Pinole Valley High, Mt. Diablo High (pictured), Oak Grove Middle School, and 17 other East Bay institutions are on the state’s list of failed schools and may be facing draconian penalties, including the firing of principals and staff, outright closure, or closure and then a re-opening as a charter school. “This is an opportunity to make dramatic changes at chronically underperforming schools,” says state schools chief Jack O’Connell.

Doubtless there is much wringing of hands at the 188 schools statewide that are affected, but here’s what I don’t get. This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone – these schools’ dismal test scores, the bar they had to reach, and the sanctions have been in the public eye for a decade. The only question to my mind, as a former education reporter who covered the Mt. Diablo school district, among others, was always whether the state would have the gumption to actually impose those sanctions. And frankly, they haven’t yet. They’re just threatening. It’s like those parents who give their kids till the count of 3 – “OK, 1, 2, 2 1/2 … I really mean it this time: 1, 2, 2 1/2, 2 3/4… We’ll try that again, 1, 2…” Hello?

Meanwhile out in Rhode Island, where half the students at Central Falls High were failing every subject, the school board just fired its entire school staff, including 74 teachers and the principal, after the teachers union refused to follow state-mandated restructuring plans that called for longer school days and tutoring. The union said they wanted to be paid for the extra work and that their students had made great strides in recent years.

I have my own thoughts about those arguments, but I’m considerably more interested in hearing yours. Click comments and share your thoughts, or punch a button on the poll… (P.S. Answers are in random order and you can select as many as you wish.)

And both these books can be yours! Click “comments” and tell us, what’s your family’s favorite book? We’ll draw a winner’s name on Monday, March 8.

Meanwhile, it’s time to give away that Scooby-Doo Laff-a-Lympics DVD from last week, so we’ll draw a name and … Congrats, Cheryl! What fun to read about everyone’s favorite Winter Olympics sport – and we got a kick out of Jason’s suggestion that ice fishing be part of the Olympics. We can hear the announcers now, speaking in hushed, golf-like tones, “We’re in hour 47 of the ice fishing championships and it looks like the Finnish team may be getting a nibble at last…”

I get all that, but here’s the thing. One of the first things you’re taught as a new parent – by your pediatrician, your new moms group and every baby care book on the planet – is not to feed your little one objects that approximate the dimensions of his windpipe. Dice or slice ‘em first. Do we need warning labels on food? Or redesigned hot dogs? You tell me…

So what do you think? What are you planning to see?

San Francisco-based Common Sense Media, a nonprofit advocacy group that focuses on families and the media, says, “Parents need to know… that this movie is an aged-up version of the ‘Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief’ book that Common Sense Media recommends for readers 9 and up. Young hero Percy is now in high school rather than middle school; his satyr friend Grover loves the ladies; and a trip that Percy, Grover, and Annabeth take to a casino has a nightclub, a full bar, and trippy lotus flowers that all the patrons ingest (in the book, they play video and arcade games endlessly). Plus, the violence level is high for a PG-rated movie.” CSM says, save it for the 11-and-up crowd.

And Plugged-In Online, the  review arm of Focus on the Family (I always put this disclaimer in, because you need to know — while Focus on the Family may not be everyone’s cup of tea, even the most liberal-leaning of parents will enjoy the Plugged-In reviews. They’re fair, often funny and always helpful), says:

“Rick Riordan’s ‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians’ books have taken millions of young readers on an epic Greek journey. Now they’re being lured to the land of big screens and expensive popcorn to see it all come to life… What it ends up being, though, is … ridiculously violent for a kids’ flick, pointless and dull.”

Plugged-In also notes that this movie, which is aimed at the tween set, has a soundtrack that includes Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face,” for example, and Ke$ha’s “TiK ToK.” If you don’t mind your 9-year-old singing about brushing her teeth with Jack Daniels or boys wanting to touch her junk, junk, then this shouldn’t be a problem for you. Ahem.

So… did you see it? What did you think?

Helping Teens With Homework Headaches
Feb. 28 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org.
The fifth in Childhood Matters’ six-part series on navigating the teen years. Nurse Rona and co-host Beth Samuelson, MA, of Student Organizational Services, discuss ways to help students manage their homework load.

Child Development Lecture
March 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Habitot Children’s Museum, Berkeley
Lecture by UC Berkeley psychology professor Alison Gopnik, author of “The Philosophical Baby,” on child development topics. The event, open to the public with any donation to the museum, includes wine, cheese and desserts.

Couple’s Workshop: Art & Skill of a Happy Marriage
March 6 from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Founder’s Grove, Lafayette
A couple’s workshop designed to jump-start your relationship and put conflicts to rest, led by Contra Costa Men’s Center director Steven Freemire, MFT, and Catherine Freemire, LCSW. $199 per couple ($169 by Feb. 6).

The Problem of Underage Drinking
March 8 at 7 p.m., Campolindo High, Moraga
Community leaders will come together to share their knowledge, answer questions and provide resources. Among the speakers: Campolindo High Principal Carol Kitchens; Moraga Chief of Police Robert Priebe; Dr. Jan Gurley; and Defense Attorney Mary Carey. Sponsored by the Campolindo Parent Club and Healthy Choices Committee.

Something to add to the list? E-mail us the details or click “comments” and add it right here.

It’s quite the explosive spectacle, says the reviewer at Minneapolis’ Star-Tribune, who gave it a measly C+. Director Chris Columbus, who helmed the first two “Harry Potter” movies, “paces this film like a demolition derby,” the review says, “There’s a ratio of one explosion, monster attack or life-and-death battle every 2.8 minutes, and Columbus makes sure they detonate on time.” Hmm, he says that like it’s a bad thing…

Variety magazine says the movie gets better as it goes along: “Action movies of this scale often start off strong and wind down to forgettable finales, but ‘Percy Jackson’ is the opposite, overcoming a clunky setup to deliver nearly all its thrills in the last half-hour.”

So… are you going?

House of Floyd: Got a teen or Pink Floyd devotee? Livermore’s Bankhead Theater is hosting a “House of Floyd” tribute, 8 p.m. Feb. 12. It’s an evening of Pink Floyd music, complete with video, fog and laser show — and it benefits the Livermore Valley’s school music programs. $28. Details: www.bankheadtheater.org

Abracadabra: Head back to the Bankhead on Valentine’s Day for an afternoon of hocus-pocus, magicians and variety acts from Las Vegas, Hollywood and abroad. Catch “It’s Magic” at 3 p.m. Feb. 14. $12-$46. Details: www.bankheadtheater.org

Flamenco ole: Ashkenaz’s kids’ concert series continues on Valentine’s Day with a young Flamenco showcase featuring music, dancing and plenty of thrills. 3 p.m. Feb. 14. $4-$6. Details: www.ashkenaz.com.

Mexican music jam: Berkeley’s La Pena hosts a family-friendly Mexican music jam from 3 to 6 p.m. on Feb. 14. Grab your accordion, guitar, bass or banjo and join the musical fun. Free. Details: www.lapena.org.

LIONS AND TIGERS: And dancers, oh my! San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum celebrates the Year of the Tiger with lion dances and art workshops Feb. 7. The lion dancing begins at noon, but the arts and crafts, storytelling — featuring Bay Area author Oliver Chin and the latest book in his Chinese Zodiac series — and fun run all afternoon. And it’s all free, thanks to the Target First Free Sunday series.

MOCHA TIGERS: Make lanterns, dragon puppets and tiger hats at a Year of the Tiger art workshop at Oakland’s Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA); 1 p.m. Feb. 7. $7 per child, $3 per adult.

SOGGY SUNDAY: The next installment in Ashkenaz’ kids’ concert series features Charity Kahn and the electric JAMband at 3 p.m. Feb. 7. Tickets are $4-$6 at the door or via www.ticketweb.com.

FAIRYLAND FROLIC: Oakland’s Children’s Fairyland celebrates Black History weekend Feb. 6-7 with a series of classic African tales by storyteller Kirk Waller at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m., plus all the usual fun, including a puppet version of “The Frog Prince” at 11 a.m., 2 and 4 p.m. Admission is $7.