In a message dated 5/14/2002 3:35:38 PM Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
"We are getting real tired of VISIONS. They sound so wonderful but what we really want is some CONCRETE CHANGE." For more than a decade the Minneapolis Public Schools has also come up with plans to "close the gap and ensure that all children can learn," and to reduce dropout and suspension rates. Yet the test score gap steadily widens, dropout rates stay the same or increase, and the number of suspensions for violent behavior increases. At the Diversity Rule hearings in the fall of 1997, MPS superintendent Carol Johnson said that her administration is working to reduce disparities in education-related outcomes between students. But there is a disconnect between the stated goal and the evaluation criteria. The "measuring up" report cards gives passing grades to schools on the state's list of poor performing schools, where most students are not on track to pass the Minnesota Basic Standards and expected to dropout or be pushed out of high school. In another post I mentioned a report by the Education Trust about public schools in the US where most of the students are poor, black and COLLEGE-BOUND. I have noted that during the 1970's and early 1980's America's public schools were making progress toward 'closing the gap' without dumbing down the curriculum for high achievers. Then there was a big change in education policy and the academic achievement gap began to widen. I have noted that 40% of black students entering the 9th grade dropout of high school in the Houston, Texas public school system. The Houston NAACP branch calls that outrageous. What would they call dropout rates for black and Indian students in Minneapolis that are roughly twice as high! The public schools in Minneapolis are a disaster. They got that way because of policies approved by the Minneapolis Board of Education, such as the promotion of ability-grouping, the adoption of incoherent curricula, "outcome-based education," and an extremely high concentration of inexperienced teachers at certain schools. -Doug Mann, Kingfield and the new 8th ward Candidate for the Minneapolis School Board <http://educationright.tripod.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
