Nice post, and Tom Streitz and the King Field and East Harriet folks do deserve
a pat on the back. However, I take slight offense to David's shot at those of
us who choose not to send our kids to public School.
We send our two children to Annunciation Catholic School. That was our choice
based on what we thought was best for our children. Even though our kids attend
parochial school, my wife and I are well aware of the importance a strong public
school system is to this City. That is why we have and will continue to support
the school system, include voting for property tax increases.
I would also argue that Annunciation is a "community school." I would guess
that 90% of the students live within a 2-1/2 mile radius of the school. Incomes
are diverse and reflect the southwest community. Minorities, unfortunately,
don't make up a very large percentage of the student body, but even that is
changing. (And as a father of a non-white daughter, this is a big issue for
me). All in all, I would hazard that Annunciation and its families are not much
different than one would find at Windom, Kenny, Burroughs, Barton or Fulton.
The bottom line is that one can't automatically categorize those who choose to
send their kids to non-public schools as anti-public school or don't care about
public schools. We do and will continue to do so in the future.
Dean E. Carlson
East Harriet
Ward 10
David Brauer wrote:
..
Tom and his small group worked their butts off - and are still working their
butts off for a more long-term solution - and they deserve praise for
hanging in there, negotiating in good faith, and remaining constructive
rather than letting cynicism consume them. (They could have been like some,
who either left the city or enrolled their kids in private schools.)...
