Senior Dad Briefing Room

What if all your family’s medical history could not be accessed? Not for you parents, nor your grand parents. It would definitely make it difficult to figure out to which illnesses your child is susceptible. Unfortunately, this is what has happened to medical research and illness data in this country. Derva Davis, author of “The Secret History of the War on Cancer”, and is the Director of the Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, talks with Senior Dad Stan Goldberg about the negative effects of censoring and withholding information by our Federal Government. She describes the very real risks we face as we follow this dangerous policy. Are fear, intimidation, and donor profits now the main driver of government funding? How can we change the course? Derva Davis- A voice of courage.

When we first met Senior Dad-to-be, Bob Brockob, he was filled with the anticipation of impending fatherhood. On this his forth visit to our show we have a 10 month check in with Bob to find out how this minimalist architect and education chair of OceanFilmFest.org is adjusting to being the dad of Max and how it has changed his life.

‘Quality Counts’ is the comprehensive annual survey of education in the 50 states of the U.S. It compares reading and math scores as well as a number of additional factors such as funding, education gap, opportunity gap, chances of success in school, and then grades the states on these criteria as well as many others. The study is produced by the Research Center for Editorial Projects and Education, a non-profit arm of the publishers of Education Week.To help me grasp the dimensions of the data, Chris Swanson, the Director of the Center joins me to share some insights. A new feature this year is the ability to adjust the weighting of each of the factors so the viewer can see the data based on their own priorities.Chris and I discuss some of the funding inequities that effect education, after school programs, education reform, decreases over time in reading scores, and of course everyone’s favorite, “No Child Left Behind”. While some of the numbers are troubling, it becomes apparent that there is a need for a

The city council of Santa Monica withheld funds from their school district because the city council was uncomfortable with all the non-disclosure agreements that the school district was requiring to settle special education lawsuits. What are non-disclosure agreements (gag orders) and who do they help and who do they harm?Three experienced special education advocates join me in conversation: Ellie Goldberg, advocate, author and legislative chair of the Massachusetts PTA; Pat Howey, advocate and nationally known special needs presenter at WrightsLaw seminars; and Katy Franklin, advocate and a leading voice towards revising the San Francisco Unified School District’s educational practices towards children with extra needs. They explore the Santa Monica case and discuss actions by other school districts that not only harm the children the school districts are entrusted to teach, but cause all taxpayers to pay more to compensate for their school districts improper education strategies. All this, in light of curre

The news business has been changing even before that runner burst through the door, breathless to deliver her earth-shattering news. Nanette Asimov was not in the business that far back, but has been the mainstay of the Education Beat for the San Francisco Chronicle for over twenty years. Her focus is on state and national issues and has recently begun investigating special education and autism. Her stories are insightful, informative, and occasionally controversial, as her words describe a vision that is uncomfortable for some. Speaking with Nanette gives us insight to the person we meet so frequently at our breakfast table. Nanette Asimov- The Observant Witness.

A Senior Dad Briefing Room Brief. Mel Levine and Stan goldberg chat about rules. 8:47 minutes

Laurie Rogers, parent and school volunteer, was just not hearing the answers that she expected. Laurie volunteered at her child’s school. She has a teaching and math background so it was natural that she would be interested in what they were doing with math at the school. What she saw got her digging deeper. She researched until she found that the math scores in the district seemed to be in trouble. She tried to ask questions but felt she was getting the runaround. When she got meetings, she felt she got no answers. This is her story and what she did next.

Without the catalyst generated by an Op-Ed piece placed in the San Francisco Chronicle in 1999, the two founders of Parents for Public Schools San Francisco (PPSSF), Sandra Halladey and Deena Zacharin, would not have been able to generate the interest and funding to start PPSSF. This is the story of the genesis of Parents for Public Schools San Francisco and the people who crafted it. Cindy Rambo of the Zellerbach family foundation, Jane Beach of Parents for Public Schools and two dedicated parents, Deena Zacharin and Sandra Halladey.

Kris Olson went to Waco, Texas public schools as a child. It was quite natural when her first child entered kindergarten to show up at the school and ask to pitch in. When Kris saw that a large number of her contemporaries were choosing to send their children to private schools or moving to the suburbs, she and some other parents decided to act, leading to the formation of Parents For Public Schools, Waco. This action changed the Waco public schools and the parent involvement there forever. PPS- Waco the Genesis.

A Senior Dad Briefing Room Brief. Mel Levine and Stan goldberg chat about trust. 6:17 minutes

Edward Zigler is Director Emeritus of the Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy at Yale University. He was the youngest member of the planning committee for head start and later served as its director. Recently he has been a member of President Obama’s childhood transition team. Ed speaks to us about the past and the future. We talk about the persistent economic education gap, about charter schools, preschools, early childhood education, and developing integrated educational communities. Arguably there are a few educators in America as well qualified as Edward Zigler to help us chart the direction of American education for the future.

The Sustainable ChefThroughout his life Bryant Terry has tried many different diet plans. As a Chef he has explored cuisine from varied corners of the United States. Nationally known, he has participated in sustainable garden projects on both coasts and he has appeared in a featured article in the Sunday New York Times Magazine. Now a Berkeley resident, he has spoken at Alice Water’s and Ann Cooper’s school food project.In this conversation we chat about his new book “The Vegan Soul Kitchen” as well as his cooking roots, growing organic produce at home, school food, sustainable gardening, buying local food from farmers markets and what spices to use to enliven a meal.

Mel Levine speaks about individualized education plans for all.

If your child has allergies, it is important to have the child’s school engaged as a good- health partner. When starting a new school, the time to get acquainted with the school is the springtime before. Ellie Goldberg shares with us in a Senior Dad Brief that lasts 10 minutes 50 seconds. “How to prepare for a new school year for a child with allergies.”

California ballot proposition 1D is confusing. The copy that describes it sounds like this is a boon to early childhood education yet some of the most respected leaders in early childhood education are lining up and speaking out to vote ‘No’. I asked Kadija Johnston, a long time educator and administrator in the field, to help me understand prop 1D. Many people in our community who are committed to preschool education-for-all are volunteering time at local phone banks. Those of you who are so inclined can contact Paula at the following email address to schedule a time. Schmidlinp@yahoo.com

Distracted— this is a very popular word and it describes what is happening to many people in our modern world. We look at our children and see that they can't focus and we wonder whether this is caused by some medical condition or by the way we live. Commercials, technical devices, music and popular entertainment pull us in several directions. Are these the root causes of the distraction of our society? Maggie Jackson, the columnist for the Boston Globe has written a book called "Distracted". She explores this phenomena and discusses the coming dark age caused by distraction. Maggie joins me to discuss her book and explores the lives we live. Rarely will you find such an interesting and entertaining person as Maggie Jackson. It is easy to see why she has such a loyal following at the Boston Globe. Maggie Jackson—Distracted.

John C. Dvorak is an internationally renowned technology reporter and analyst. John joins us to tell us if you can expect your paper textbooks to be replaced by digital ones shortly. A Senior Dad Brief 10:41 minutes.

Be prepared for the flu season and the possibility of school closings. How parents and teachers can keep children learning and minimize the problems of school and work disruptions. With Ellie Goldberg www.healthy-Kids.info Nationally know advocate for students with chronic health conditions.Sponsored by Parents For Public Schools San FranciscoFor additional information about public school issues for parents, please contact Parents For Public Schools at www.PPSSF.org

The state of special education. This report covers special education , due process, inclusion, parent communities, and trust. Colin Ong-Dean, researcher and author of Distinguishing Disability: Parents, Privilege, and Special Education, has investigated special education and due process. Two of our panelists have children in special education. Both have fought to get the services their children justly deserved. Katy Franklin has not engaged in litigation but she effectively points out her child’s legal rights. Robin Hansen has fought the system through due process hearings and eventually won the services her children needed. This report gives you real-life instances of the conditions within our schools and special education. Some of it will make you laugh, some of it will get you angry, and some of it will make you cry. But this is a day-to-day situation of over 5,000 families every day in San Francisco, and millions around the country.