Pamela Taylor said:
> If we
> do not demand that our teachers teach in new methods
> coming out college,

This statement worries me.  As a victim of many of the
educational "experiments" of the last 30-40 years I tend to equate this
with "lowering expectations" of our children.  I'm sure this isn't what you
meant but I'd really like to hear some specifics of what these methods are
and how we expect to resolve the issues.

> how do we expect to infuse any
> kind of change in how ANY of our kids learn?  By doing
> so, you can address the issue of children of color.
>
> Without changing methods, you will continually get the
> same results you have always gotten, no matter how
> much money you can find to put into the educational
> system.  Lets not waste what little we have.

Otherwise, I agree.

> --- Brandon Lacy Campos <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> wrote:
>>
>> My feeling:
>>
>> 1. The Budget Crisis...the new school board members
>> are going to have to
>> be adept at re-creating the Public Schools into a
>> non-profit model that
>> may need to include grass-roots direct appeal
>> fundraising to the parents
>> and citizens of Minneapolis.

NO WAY.  The moment we retreat to fundraising events to support our public
education system is the day we might as well shut it down.  It just gives
policy makers a chance to reduce funding more and more and/or turn our
schools into the hands of corporate interests.

>>
>> 2. Addressing the needs of students of color and
>> poor students...the
>> school district CONTINUES to fail to meet the needs
>> of and educate
>> students of color and poor students. ignoring social
>> factors that come
>> to school with students does not allow all students
>> to learn.

These are not the only students whose needs are not met.  In my experience
the system only works for "mainstream", white, heterosexual "average"
students.  Students at the top and bottom, left and right are dis-served
whether they are segregated from the heard by race, gender, intelligence,
talent, sexual preference, economic class, and even political views.
Education is supposed to be the great equalizer, but it can't be when not
all students are being educated to their potential.


Robert Schmid
Central


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