--- David Brauer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: OK. So there IS an election coming. I'd like to ask the remaining six school board candidates:
[RF] You could have asked questions at Thursday's school bad candidates' forum. That forum and one earlier in the week, from what I heard, had about 40 people, total, including people working at the events. Of all the forums, debates, and interviews I've heard this political season, I have been most impressed with that of the school board candidates. Students, parents, MPS personnel, and residents of the city are very fortunate. Some of the most intelligent and thoughtful candidates are those for school board. Moreover, these men and women are well aware of the daunting task awaiting them should they win election. By no means was I the only person impressed by the candidates. One person I know, pre-forum, was certain a candidate had no depth. Post-forum, that candidate had won the person's vote. Friday morning, I was thinking of the forums for other races and attendance at them. I was thinking of discussions on Mpls Issues list. Several times on Thursday, school board candidates said they didn't know the answer to questions. I thought of how other candidates would have been shouted off the stage for those comments. I think this city, in the form of its residents, is doing a strong disservice to our students. If we discussed schools and the MPS as we discuss affordable housing or livable wages, the school board would have more ideas through which to sort to help them find answers. The president of the citywide student council attended Thursday's forum to promote the Youth Vote next week. She made a statement that I've heard on this list many times. Namely, we have to get the youth excited about voting so they keep voting. The comments about the other event Thursday, i.e., the Deans in Six, about the youth in attendance are another example of this belief. While I wonder how beneficial it is in creating life-long voting patterns, I don't object to the attention paid to youth. However, it is amazing to me how many parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other voters cannot make time to find out about the candidates who will decide the school policies under which children will either benefit or suffer. It's also amazing how many of these adults claim they can't be bothered to find out about candidates, let alone meet them, because they are driving children from one after-school activity to another, all in the name of giving the child an advantage. But it's not just parents. There's work. There's entertainment. There are even unavoidable conflicts for everyone. The mayoral candidates are drawing attendees and attention. The school board candidates are not. I thought the Board of Education was independent of the mayor in Minneapolis. Shouldn't some of the mayoral debates be forums for school board candidates instead? Here's an open suggestion. Next Thursday, Nov. 1, WCCO is holding a debate in Lowry Hill East for mayoral candidates, which will be aired on the following Sunday. I propose that the event be switched to a forum for school board candidates. As for myself, on Nov. 1, I plan to be at what appears to be the one and only forum for candidates to the Library Board. Moreover, I'm still undecided on which school board candidates will receive my votes. --Rosa Field Lowry Hill East __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make a great connection at Yahoo! Personals. http://personals.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
