I had originally sent the following as an off line response to a couple of
folks when this discussion started.........contrary to popular opinion, I'm
usually the shier type, and don't put my personal stuff out. However, I'm
concerned about the thread and feel strongly about this issue. Therefore,
my 2 cents:
I work for the City of Minneapolis---and I'm committed to the City not only
as my employer, but as a place that I believe in. I do not live in the
City---I have horses and the City won't allow me to have horses in the City.
I am "liberal" on most social issues, relatively conservative on fiscal
issues, and completely independent on any given topic. However, my daughter
comes into Minneapolis with me every day---she attends a Minneapolis Public
school, Benjamin Banneker, to be precise. Yes, as a liberal white middle
class person I could afford to have her in a private school, she could also
go to school in the community where we live. I have chosen to have her in
Banneker not because of some liberal agenda, not because of convenience, but
because she can learn good stuff at Banneker---excitement for learning,
academics, social awareness, social skills, world view, etc, that she can
not learn elsewhere.
Yes, Banneker is a troubled school; it has special challenges that many
other schools don't. Yes, I am passionate about my daughter's
education---she will have the best education that I can give her. But an
education is many things---not just the academics, not just the enrichment,
not just the programs for special needs kids. An education is the entire
experience of growing and learning about yourself, the world, your
opportunities and challenges in the world, and how to excel in tomorrow's
world. The staff at Banneker impressed me as no other staff when my
daughter and I attended the Minneapolis School Fair in 2000. Other schools
had fancy displays of "cool" activities--and 2 people that were bookends to
the table. Banneker had a table, with some coloring books and crayons---and
6 highly energetic teachers. These teachers literally reached out to my
daughter, asking about her interests, finding out her alphabet, colors and
numbers skills, talking to me about their philosophy in teaching and showing
me the enthusiasm for TEACHING and LEARNING that I want for my daughter.
I have not regretted my decision for one minute. I am very involved in her
education--not only PTO and the Futures Committee and the classroom--but
also reading with her, doing homework together (hers and mine), dance
classes, concerts and fairs, whatever. The Twin Cities has a phenomenal
amount of free stuff--the History museum has Sunday music and history
programs, every school, neighborhood and park has free entertainment and
concerts throughout the year, etc. Any parent can take advantage of these
to enrich their kids' lives. Perhaps that's my bottom line---parents have
to be responsible for their kids---I can NOT expect some school---ANY
school---to be completely responsible for MY kid's education.
I guess my rant stems from the assumption that liberal white middle class
folks like me either have my daughter in a private school because of flight
or fear--or am sacrificing her to some liberal agenda---when neither is
true. I'm just a Mom, doing what I believe is best by my girl.
Susan Young, Minneapolis Public Works Employee
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