On the possibility that Mike Atherton’s blood pressure has fallen dangerously
low, I offer the following quote from AFT president Sandra Feldman’s column
in the NY Times:
<<Today, of course, almost no one disputes the rock-solid research that
supports the commonsense argument that teachers can teach better and students
can learn more, in smaller classes.>>
Maybe Minneapolis Board of Education members are not living in a fantasy
world after all...
On a different topic, the Strib’s lead editorial today is supportive of a
Citizens League study on Children’s Mental Health.
(http://citizensleague.net/studies/mental-health/children/report.htm) The
call is to establish a “children’s mental health system” in the state. (For
full disclosure, I was on the committee, although not without quibbles about
its final report.)
The estimate of about 72,000 mentally ill kids in the state (most with needs
unmet) would certainly translate into several thousand in Minneapolis schools.
I would argue, based on real, but limited, experience, that the public sector
is not doing a very good job of helping kids with undeniable problems. The
results are far from trivial.
Mary Tambornino on the Hennepin County Board has said some things on the
topic. Beside her, does anyone know of any elected official, unit of
government or pressure group that is taking ownership of this? Is this a
legit campaign issue?
Dennis Schapiro
Linden Hills
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