Zcom_simple

Hello,

Blogs are a familiar feature on the internet - where users post content in an accumulating manner, with comments, and search options, etc. They facilitate expression and exploration, and via attached comments, also debate and synthesis.


Reading and
Navigating Blogs

Our blogs are quite powerful. Each writer can post, as is typically the case. Sustainers who have the option can also post, however. All Blogs appear in the blog system, and sometimes also in content boxes the top page of ZNet - and always via the left menu of the top page - and can be found via searches, etc.

Commenting on blogs follows the blogs, attached at the bottom, and blog comments, like all others, are also visible in many places that show comments including in the forum system. In addition, the entire blog system gathers content for everyone - but one can look at the accumulating content in many ways.

  • For example one can look at one writer's efforts - so one is seeing what is effectively a blog system for that one writer, or Sustainer.
  • One can also look at the content by topic, seeing blogs that are tagged as being about a certain topic - or place, as well. Thus, when doing that, it is a blog system about a topic, or a place, with many contributors.
  • One can look at only writer blogs, or only sustainer blogs, as well.
  • One can look at blogs for particular Groups, too.

All this is easily done using the left menu. Searches allow even more variables and refinements.


Creating Blog Posts

If you are a Sustainer with permission, and are logged in, you will see a link in the left menu for you to post a blog - and you can use that to post one, and then tag it various ways (such as with a topic or place, or a group tag), and once you do, it is in the system with you as the author.

You can also use the console button to the left to post a blog - anytime and from anywhere in the site, as long as you are logged in.

Meanwhile, enjoy the blogs - and, by the way, if you are a Free Member or a Sustainer with a ZSpace page, of course you can put one or more content boxes on it, pulling blog links of any sort you may want to filter for, for example, by you or by your friends or by others - and by topic, about places, for groups, etc.

Blogs

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Ira Woodward's Blog

Web Address: http://www.zcommunications.org/zspace/irawoodward
Bio: I was born in Seattle and moved to Portland, Oregon for six years at age 18, now I\'m back in Seattle. I became politicized in high school while reading Howard Zinn\'s People\'s History, and I... (More)

All Woodward Blogs

where to go after MAP boycott

By Ira Woodward at Feb 13, 2013


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I am not involved in the Seattle Schools in any direct way, but as a former public school student and someone concerned about education, I am excited and inspired by the recent boycott of the MAP test. I admire and am grateful for all the hard work and sacrifice that so many people have put into activism around this issue. Also, based on my life experience which includes involvement in activism as well as a lot of reading and thinking on the subject, I feel moved to contribute to the conversation.

My sense of the situation is that the resistance is going to win a victory. However, though I am by no means the first to say it, I think it's true: the left (or progressives, activists, the good guys) often doesn't know what to do with a victory. From what I've seen, this might be the case here; it seems that at this point the district is already aware that it over reached by threatening the boycotters and that it offended a huge swath of the public. The opposition has been hard at work mobilizing popular support to keep the pressure on. From my admittedly outside perspective, however, what appears to be missing is some sort of strategy for using this opportunity to expand involvement in and effectiveness of a reform movement for the long-term.

An unexpected victory usually renews our sense of hope -- this is truly a precious thing. My guess is that some people who would usually shy away from political involvement are at this moment more open to the possibility of change. The danger is that success will lead to a celebration followed by everyone going home. The challenge is to engage as many people as possible in new activities and projects that will extend the victory in new directions.

My immediate thought is to organize meetings with diverse constituencies (parents, students, teachers) for the purpose of brainstorming ideas and beginning the process of deciding on a new project. Hopefully, many people energized by their new sense of power will be enthusiastic or at least willing to participate in this process. I am sure other people have many ideas for how to draw on this well of energy.

Still, I worry that the district's strategy will be to do an about-face and pretend it has seen the light. Meanwhile, they will be hoping everyone goes away and things go back to the way they were (albeit with a weakened or scrapped MAP.) This is why I think it is so crucial to plan one step ahead; if someone with a longer and broader view does not find a way to engage the newly energized people, the district's plan will probably work.

Fortunately, I think this rebellion is a window of opportunity to build a stronger and broader democratic movement to reform schools.  Again, I am truly grateful for the contribution so many of you have made on this issue; I hope that my thoughts help to stimulate further conversation.
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