Seattle Culture
Back Page: Not Making The Grade
Seattle Public Schools Was Under A Harsh Spotlight In 1968
By Rob Smith October 27, 2023
This article originally appeared in the September/October 2023 issue of Seattle magazine.
Before the 2023-2024 school season kicked off, Seattle Public Schools had some big decisions to make regarding a $131 million budget deficit.
Back in 1968, SPS faced similar challenges, as detailed in Seattle magazine’s cover story from November of that year. Staff writer Ruth Wolf cited a highly critical report that said students were being “educationally shortchanged,” citing racial tensions, shoddy buildings, funding woes and an “archaic tax structure.”
“(Superintendent Dr. Forbes) Bottomly looks tired, very tired,” she wrote. “A recent news item described him as ‘ashen faced,’ which was probably accurate, for never, it seems, have the Seattle public schools been in deeper trouble.”
Challenges remain, but today, high school graduation rates are rising, and the district receives solid rankings on “best of” lists for student achievement and diversity.
Follow Us
Daring Women: It’s Never Just About One Person
Perkins&Will’s Marie Henson calls collaboration ‘critical’ to effective leadership
Architecture captivated Marie Henson at an early age. By the time she was 10, Henson had accompanied her history-buff father on visits to all eight Virginia presidents’ homes. It left a lasting impression: She decided on a career in architecture before she graduated from elementary school. Today, the Seattle-based Henson is the firmwide health practice…
Dollars & Sense
Youth Finance University helps kids think logically about money
Princeton Lock likes to tell the story of a third grader who learned money management through Youth Finance University, a free, student-led financial literacy program created by three 16-year-old students at Bellevue’s Newport High School. “(She) successfully saved for her first major purchase instead of spending on impulse buys, exactly the kind of behavioral change…
Crossing Generational Streams
Teens create art, receive insightful life advice
Kids look toward the future. Older people often relive the past. Those two worlds collided in the best of ways recently when the Woodinville Teen Arts Alliance collaborated with residents from Fairwinds Brittany Park Retirement Home to create beautiful art inspired by residents’ lives. “Our conversations made me appreciate the value of human connection and…
Moxie on Monday: Open Your Presence This Christmas
Practice being mindful, kind, and savor each moment
The holidays can feel like a whirlwind — our to-do lists grow, our calendars overflow, along with the pressure to create the “perfect” Christmas atmosphere. But what if the best gift wasn’t wrapped in ribbons or bows? What if the most meaningful gift we could give was our presence? I’ll bet you’ve met someone in…