62@comcast.net

Southeast Salem Neighborhood Garden
410 19th St. SE, Salem
Nicole McDavid
971-208-5402

West Salem Boys & Girls Club Community Garden
925 Gerth St. NW, West Salem
Jan Schmitt
(503) 580-2400

Whittam Community Garden
5205 Ridge Dr. NE, Keizer
Kathy Whittam
kwhittam@comcast.net

Planting Communities! Gardens Network (Woodburn)
Gardens at: Downtown Woodburn, First Presbyterian and Farmworker Housing
Ian Niktab
(503) 544-0401

Patchwork Community Gardens Project (Silverton)
Bernadette Mele
(503) 873-1148

Mill City Community Garden (Mill City)
Kimmel Park
Susan Chamberlin
503-373-9652

St Joseph’s Community Garden (Mt. Angel)
925 Main St.
Sr. Marcella
503-845-6147

Grande Ronde Community Garden (Grande Ronde)
825 Grande Ronde Rd.
Patrice Qualman
503-879-5731

Also Northgate Forgiveness and Peace Garden (503-949-8062) as well as Southeast Keizer Community Garden (503-390-2715) do not give individual plots, but are seeking volunteers to get involved. They are group run, and produce is shared with volunteers.

Demonstrate for Fairness on May 1 at the Capitol

Outspoken indeed

The Statesman Journal ran its endorsements for School Board yesterday.

In more ed news, interesting article here on what happens when schools don't succeed -- it's an expensive "pay now or pay more later" proposition.

Starts today on CCTV: See the Stand for Children forum for Salem-Keizer School Board Candidates

Image via Wikipedia

Pssssssst, wanna know a secret?

There's a school board election coming up for Salem-Keizer schools.

Ballots will go out in about a week, with the count on May 17. Three seats are up.

One features an incumbent running uncontested (Chuck Lee, Zone 6). Another race is all-but-uncontested (Zone 4): Attorney Jim Green had an opponent file but that opponent -- who, in a fit of exuberance or indecision -- also filed for Cherriots board and the Chemeketa board at the same time, and has since decided to concentrate on the transit race.

That leaves just one actually contested race (Zone 2). It includes LOVESalem's chief cook and bottlewasher, the old guy.

There have been two taped forums for the candidates to answer questions. Watch both for yourself and make up your mind. Remember, the voting is district wide, so although the candidates have to live in a certain zone to run, every registered voter can help determine which of the two candidates in Zone 2 will be influencing educational policy for the next four years.

Tape of the Statesman-Journal interview is here. About an hour.

[corrected:] And local public access cable channel CCTV of Salem will put these on Channel 21 at the times below, but you can also stream the CCTV showing on your computer at the same times below by going here and looking for the LIVE streaming link.

[Channel 21] Salem-Keizer School Board Candidate Forum (90 min)

• April 23rd, 2011 (Saturday) 11 am
• April 24th, 2011 (Sunday) 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm
  
• April 26th, 2011 (Tuesday 4 pm
  
• April 30th, 2011 (Saturday) 4 pm
  
• May 11th, 2011 (Wednesday 5 pm
  
• May 12th, 2011 (Thursday) 6 pm
• May 13th, 2011 (Friday) 4 pm
• May 14th, 2011 (Saturday) 5 pm
• May 16th, 2011 (Monday) 1 pm

Memories of Middle School

Frazz is the BEST.

Celebrate Earth Day with Queen of the Sun and a local hero

The best movie house between San Francisco and Vancouver, B.C., our own fine gem, Salem Cinema, brings a super-special event to Salem for Earth Day, QUEEN OF THE SUN, along one of the local beekeepers profiled at the 6 p.m. showing on Saturday, April 23:

QUEEN OF THE SUN: What Are The Bees Telling Us?

United States. 2011. Directed by
Taggart Siegel. (83 mins.)
Not Rated.

What's all the buzz about? In celebration of Earth Day, please join us for the magnificent documentary QUEEN OF THE SUN: WHAT ARE THE BEES TELLING US?

Jon Betz and Silverton commercial beekeeper Andy Angstrom will join us on Saturday, April 23rd to answer questions following our 6 PM screening!

This wildly entertaining honey of a documentary is a dynamic, fascinating, bee-autiful blend of poetry and science, providing not only an eye-opening education on the collapse of our honeybee colonies and the affect on our earth's fragile ecosystem but the information necessary to prompt action. For the gloriously shot QUEEN OF THE SUN, winner of swarms of awards, Portland filmmaker Taggart Siegel (THE REAL DIRT ON FARMER JOHN) made a beeline around the globe to interview some of the world's most gregarious and passionate beekeepers. Their heartfelt, hopeful and focused proposals to inspire sustainable practices take some of the sting out of the vital, alarming message this thoughtful film brings to the hive.

Earth Day Celebration at Salem Saturday Market tomorrow!

Image by NatalieMaynor via FlickrThe great folks behind the "Friends of Salem Saturday Market" send this along. Salem Saturday Market is one of the best things around, and joining in and with the Friends gives you a way to both give and get more great stuff from this local wonder.

Happy Spring!

Hello again from Friends of Salem Saturday Market! The Market has begun again, and we've got some great plans in the works. :

2011 Season: The Market is back in season! It opened [April 2] with an interesting mix of sun and rain, but the vendors reported brisk business. They're glad to be back, and I know we're all glad to have them return! Salem Saturday Market is your best source for fresh, local produce, meats, cheeses, breads, and other hand-crafted goods. The Market runs every Saturday through October at Marion & Summer streets, near the Capitol.

FSSM Programs: Help us celebrate Earth Day at the Market on Saturday, April 23. We'll have fun kids' crafts, seed-planting opportunities, and a Zero Waste Zone celebration. We're planning some more really great programs, demonstrations, and classes for this summer. Stay tuned for a full calendar of events, coming soon!

The FSSM Booth: You'll notice an expanded presence at the Market for Friends of Salem Saturday Market this year, all at a new location! FSSM will have a long row of tents set up at the south end of the Market -- the Marion Street side. This little compound will be the hub of all our activities. Our Bike Valet service will move to this spot, and we're adding a third Zero Waste Station. All of our classes and events will be held at this location, and the FSSM booth will also be headquartered here. Our full booth will only be set up on days that have FSSM activities scheduled. The next will be April 23. On those days when the FSSM booth is not present, you'll still find membership forms and other information stocked at our Zero Waste Station & Bike Valet tent.

FSSM Membership: It's time to renew your membership for the 2011 Season! Current members will be receiving a postcard in the mail soon reminding you about the renewal.

If you're not yet a member, now's a great time to join! Friends of Salem Saturday Market is making a great impact on the community, and you can be a part of it. You can find out more information online: http://friendsofsalemsaturdaymarket.wordpress.com/membership/

Or, stop by our booth on April 23 to join in person. Thank you! we appreciate your donation to support Friends of Salem Saturday Market's mission! All donations are tax-deductible. This year, members will receive a sheet of exclusive coupons to local shops. P lus, as always, you'll receive one of our most sought-after benefits: Farm tours ...

Behind-the-Scenes Tours: We're excited for another season of exciting and informative tours for members of Friends of Salem Saturday Market. These are exclusive opportunities available only to FSSM members. In April, we'll be visiting Willamette Valley Cheese. And in May, we'll head back to Fairview Farms, which charmed our members last year with a bevy of baby goats. We'll send invitations via email, so watch your inbox for more information soon.

Remember: Tours are only available for FSSM members, so be sure to join or renew your membership!

Zero Waste Zone: Our volunteers are back at it, staffing the Zero Waste Stations to help customers toss their disposable items into the correct container. During the warmer months, we will expand from two Zero Waste Stations to three, making it more convenient to find a station when you need it. Last year, our emphasis on composting and recycling resulted in an 83% reduction of garbage thrown away at the Market. Thank you for your support of and participation in this valuable project!

Salem Weekly just published an article that spotlights the project and our nomination for a Green Award

Bike Valet: The Bike Valet service will be returning on May 28. At that time, you'll find it in a new location - on the south side of the Market, easily accesible from the Summer or Winter street entrances.

Volunteering: Interested in volunteering? We always welcome your help in staffing our Zero Waste Stations, the FSSM booth, and Bike Valet service. We also have many opportunities to help with the organization and planning of FSSM. Plus, we're seeking student interns for a variety of roles. Please contact me if you want to learn more!
--
Stephanie Matlock Allen
FSSM President
(503) 877-FSSM
info@friendsofsalemsaturdaymarket.org

Another great Straub event: The Birds and the Bees!

Image by Salim Virji via FlickrTuesday, April 19, 2011, 6:30-8:00pm
Sustainability Workshop
The Birds & The Bees: Backyard Animal Husbandry
Straub Environmental Learning Center

This workshop will give a basic introduction to animal husbandry for people interested in raising chickens and/or bees. Join us for this interactive workshop to hear local experts on both of these animals share their knowledge and resources for successful backyard animal husbandry. Workshops are free, but registration is required due to limited space.

RSVP to Alexandra at 503-391-4145 or email fselc@fselc.org. All workshops will be held at Straub Environmental Learning Center from 6:30-8:00 pm, unless otherwise noted. For a schedule of the entire series, click here.