If I didn't have an appreciation of irony, trying to improve the educational system would have been overwhelmingly depressing by now. tell you that Dr. Johnson's job is not to improve the schools, but to keep the citizens happy and what does Dr. Green say about why she is valuable?
"She still knows teachers and parents who have called her up two or three years ago, and she can pick up the discussion as if there had not been a span of time separating their conversations. There is that kind of personal connection she exudes. You get the feeling that despite her acclaim and high profile and intelligence she is just a regular person. And you don't find folks on her level that have that quality." He says nothing about the procedural changes that she's made to improve teacher quality, improve test scores, or lower the dropout rate. Her endearing quality is that she's just a regular person. Maybe it's just the conservative in me, but I'd prefer an irregular person who can actually improve the schools over a regular one who makes "personal connections." The fact that parents, teachers, administrators, and legislators are satisfied with a feel-good superintendent over a task oriented leader is one of the major reasons why nothing ever changes. Another major problem is Dr. Green's confusion (after EIGHT years on the school board) as to what needs to be done to improve the schools. "...I don't know the answers to those questions. We've looked at the curriculum, changed the curriculum, and probably have other aspects of the curriculum we still need to change. But even if we had the best curriculum, the best training for teachers, the best training for principals, we have got this problem with mobility. Kids are still moving around and, especially when they're from out of state, sometimes the record keeping doesn't come along." Well, maybe Dr. Green doesn't know the answers, but I do. And, I tell you them over and over again, and nothing happens. Oh, the irony! Michael Atherton Prospect Park _______________________________________ 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
