Peninsular Thinking

I visited a class of Hawkins Middle School students in March to find out what they thought of SHB 1397, that would add information on statutory rape to sex education classes.

The bill requires public schools that offer sexual health education “to include age-appropriate information about the legal elements of sexual offenses where a minor is a victim and the consequences upon conviction.”

(Scroll down to see a video of some of the Hawkins students’ comments about the sex education bill.)

The 13- and 14-year-olds in Julie Sullivan’s humanities class already were immersed in improving information that gets out to their peers and students at the high school. They had conducted a survey at the high school that found only 20 percent of respondents knew the legal age of consent in this state.

The class is participating in Project Citizen, a national civics competition, with the goal of reducing teen pregnancy. The students are pushing to replace the old sack of flour exercise with use of realistic baby mannequins programmed to make demands on their “parents” just like a real infant.

Given that level of activism, I wasn’t surprised to hear that three students from the class recently testified on SHB 1397 before the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee. The students — Sophia Daley, Adin Welander and Morgan Young — showed poise and persuasiveness in their statements. All three are in favor of the bill.

Their testimony at the March 22 hearing can be viewed at 46:55 minutes into the taping, which included other bills.

“I strongly believe in this bill, because it will change so many people’s lives,” said Sophia Daley.

Daley knows a 14-year-old who was involved with a 17-year-old. The older teen is now branded “a sex offender for life.”

State law protects individuals under 18 years old by prohibiting sexual contact and sexual intercourse with partners who are significantly older. The designated age gap varies from five years or more for second degree sexual misconduct with a minor victim who is at least 16 but under 18, to the far more serious crime of first degree rape of a child, which applies when the victim is under 12 years old and the perpetrator is at least two years older.

“In reality, no one really wants to hire a sex offender,” Welander said. “It could have just been one mistake, but it’s kind of a really bad label, and they could’ve avoided that really easily.”

Young also focused on the long-term consequences. “What boss is going to hire a sex offender, and if they’re labeled a sex offender, their career is going to go down the toilet,” she said.

Christyn Daley, Sophia’s mother, has an 18-year-old son who is dating a 15-year-old girl. They’ve talked openly about what’s acceptable and potential consequences, but that’s probably not happening in every family, she told the commission. Daley is also a registered nurse concerned about the trend of younger students becoming sexually active.

Michael Young, Morgan’s dad, said, “As parents, we want to protect our children. We want to pretend things aren’t happening, but they are.”

Students these days are worldly but not not always well-informed, Young said. “We need to get out of the snow globe. We need to teach our children what’s going on so they can recognize and take power over their lives.”

The students later took a tour of the state Capitol and posed with Gov. Jay Inslee, as you can see from this photo sent in by Michael Young.

Gov. Jay Inslee and Morgan Young

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Maybe it was the fact that the students at PineCrest Elementary School were attending an assembly in which they were told nothing but how wonderful they were. Whatever it was, ever since I attended that Feb. 28 celebration I have been telling people how cool it was to be around kid energy. I was never that psyched after a Bremerton City Council meeting, which is no knock on anyone there.

The PineCrest recognition story, detailing how the school goes out of its way to recognize good behavior, is a story wholly about motivation. Our Feb. 18 story on Central Kitsap and North Kitsap schools considering a program that pays students and teachers for better pass rates on AP tests is another.

Sunday’s story, the one about state Sen. Nathan Schlicher, includes some discussion of motivation. He referred to the book Drive by Daniel H. Pink. In the book Pink says businesses have been going about encouraging creativity all wrong.

I watched Pink’s TED Talk (TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design) on motivation and then checked the book out at the library. I was influenced enough by it that I made wholesale changes in how I approach some of my side projects, and to some degree the work at my day job. This blog post is Exhibit A.

The bottom line message is that in tasks with clear-cut processes, where the “how-to” is clearly defined, money is an effective motivator. Where the tasks requires problem solving or creativity, it can hurt.

As an example of how our common perception of money = motivation is wrong, Pink points to Microsoft Encarta vs. Wikipedia.

Sure, that ragtag band of volunteers might produce something. But there was no way its product could compete with an offering from a powerful profit-driven company. The incentives were all wrong. Microsoft stood to gain from the success of its product; everyone involved in the other project knew from the outset that success would earn them nothing. Most important, Microsoft’s writers, editors, and managers were paid. The other project’s contributors were not. In fact, it probably cost them money each time they performed free work instead of remunerative labor. The question was such a no-brainer that our economist wouldn’t even have considered putting it on an exam for her MBA class. It was too easy.

But you know how things turned out.

Let’s consider another example. If I ask you to build a car and I promise you your pay will be higher the faster you do it, money will improve your performance. If I ask you to design a car, you might come back to me with a design quicker if I don’t offer you any money. Now, I don’t know anyone who creates cars for free, so the object would be to make it so money is not the factor driving performance. That could mean paying someone a salary and saying, “Go create a car.”

Schlicher, who graduated from high school at age 14, said it was his decision to skip grade levels each time the option was available. He performed well because he had a level of autonomy in the decision making and he was excited to learn what he was learning. He never mentioned the possibility of reaching payday sooner, though that certainly was one result. He sees that as the model to follow in crafting legislation. He wants to set parameters, but let those who deal with the issues daily create the detailed solutions.

In the CK/NK Advanced Placement story Franklyn MacKenzie, director of secondary teaching and learning in the CK district, said he didn’t think students would be all that motivated by $100 six months down the road. Following Pink’s thesis, MacKenzie is probably right. The extra money for the educators carries with it an obligation/opportunity to be trained in better teaching, so it isn’t exactly free money. Those teachers are actually working more hours to get that extra money. National Math and Science Initiative officials say the incentives they offer are creating higher pass rates for AP students, and more AP students to begin with. Assuming that is true, NMSI’s method for handing out money is either a factor in the success or a nice side benefit.

At PineCrest, the reward is recognition. Pink refers to a study in which researchers asked three groups of children if they wanted to draw. To the first group they promised a blue ribbon if they did it. To the second they didn’t say anything about a reward, but gave one after time was up. To the third group they didn’t promise or give any award. Two weeks later they gave all the same kids the opportunity to draw, without mentioning awards to any of them. There was no difference in behavior between the second and third group, but the first group drew with much less enthusiasm and spent much less time drawing than the other groups.

At PineCrest there is no “if-then” promise associated with good behavior. I’m sure the students have figured out by now that they might get a certificate or a Panther Paw for doing good deeds, but there is no guarantee. And if there isn’t an award, the only reward is the act itself. And we all want our kids to believe that doing good is its own reward.

Enjoy the 20-minute TED talk by Daniel H. Pink.

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Brynn writes:

It was brought to our attention this morning that Poulsbo’s Sogno di Vino restaurant has been making national news lately. Although it largely hasn’t been named beyond being called a “small restaurant in Poulsbo, Wash.”

As the story goes a picture of a receipt from an evening out at the restaurant has made its way to the Internet and as a result national news organizations jumped at the chance to opine about the story (see Fox News, Huffington Post, Reddit, Babble, et. all.)

A local woman, who goes by the name LauraInk on the Reddit site, wrote on her “beer after tea” blog about the dinning experience where she and her husband, along with their three children (ages 2, 3 and 8), received a “well-behaved child” discount. It sounds like this is the first time the restaurant has offered the $4 discount for well-behaved “mini diners”.

Here’s excerpts from Laura’s blog post explaining what happened and her response to all the national attention about the discount:

“We were seated at one of the last available tables around 6pm and were greeted happily with menus and bread. We sat and discussed planets, racecars, zebra jokes and “Freckle Juice” until we ate our pizzas, pasta and aforementioned ragu. The food was lovely, our oldest, who is clearly in a growth spurt, ate her share and mine, and our littles munched happily while periodically stopping to notice the small fireplace in the corner and the window paintings on the wall of grapevines in Italy.

Near the end of our meal, our server visits our table to tell us how impressed the staff was with our kids’ behavior and that many of them didn’t even realize we had little ones eating with us. She then brought us a bowl of ice cream to share. When we received our tab, it had a discount listed for “Well Behaved Kids”. A pleasant surprise after a lovely meal.

We, as parents, lead by example and if we have to spell out what and how we’re doing something, we will. We don’t expect handouts for acting respectful of the folks who bring us our food. But it certainly makes you feel good when someone else notices your kids in a positive light.

It’s interesting to read some of the comments from other people who have heard this story — note the link to the Reddit and Babble sites offer more adult language than wet use here — the responses are mixed on whether a family should get a discount because their kids behave well, or as some argue “the way they should”, when they’re in public.

Regardless of where you stand on the decision to give the discount, the bottom line is a local family of five was the recipient of an unexpected act of kindness from a local business. That’s something that should make you smile.

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The Suquamish Elementary family of families is gathering support for a third-grader at the school, Carmen Garringer.

According to a letter sent to homes by the school’s office manager, Pamela Goodman, Carmen was diagnosed with Extraosseous Ewing’s Sarcoma. The cancer was removed, but she will require chemotherapy at Seattle Children’s Hospital for nine months. The family has to stay within an hour of the hospital during that time.

It’s an expensive ordeal for the family, so starting last Friday the school organized a donation drive for students to bring in coins or cash, as well as Valentines for Carmen and her family.

Those supporting the Garringers want the word to spread and invite readers to forward news of their efforts far and wide. Here’s the letter from Goodman, which includes links to two other sites dedicated to Carmen and her family. The letter was sent last week.

Just before winter break, our 3rd grade friend, Carmen Garringer, felt a lump on her chest and told her mom about it. After many doctor appointments it was recommended that they remove what they believed to be a cyst with hopes it was nothing serious. However, after having the surgery the doctors diagnosed Carmen with Extra-osseous Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare from of cancer that forms in the muscles and soft tissue. Shortly thereafter, Carmen began a very aggressive chemotherapy treatments for the next 9 months at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Carmen and her family, including her kindergarten sister Leah, face huge medical and financial challenges in the coming months, and our students and families are already asking what they can do to help. Thanks to many caring people in the North Kitsap Community, you will be hearing about multiple opportunities to lend a hand to the Garringer family.

Starting this Friday, Suquamish Elementary families have organized a donation drive for students to bring in coins or cash; any gift is appreciated, whether pennies or paper. Along with the drive “Coins for Carmen”, Valentine’s will be collected and given to Carmen and her family. Donations and Valentine’s may be brought in with students, parents and staff and dropped off in collection jugs at the office and in classrooms.

Additionally, you can visit two websites to learn more about Carmen, her family and this journey they have begun. Our community is Caring for Carmen in many different ways:

www.caringforcarmen.com
This site includes Carmen’s story, ways to volunteer, and a place to make direct donations.

www.caringbridge.org
You must register to use this site, and then enter carmengarringer (no space) to view Carmen’s page.

Please share this information with your children in the ways you find most appropriate, and watch for further details in email, and throughout our community.

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The principal of Central Kitsap High School apologized to the marching band Thursday for a homecoming game debacle in which the band’s performance was unceremoniously cut short.

Standing before band members on Linder Field, Stephen Coons said, “I wanted to come and express my sincere and deepest apology. It was a regrettable experience and never should have happened.”

According to Coons, the homecoming half-time show ran long. The show begins with a processional of the homecoming court, followed by the band’s carefully choreographed display. The Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association allows for an extended halftime during special events like homecoming, but the performance had run well beyond the allowed extension, Coons said.

School officials held their own football players back, Coons said, but they had no authority over the Foss High School players, who began to stream onto the field to warm up. Parent Heather McClellan said that was a safety issue, since band members were marching backward and could have tripped over the football players. He daughter Mira plays flutes in the band, made up of CKHS and Klahowya Secondary students.

The musicians were further demoralized when some of the CK coaches gestured for the band to leave the field so the game could resume, McClellan said.

As for the parents, “We were pissed,” she said.

Tyler Hunt, activities coordinator, shouldered part of the blame, saying, “It was unfortunate. Due to my part, it didn’t go as smoothly as it should. … You guys deserve as much respect as the football team.”

Coons acknowledged the band members’ hours of practice to prepare for the performance and pledged school officials were taking steps to ensure no such disrespect would ever be shown again. The band will be acknowledged at tomorrow’s game at Silverdale Stadium. Parents and friends of students will receive complimentary passes.

“I’m very glad he did that,” said McClellan, who observed the apology with several other parents. “I think it soothed the kids’ feelings. I think it was a great gesture.”

Coons said nothing like this has ever happened at CKHS in the 11 years he’s been there. But unfortunately incidents like this have happened elsewhere, he said.

“This is a great, hard-working bunch of kids. They really add to the quality of all our sporting events,’ Coons said. “It pains me to let them down.”

As band members filed out to the 50-yard line to begin their drills, one boy shook the principal’s hand and said, “It’s all good.”

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Heard on the newsroom scanner: ” … three youths on skateboards hanging onto the spoiler of a vehicle … going 45 miles per hour … down Sedgwick Road.”

The reporter in me said, “Well, there’s breaking news in the making.” The mother in me said, “I hope they’re wearing their helmets.”

By some miracle, likely law enforcement intervention, said youths did not end up the subject of a Code 911 item.

When I mentioned I might write a blog post about the stunt, fellow reporter Steve Gardner warned me that people might misconstrue the message and think I was glorifying the teens’ stupidity. So let me make this perfectly clear, if I were their mother, those kids would so be grounded.

A lot has been written lately about the teenage brain. David Dobbs’ article last fall in National Geographic outlined research indicating there’s an evolutionary purpose to the risk-taking behavior that teens seem compelled, despite their own better judgement, to engage in. Taking risks serves to prepare young people to become independent, leave home and start their own lives, the article states. That’s something I’m guessing most parents would endorse. But that doesn’t make parenting, especially parenting teens, any less scary.

From the time you welcome a child into your home through birth or adoption it seems life becomes one great video game in which hazards and threats pop up on the horizon either aimed at your child or toward which your child is rushing headlong. At some point, you’ve got to let go of her hand, the bicycle seat, the car keys … and the notion you ever really had much control to begin with.

Probably the scariest thing is remembering yourself at the same age. I will not hereby recount some of my teenage risk-taking behaviors because I don’t want readers to think I’m glorifying stupidity.

Happy Mother’s Day to all, especially the moms of those lucky lemmings on skateboards.

Chris Henry

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Sometimes what drives you to read a book goes beyond an intense interest in the subject matter. It’s a good day when the experience is a good one.

It was with Celeste Cornish’s The Voyages of Starship Sid.

Cornish, a former reporter who wrote for us and for the folks at Sound Publishing, tells the story of Sid Ivins, a fourth-grader at the fictitious Walter Mondale Elementary School in Bremerton. Sid, who wants to be an astronaut, has Asperger’s Syndrome, which leaves him highly functioning on the autism scale, but offers him challenges when it comes to his social skills.

Sid tells his own story:

“‘Where in the world did you find that many pairs of vampire teeth in June?’ Mom asked George.
“‘I ordered them online. Mom left her credit card out on the dining room table so I used it,’ he said, and mom cracked up.
“‘They come in packs of twelve and I wanted to make sure I had enough, so I ordered twelve packs.’
“‘That’s one hundred and forty-four vampire teeth,’ I said. ‘That should be enough to get us through the summer.’
“Mom laughed again, even though nobody told a joke.”

Cornish is familiar with the Asperger’s topic generally. She is a substitute paraeducator in the Central Kitsap School District. She wrote the book in part so people will have a better understanding of the condition.

“They don’t fit in and they know they don’t fit in,” Cornish said. “There’s nothing physically wrong with them, but it’s a hard for them. It’s a really hard road for these kids.”

The book, which is aimed at a younger market but is fun for adults as well, does do a good job of illustrating how the condition shows up. Cornish hopes when adults see the kid who tears up his homework because he believes that will make it go away, or won’t stop talking about one subject, or who doesn’t seem to have an “edit” feature in his or her brain, that they will pause and understand that this is part of what you get with “Aspies.”

Sid has trouble getting acceptance from some of his friends, too, including an annoyingly persistent bully named Julie Michaels. Yep, the bully is a girl. But Sid does have his friends, and his life is a full one. His future is promising. Cornish said the more high-functioning adults with Asperger’s can do well in technical fields.

The book does what Cornish hoped. It’s a fun read, for one thing, but I learned a lot.

Cornish, by the way, has lived in Bremerton since 2002 and is married to U.S. Navy Master Chief Bryan Cornish. The two are parents to an 11-year-old son, Joshua.

The book is available at Amazon.com. She can be reached at celestercornish@yahoo.com.

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I was asked to take a photo for tomorrow’s Kitsap Sun at the Family Christmas Eve Service for toddlers and very young children at Adventure of Faith church in South Kitsap.

This was the first year the church had tried such a service. Children were asked to choose a simple costume – shepherd, angel or wise man. And they were invited up onstage at different points in the service.

“It’s an opportunity for families with young children to celebrate a Christmas Eve service they can be a part of,” said Don Dilley, director of music and worship.

Now, there’s my idea of going to church … wander around wherever you want and just let it all hang out.

I didn’t get this little girl’s name, but she was the life of the party … one of several animated toddlers who welcomed Baby Jesus in their own way.

Or as Pastor John Foreman said, “All our children, no matter what costume they wear, are angels.”

However you like to celebrate the holiday, I hope I all goes well for you and your family. Merry Christmas to all, from Peninsular Thinking.

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Steven Holl's design of a museum of surf in France netted him a prestigious design award in the same year he is getting architecture's biggest honor.

Holl will receive the American Institute of Architects 2012 Gold Medal, which to me seems like the architect’s equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize or Oscar. Only in some ways it’s way bigger than that.

Consider that one of the past winners was Thomas Jefferson, posthumously, and you get the idea that no architect is ever out of the running for the prize. So Holl’s selection is even more impressive.

The award honors a lifetime of work and was announced earlier this month. From the AIA press release:

Holl and his firm, Steven Holl Architects have completed projects that tackle the urban-scale planning and development conundrums that define success in the built environment throughout the world. He’s able to work with diverse clients to get his projects executed, all while being a tenured professor at Columbia University.

Though Holl is a West High grad, he is on tap to be the designer of the Teen Wellness Center the city is planning for the site of the former East High School campus next to Albertson’s. Chris Henry wrote a the first story of Holl’s involvement in 2009, when it was first announced he would donate his work to get the center built in his old home town.

Holl will receive his Gold Medal in May at AIA’s national convention in Washington, D.C. The AIA press release follows, as does the release about his win for the work he did on the French surf museum.

(more…)

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I got this press release today on nominations for 2012 “Military Child of the Year,” a competition sponsored by Operation Homefront.

“Deserving young patriots,” between the ages of 8 and 18 years, can win $5,000. One child from each branch of the service will be chosen. Winners will be flown with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., for a recognition ceremony on April 5.

According to the press release, “Ideal candidates for the Military Child of the Year Award demonstrate resilience and strength of character, and thrive in the face of the challenges of military life. They demonstrate leadership within their families and within their communities.”

Nominations are being accepted online until January 15, 2012 at www.OperationHomefront.net/MCOY.

With our high military presence, Kitsap County would seem fertile ground of candidates for Military Child of the Year. I’d be interested to hear from families about how your children handle the challenges of military life, especially the deployment of a parent. Some days, I expect, just coping with day to day life can take a “heroic” effort on the part of youngsters. I’d also be interested to hear readers’ definitions of “leadership within their families and within their communities.”

Here’s the press release:

SAN ANTONIO – Operation Homefront today announced the opening of the 2012 Military Child of the Year Award nomination period. The award will be given to an outstanding military child from each Service – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The winners, who each will receive $5,000, will be flown with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., for special recognition ceremony on April 5, 2012. Nominations are being accepted online until January 15, 2012 at www.OperationHomefront.net/MCOY.

Ideal candidates for the Military Child of the Year Award demonstrate resilience and strength of character, and thrive in the face of the challenges of military life. They demonstrate leadership within their families and within their communities.

“The sons and daughters of America’s service members learn what patriotism is at a very young age,” said Jim Knotts, chief executive officer, Operation Homefront. “Children in military families understand sacrifice and live with the concept of service. This is what the Military Child of the Year Award honors.”

Nominees must:
Must have valid military ID or currently be enrolled in DEERS
Must be between the ages of 8-18
Must be able to travel to Washington, D.C., for the ceremony on April 5, 2012
Finalists must have a background check to confirm the information provided in the nomination and must provide references.
Recipients of the 2011 awards are profiled in the book “Our Youngest Heroes,” available through Amazon.com.

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