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Where Jill Will Talk Like She Writes
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The White House Project
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Aug
31
So youngin’s don’t want to stay here or move here because of poor job prospects? Well, according to this article in Fortune, not even one of the top 50 employers for people over 50 is located in Ohio. No Eaton, no Procter & Gamble, no Key Corp, no Sherwin-Williams, no energy companies. Not a one. Nada. Zilch. Zippo. (Lots of healthcare employers on the list, but, despite making the grade nationally for the healthcare services they provide, neither the Cleveland Clinic nor University Hospitals is in the top employers of people over 50.)
Okay - so, if, like, 20 and 30 somethings can’t find jobs here, and, like, none of the employers that are here treat people over 50 very well, and those of us in our 40s are in mid-life crises, who exactly is working and happy in Ohio?
Oh - wait - I forgot. We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Not as many people proportionately speaking are even working in Ohio to begin with. Silly me.
I sure hope someone can Turnaround Ohio.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:23 pm August 31st, 2006 in Politics | 12 Comments
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Aug
31
AP writer fails to provide balanced picture of small schools story
Filed Under Politics | 5 Comments
Okay. I’m biased here, but let me re-cap:
1. I covered Euclid’s small schools reform effort for more than two years.
2. I was a big and well-known complainer about some of the most horrific problems raised by this reform effort.
3. I saw a lot of hard work among the ruins that gave birth to some serious successes.
4. Gates spent $1 BILLION in, I believe, 20 states, tens of millions in Ohio, spread out over more than 50 small schools in numerous districts.
So, Julia Silverman, AP writer lady - if you’re going to write a story about small schools and let the headline writers conclude enough from your work that they title it, “Backlash Builds Against Small Schools,” don’t you think you might have wanted to balance your story with something like, say, THIS?
Or, maybe you could have mentioned the numerical investment Gates’ has made - the number of kids affected, the number of teachers and administrators involved, the amount of money, the number of years, what’s being done now. And, how about, what those schools were like, objectively by numbers, before the effort began?
I promise you - I’m all too happy - especially now that I’m not under contract to KnowledgeWorks anymore, to discuss the major problems with the effort. And it’s okay to have a newstory focus on the problems. But, as a reader who just happens to know a few things about the small schools effort, I also know that there could have easily have been a paragraph in there that nodded to the successes.
Know what I mean?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 7:07 pm August 31st, 2006 in Politics | 5 Comments
Print This Post
Aug
31
So youngin’s don’t want to stay here or move here because of poor job prospects? Well, according to this article in Fortune, not even one of the top 50 employers for people over 50 is located in Ohio. No Eaton, no Procter & Gamble, no Key Corp, no Sherwin-Williams, no energy companies. Not a one. Nada. Zilch. Zippo. (Lots of healthcare employers on the list, but, despite making the grade nationally for the healthcare services they provide, neither the Cleveland Clinic nor University Hospitals is in the top employers of people over 50.)
Okay - so, if, like, 20 and 30 somethings can’t find jobs here, and, like, none of the employers that are here treat people over 50 very well, and those of us in our 40s are in mid-life crises, who exactly is working and happy in Ohio?
Oh - wait - I forgot. We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Not as many people proportionately speaking are even working in Ohio to begin with. Silly me.
I sure hope someone can Turnaround Ohio.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:23 pm August 31st, 2006 in Politics | 12 Comments
Print This Post
Aug
31
AP writer fails to provide balanced picture of small schools story
Filed Under Politics | 5 Comments
Okay. I’m biased here, but let me re-cap:
1. I covered Euclid’s small schools reform effort for more than two years.
2. I was a big and well-known complainer about some of the most horrific problems raised by this reform effort.
3. I saw a lot of hard work among the ruins that gave birth to some serious successes.
4. Gates spent $1 BILLION in, I believe, 20 states, tens of millions in Ohio, spread out over more than 50 small schools in numerous districts.
So, Julia Silverman, AP writer lady - if you’re going to write a story about small schools and let the headline writers conclude enough from your work that they title it, “Backlash Builds Against Small Schools,” don’t you think you might have wanted to balance your story with something like, say, THIS?
Or, maybe you could have mentioned the numerical investment Gates’ has made - the number of kids affected, the number of teachers and administrators involved, the amount of money, the number of years, what’s being done now. And, how about, what those schools were like, objectively by numbers, before the effort began?
I promise you - I’m all too happy - especially now that I’m not under contract to KnowledgeWorks anymore, to discuss the major problems with the effort. And it’s okay to have a newstory focus on the problems. But, as a reader who just happens to know a few things about the small schools effort, I also know that there could have easily have been a paragraph in there that nodded to the successes.
Know what I mean?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 3:07 pm August 31st, 2006 in Politics | 5 Comments
Print This Post
Aug
31
So youngin’s don’t want to stay here or move here because of poor job prospects? Well, according to this article in Fortune, not even one of the top 50 employers for people over 50 is located in Ohio. No Eaton, no Procter & Gamble, no Key Corp, no Sherwin-Williams, no energy companies. Not a one. Nada. Zilch. Zippo. (Lots of healthcare employers on the list, but, despite making the grade nationally for the healthcare services they provide, neither the Cleveland Clinic nor University Hospitals is in the top employers of people over 50.)
Okay - so, if, like, 20 and 30 somethings can’t find jobs here, and, like, none of the employers that are here treat people over 50 very well, and those of us in our 40s are in mid-life crises, who exactly is working and happy in Ohio?
Oh - wait - I forgot. We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Not as many people proportionately speaking are even working in Ohio to begin with. Silly me.
I sure hope someone can Turnaround Ohio.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 2:23 pm August 31st, 2006 in Politics | Please comment
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Aug
31
Roger Goudy (opponent is Josh Mandel) to Meet the Bloggers this evening
Filed Under Politics | 4 Comments
I’m holding Lance Mason and Judge O’Neill over my head before I get to Sherrod Brown. Talk about albatross.
Oh - not them - the Meet the Blogger notes I have for all three. But I’m as hopeful as ever (and hey, Lance’s is still not finished) so that’s a good thing and maybe even enough to get it done today.
Many updates I want to provide to older stories (Synenberg, using multiple names when you run as a candidate, Israel) plus lots of notes on new ones (how can someone of the human race wrap a three year old child in a blanket, bind their arms and leave them in a closet to die, Forbes.com retracts statements about men needing to avoid marrying career women and yesterday’s brouhaha over Nathan Estruth, whose last name still pains me to type because of its irony in the situation).
In the meantime, please, consider attending the Meet the Bloggers with Roger Goudy, this evening at 6:30 at the Mustard Seed Market in Solon. Yes, it’s in my neck of the woods but I’m deep into superduper uber mother mode and have a series of open houses over the next several days. I know where I need to be. You? All you need to do is show up. You don’t need to be a blogger or even live in the district.
Goudy is the Democratic candidate running to be State Rep. for Ohio House District 17. His opponent is Josh Mandel who is indeed a Republican even though you’ll not find that information on his website or even the business card he hands out (he knows I have a problem with that; if you’re proud of your affiliation, you should list it; if you’re not, then you need to change your affiliation - simple creed).
Check out Roger and let us know what you find out. And if you can’t make it, download the podcasts like I’ll be doing.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:40 pm August 31st, 2006 in Politics | 4 Comments
Print This Post
Aug
31
AP writer fails to provide balanced picture of small schools story
Filed Under Politics | Leave a Comment
Okay. I’m biased here, but let me re-cap:
1. I covered Euclid’s small schools reform effort for more than two years.
2. I was a big and well-known complainer about some of the most horrific problems raised by this reform effort.
3. I saw a lot of hard work among the ruins that gave birth to some serious successes.
4. Gates spent $1 BILLION in, I believe, 20 states, tens of millions in Ohio, spread out over more than 50 small schools in numerous districts.
So, Julia Silverman, AP writer lady - if you’re going to write a story about small schools and let the headline writers conclude enough from your work that they title it, “Backlash Builds Against Small Schools,” don’t you think you might have wanted to balance your story with something like, say, THIS?
Or, maybe you could have mentioned the numerical investment Gates’ has made - the number of kids affected, the number of teachers and administrators involved, the amount of money, the number of years, what’s being done now. And, how about, what those schools were like, objectively by numbers, before the effort began?
I promise you - I’m all too happy - especially now that I’m not under contract to KnowledgeWorks anymore, to discuss the major problems with the effort. And it’s okay to have a newstory focus on the problems. But, as a reader who just happens to know a few things about the small schools effort, I also know that there could have easily have been a paragraph in there that nodded to the successes.
Know what I mean?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:07 pm August 31st, 2006 in Politics | Please comment
Print This Post
Aug
31
Roger Goudy (opponent is Josh Mandel) to Meet the Bloggers this evening
Filed Under Politics | 4 Comments
I’m holding Lance Mason and Judge O’Neill over my head before I get to Sherrod Brown. Talk about albatross.
Oh - not them - the Meet the Blogger notes I have for all three. But I’m as hopeful as ever (and hey, Lance’s is still not finished) so that’s a good thing and maybe even enough to get it done today.
Many updates I want to provide to older stories (Synenberg, using multiple names when you run as a candidate, Israel) plus lots of notes on new ones (how can someone of the human race wrap a three year old child in a blanket, bind their arms and leave them in a closet to die, Forbes.com retracts statements about men needing to avoid marrying career women and yesterday’s brouhaha over Nathan Estruth, whose last name still pains me to type because of its irony in the situation).
In the meantime, please, consider attending the Meet the Bloggers with Roger Goudy, this evening at 6:30 at the Mustard Seed Market in Solon. Yes, it’s in my neck of the woods but I’m deep into superduper uber mother mode and have a series of open houses over the next several days. I know where I need to be. You? All you need to do is show up. You don’t need to be a blogger or even live in the district.
Goudy is the Democratic candidate running to be State Rep. for Ohio House District 17. His opponent is Josh Mandel who is indeed a Republican even though you’ll not find that information on his website or even the business card he hands out (he knows I have a problem with that; if you’re proud of your affiliation, you should list it; if you’re not, then you need to change your affiliation - simple creed).
Check out Roger and let us know what you find out. And if you can’t make it, download the podcasts like I’ll be doing.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 8:40 am August 31st, 2006 in Politics | 4 Comments
Print This Post
Aug
31
Roger Goudy (opponent is Josh Mandel) to Meet the Bloggers this evening
Filed Under Politics | Leave a Comment
I’m holding Lance Mason and Judge O’Neill over my head before I get to Sherrod Brown. Talk about albatross.
Oh - not them - the Meet the Blogger notes I have for all three. But I’m as hopeful as ever (and hey, Lance’s is still not finished) so that’s a good thing and maybe even enough to get it done today.
Many updates I want to provide to older stories (Synenberg, using multiple names when you run as a candidate, Israel) plus lots of notes on new ones (how can someone of the human race wrap a three year old child in a blanket, bind their arms and leave them in a closet to die, Forbes.com retracts statements about men needing to avoid marrying career women and yesterday’s brouhaha over Nathan Estruth, whose last name still pains me to type because of its irony in the situation).
In the meantime, please, consider attending the Meet the Bloggers with Roger Goudy, this evening at 6:30 at the Mustard Seed Market in Solon. Yes, it’s in my neck of the woods but I’m deep into superduper uber mother mode and have a series of open houses over the next several days. I know where I need to be. You? All you need to do is show up. You don’t need to be a blogger or even live in the district.
Goudy is the Democratic candidate running to be State Rep. for Ohio House District 17. His opponent is Josh Mandel who is indeed a Republican even though you’ll not find that information on his website or even the business card he hands out (he knows I have a problem with that; if you’re proud of your affiliation, you should list it; if you’re not, then you need to change your affiliation - simple creed).
Check out Roger and let us know what you find out. And if you can’t make it, download the podcasts like I’ll be doing.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:40 am August 31st, 2006 in Politics | Please comment
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Aug
30
What do others think (careful; if you bother to look at the link, I’d advise reading through it all)? A search at the Plain Dealer website turned up nada on the story this morning but it appears to have happened when it was around 6 or 7pm here.
More from SFGate.com here and the San Francisco Chronicle here.
Really, just a tragedy for everyone touched by it, pun intended.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 2:02 pm August 30th, 2006 in Politics | 2 Comments
Print This Post
Aug
30
What do others think (careful; if you bother to look at the link, I’d advise reading through it all)? A search at the Plain Dealer website turned up nada on the story this morning but it appears to have happened when it was around 6 or 7pm here.
More from SFGate.com here and the San Francisco Chronicle here.
Really, just a tragedy for everyone touched by it, pun intended.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:02 am August 30th, 2006 in Politics | 2 Comments
Print This Post
Aug
30
What do others think (careful; if you bother to look at the link, I’d advise reading through it all)? A search at the Plain Dealer website turned up nada on the story this morning but it appears to have happened when it was around 6 or 7pm here.
More from SFGate.com here and the San Francisco Chronicle here.
Really, just a tragedy for everyone touched by it, pun intended.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 7:02 am August 30th, 2006 in Politics | Please comment
Print This Post
Aug
29
The KnowledgeWorks publication looks beautiful. You can read excerpts here or order your own (free) copy here or read the pdf here. My piece starts on page 27.
And it goes a little somethin’ like this:
As five Euclid Business and Communications School juniors climb the school’s switchback stairs, their angry voices echo upwards.
“No one ever deserves to go!” says D’Angela, known as DD. She jumps onto another step.
“Nobody helped raise money.” She lands with another stomp.
“Only a few kids help raise money all year - the same every time,” another student joins in, slapping a hand down onto the railing for emphasis.
“We don’t have the money because people don’t want to help. I’ve asked and asked and I don’t get no response,” DD says. All the while, she continues to jaunt up the steps, her feet landing in cadence with her words.
The five students - DD, Ashley, Pam, Cameron and Henri - have just emerged from a meeting of their school’s Student Leadership Team (SLT) and they are more frustrated than at any time since the group began two years before. Along with other members of the SLT, they’ve learned that they may not be able to deliver on a promise they made at the beginning of the school year when they publicized that all seniors and all students who did not receive disciplinary referrals would be eligible for an all-paid day at the Cedar Point amusement park.
That decision is why the teenagers are venting their aggravation in the stairwell. Yet this challenge is no different than hundreds of others they have faced since they started helping run their school. As ninth graders, they entered Euclid High School in its last year as a unified facility, which was also a year of planning.
They were sophomores when the campus opened as six separate small schools in August 2004. Since then, through every-other-week Student Leadership Team meetings, these five, along with five students from each of the other three grades, have managed everything from dress code conflicts and lanyard colors to discipline and teacher apathy. One agenda item at a time, they’ve pushed, pulled and celebrated the steps they’ve taken as one small school.
Now, as they reach the landing before the last flight of stairs,