Kathy Kill and Larry D took care of flag and invocation duties and Chris led a rousing, version of “Roll out the Barrel” reminiscent of many beer drinking parties at Pullman.

 

Guests included Eric Barnum, Dawn McCravey, Brian Childress and our speaker Scott Oki

 

President Al initially thanked Mom Tana for an outstanding Oktoberfest at the Maltby Café.  Good food (Ich bin ein sausage) music, cutouts and calories seemed to be the order of the day.  Later in the meeting Dennis presented a slide show of some of the antics of these pseudo Europeans.   Thanks Tana.

 

Speaker Scott Oki presented a provocative program on education which ended in an unusual (for Woodinville Rotary) standing ovation at the end.  Scott is a retired Microsofty who looks at problems from a business prospective.  He said he could find nothing in our education system which worked. For instance

     1.   Non teacher/teacher ratios:  In the US it exceeds 1.  In other countries it is as high as 1:4.  Scott feels the key to education is the teacher student interchange and we fail badly with fewer teachers and too many administrators.

     2.   Tenure for teachers.  Bad teachers are not moved out and good teachers have no incentive to excel.

     3.    Pay.  Bad teachers make the same as good teachers.  Where else but education is that the norm? 

     4.    Social Promotion.  If a kid does not know the material, he should not be moved to the next grade.  Each student learns the material needed to move on or he does not move on.

     5.    Excessive stratification.  There are 255 school districts in the state of Wash, each with its own superintendent, curriculum director, etc.  Two districts have a total of 6 kids, each.  60 districts have fewer than 200 kids.  As a result, money goes to administrators and not to improved education.

     6.    Principals need to run schools as if they were a CEO.  They only have 5% of the budget for each student in their care.  If given more budgetary control at the school level, schools would improve.  Good teachers would be rewarded and students would learn.

     7.    Standardized Curriculum.   Good principals and good teachers will teach students.  There is no need for the state to establish what each kid learns and how that student is taught.

8.     Unnecessary emphasis on attendance at the closest, local school.  Rather, let the students go to whatever school can teach them.  Schools will need to improve and students will be better consumers of education.

 

Scott said he does not yet have a framework to make these needed improvements in our educational system. He has written a book Outrageous Learning published by the Washington Policy Center which is engaged in this area.  He also mentioned the League of Women Voters and the Stanford Children’s Center for their involvement.

Scott said there is plenty of money in our education system right now to the tune of $650 billion per year.  The key is getting it to the people who can make a difference.  These are the good principals and teachers.

 

Vicki offered her opinion indicating she agreed with much of what Scott said but pointed out that the education profession is a very rewarding vocation and that the teacher/ student relationship is the primary reward which keeps teachers in the profession.  The key is determining how good teachers can be singled out and rewarded.

 

Scott closed by offering that teachers are like candles that burn themselves out passing their flame to the students.

 

Eric Barnum as a member of the Northshore Kiwanis noted that Hugo Jonsen (pronounced YAWN-sen) had a large influence on many organizations in the Northshore community including, but not limited to, Rotary and the Northshore Scholarship Foundation.  The Kiwanis is so impressed with his work that they named John as their Citizen of the Year!!  John attempted to make an acceptance speech but was so emotional and tongue-tied that he started to weep, the emotion filling his heart and the room….  Actually that did not happen but the Kiwanis did recognize his great contributions with their COY award which John accepted before returning it to Eric to be represented again Wednesday morning October 28 at the Kiwanis meeting where John will be the guest of honor.  Congratulations John for the well deserved recognition.  Maybe someday, we will recognize this talent right in our midst and give him some kind of prize too.

 

Alex reminds everyone of the Christmas party to be held at Monte Villa on December 1, at 6:00 PM.  Sign up!

 

The Sgt fined Rosso for failing to cover the spread or perhaps doubling the spread or whatever.  Rosso paid a ten spot he was so giddy.  Hughes points out that Idaho scored more points than Oregon and parted with $1.  Does not seem fair somehow.

Whitsell, with tail between his legs, simply offered thanks to Peter Goddu and Margaret Langlie who have hosted a cruise on homecoming for the last umpteen years and have raised over $10,000 for our Rotary.  Thank you Peter and Margaret

 

Charlie noted, but did not appear to celebrate his birthday.  But Charlie, life goes on.

 

The marble for $358 stayed hidden deep in the box. Max may have lost his touch!

 Eric Barnum passed on his chance at the marble and took the crimson and gray tortilla chips (Holy Cougar Gold!)   That left the purple and gold tortilla chips for Bill, who planned on giving them to some needy person if they will take them.  Whitsell got the muffins, how appropriate for a Husky eater!

 

That’s all folks

 

Max had hoped for a winning "cluster"

                                                          Larry Leonardson, Rotary Reporter