PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA
VOL 35 NO 38
SEPTEMBER 17 – 23, 2016
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34 YEARS YOUR VOICE
Photo from Summit Sierra High School website
Families of charter school students volunteer for lawsuit
The first Korean to fly in space calls Puyallup home Summit Sierra High School in the International District.
By Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly Twelve families of students of Washington state charter schools have intervened in a lawsuit filed by several unions and organizations against the state of Washington. The parents are seeking to join the state in defending a charter public school law enacted this past year. “We have a significant problem with education in this state,” said Shirline Wilson. Her 12-year-old son, Myles, attends Rainier Prep, a charter school in Seattle. “That problem lies in an inequity in the public school system.” Wilson explained that Myles was “performing
Soyeon Yi
well-below grade level.” She indicated that they were not able to access special services. “We went to an independent school and paid out of pocket,” Wilson explained. “It was very unsuccessful.” Myles spent two years in public school and Wilson noted that her son was “woefully behind.” Turning to Rainier Prep, Wilson noted an improvement in her son’s learning and attributes it to the charter school. The plaintiffs in El Centro de la Raza v. State of Washington, filed earlier this summer, are seeking to overturn a law that would provide state funding to charter schools. The lawsuit seeks see SUMMIT on 13
Police: Elderly purse snatchings on the rise
Photo by Ruth Bayang/NWAW
By Stacy Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly Property theft and robbery in Seattle has recently experienced an uptick across the board — however, one concerning pattern that has emerged is that Asian women in their 60s and older are being targeted, specifically because they are a vulnerable population. “We have robbery victims see PURSE SNATCHING on 13
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This is the voyage of Soyeon Yi. Her mission is to be the first South Korean in space, conduct experiments in microgravity, and boldly go where few have gone before. By Janice Nesamani NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The Seattle Museum of Flight provided the perfect backdrop to lift off into the world of Soyeon Yi. South Korea’s first astronaut, who happens to be a woman, has an energy about her that’s hard to contain. Perhaps, that’s what launched her from Gwangju, South Korea into outer space. Yi has now traded the fame she enjoyed in South Korea for a quiet life in Puyallup with her husband. “The place I grew up in is very similar to Puyallup. We lived between the farming province and a large metropolitan city. I am the first generation of my family to have studied past high school. My mother is from a farming family and attended primary school. Then, if a woman could read, write, and
run the washing machine without breaking anything, it was enough to be a housewife. My father went to high school, but couldn’t afford to go to college and had to take up a job to support the family. He worked as a banker. My parents could not teach me, but they definitely inspired me,” Yi said, giving us a glimpse of the childhood that inspired her to choose her career. The first engineer Yi encountered was her father. “He worked as a banker, but had the traits of an engineer. At home, he built our sewage system, the boiler and pipe system under our floor that kept us warm, and repaired our doorbell and my bicycle. During these tasks, I was his No. 1 assistant. It didn’t have to do with the fact that I was a girl or boy, it was because I was the only one to help him. I learnt the see YI on 12
exploding smartphones
serving seniors
POLITICAL ANIMALS
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 can go boom while charging » see 5
Jeffrey Hattori’s mission to help seniors live full lives » see 7
Make a run for U.S. president in the virtual world. » see 9
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