Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just an aside - I went jogging in Wilson field this am. Could not help but notice literally PILES of those black crumbs common on artificial turf. Isn't that what people.think is causing cancer in young soccer players / people overexposed to these fields? I hope its NOT the same stuff - why would it be all.over the field very visible and heaped up in the corners in MOUNDS? It definitely was not dirt.

Yes. Half a million soccer players died last year alone for being exposed to those black crumbs. It is horrible, and no one cares.

Half a million soccer players? Really? Worldwide, or just in the US?

Given that US Youth Soccer says there are just over 3 million youth soccer players (of any age) in the US, that would mean that 1 in 6 US youth soccer players died of cancer last year from artificial turf. So that must mean that every youth soccer team in the country lost, on average, about two players.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/how-safe-artificial-turf-your-child-plays-n220166

The evidence ia anecdotal and there are problems with grass as well, but I'm surprised to see piles of the stuff. I see the Wilson athletes returning - I would want my kid diving into a pile of those Crumbs' unless they are some awesome new non toxic version. Just saying I was surprised at the quantity on the field.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just an aside - I went jogging in Wilson field this am. Could not help but notice literally PILES of those black crumbs common on artificial turf. Isn't that what people.think is causing cancer in young soccer players / people overexposed to these fields? I hope its NOT the same stuff - why would it be all.over the field very visible and heaped up in the corners in MOUNDS? It definitely was not dirt.

Yes. Half a million soccer players died last year alone for being exposed to those black crumbs. It is horrible, and no one cares.

It was in the news a lot last spring about kids in league sports getting unexpected cancers at 18/19. Those crumbs usually come from recycled tires and stuff. I was surprised to see it actually in hilly mounds. Thats what shocked me. Maybe Wilson is using some new, green kind?

Anonymous wrote:Just an aside - I went jogging in Wilson field this am. Could not help but notice literally PILES of those black crumbs common on artificial turf. Isn't that what people.think is causing cancer in young soccer players / people overexposed to these fields? I hope its NOT the same stuff - why would it be all.over the field very visible and heaped up in the corners in MOUNDS? It definitely was not dirt.

Yes. Half a million soccer players died last year alone for being exposed to those black crumbs. It is horrible, and no one cares.

I am also extremely worried about this in our elementary school.

Anonymous wrote:Just an aside - I went jogging in Wilson field this am. Could not help but notice literally PILES of those black crumbs common on artificial turf. Isn't that what people.think is causing cancer in young soccer players / people overexposed to these fields? I hope its NOT the same stuff - why would it be all.over the field very visible and heaped up in the corners in MOUNDS? It definitely was not dirt.

That is what the turf sits on. They are probably refilling it. Not sure about the cancer link (haven't read it) but it's the standard for most fields these days.

Anonymous wrote:Kaya was never qualified for the job. After Rhee was run out of town, Gray should have searched for a qualified Chancellor/superintendent. She admitted knowing nothing about budgets and still has not implemented an effing curriculum. No, standards are not the same. She should have been let go a long time ago.

Kaya is slowly beginning to realize that she can't succeed. Nor can any other leader with the crushing amount of poverty and parental indifference for the vast majority of students in DC. (Remember that more than 50% of students live in W7 & 8).

Just an aside - I went jogging in Wilson field this am. Could not help but notice literally PILES of those black crumbs common on artificial turf. Isn't that what people.think is causing cancer in young soccer players / people overexposed to these fields? I hope its NOT the same stuff - why would it be all.over the field very visible and heaped up in the corners in MOUNDS? It definitely was not dirt.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are tons of black women leading DC schools who are lauded. I think Kaya Henderson is great!

Agree with your first statement....but Henderson is an idiot and a joke....and so are you for saying that she is great...name one great thing that she has accomplished....and I am talking about real concrete data.....she has accomplished NOTHING other than take up space....lots of space....maybe she is the one who needs the gym membership....

I cannot breathe!

I can't breathe either

Kaya was never qualified for the job. After Rhee was run out of town, Gray should have searched for a qualified Chancellor/superintendent. She admitted knowing nothing about budgets and still has not implemented an effing curriculum. No, standards are not the same. She should have been let go a long time ago.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are tons of black women leading DC schools who are lauded. I think Kaya Henderson is great!

Agree with your first statement....but Henderson is an idiot and a joke....and so are you for saying that she is great...name one great thing that she has accomplished....and I am talking about real concrete data.....she has accomplished NOTHING other than take up space....lots of space....maybe she is the one who needs the gym membership....

I cannot breathe!

I can't breathe either

Just picked myself up off the floor.

PP, you are correct in that she hasn't made any real, certifiable improvements that can be supported by true data. (Ex: Sure, we can say we have more students graduating but how low did they lower the bar? And we can point to fewer suspensions, but that doesn't mean behavior has improved, only that they no longer issue suspensions for the same behaviors). However, she is wiling to listen--to all stakeholders and has made changes based on feedback from them. She also doesn't do the teacher bashing publicly. And she seems to be making a true effort to improve the system.

But you do have a point: After 5 years of little to no improvement, maybe she should be held to the same standard she holds teachers to and be let go. It's the same thing--many teachers try all their might and make real efforts but with little "impact" (pun intended ). Kaya's doing the same thing.

Maybe it's time to bring in someone who will actually create standards for the students--standards for behavior & high expectations. They ask teachers to do this but won't support the efforts with District-wide regulations and expectations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are tons of black women leading DC schools who are lauded. I think Kaya Henderson is great!

Agree with your first statement....but Henderson is an idiot and a joke....and so are you for saying that she is great...name one great thing that she has accomplished....and I am talking about real concrete data.....she has accomplished NOTHING other than take up space....lots of space....maybe she is the one who needs the gym membership....

I cannot breathe!

I can't breathe either

Anonymous wrote:There are tons of black women leading DC schools who are lauded. I think Kaya Henderson is great!

Agree with your first statement....but Henderson is an idiot and a joke....and so are you for saying that she is great...name one great thing that she has accomplished....and I am talking about real concrete data.....she has accomplished NOTHING other than take up space....lots of space....maybe she is the one who needs the gym membership....

I cannot breathe!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a Wilson student here. I am thrilled that Principal Martin is sending her child to Wilson. In fact, I'd be furious if she was not.

It shows she believes in herself, and puts her money where her mouth is. As a parent, I appreciate the fact that she has an interest in the school as an administrator AND as a parent. Her incentives are aligned perfectly.

The parent in me agrees that having the principal's own children in the school gives me confidence that 1--the school can't be that bad & 2--the principal will ensure it's a good, functional school.

+1.