First, I think we have proportional representation now on the school board. The top "x #" of vote getters are elected for the available number of seats.
I want to also agree with Alan, Nikki, Mathea and Joe. Our family's response has been to remove my children from the system and teach home. Next year I may have no children in the public schools despite only three years ago telling my son's principal that when Woody leaves 8th grade it will be our 20th year as a parent of a Seward student. I bet there are folks on the list who love our situation living across the street from a great school that all three of kids were able to get into. Still, I being influenced strongly by my wife and older children to see that even a great school like Seward is a bad choice for my young child. I think it goes deeper than who is elected to school board. It is about a shift in power to corporations and bureaucracy in society that insidiously removes individuality from our cultural institutions but that's a discussion for another list. In Minneapolis the DFL power seems move farther and farther from principles to personalities as the level of participation dwindles. This is illustrated by a clear victories of principle at last year's City Convention or last year's general election and clear victories for personality on the Redistricting Commission and at this year's City Convention. Consequently, I'm doing something similar to home schooling in my political life. Focusing energy on simple neighborhood organizing; ** Advertisement ** 99 Windows on Franklin Avenue Art by Seward residents in the windows of Seward business owners One day only! Saturday, June 15, 2002. All day. Celebrate Seward on Franklin from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Be inspired by the vision of art in all the windows along Franklin Avenue in Seward. Contact Erik Riese (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) for more information ** End Advertisement ** participating in neighborhood development activities; building participatory business entities; working for an integrated, sustainable life. Interestingly, as I become more centered on my immediate surroundings I find my perspectives on popular assumptions changing. The DFL in Minneapolis was once almost a monolithic party. Living in East Isles was as close as I could find to a Republican stronghold. Now, I'm drawn to the principle centered leaders developing in the Green Party. To hear Jim Graham praise Dean Zimmerman on this list signals a real change. I'm interested in what some of the DFL defenders like David B. have to say. I'd also like to know what Republicans like Connie N. think about the shift in city politics. I'm the guy who tried to get Cam Gordon to seek cross endorsement by the Republicans in a State House race here in Seward just to give the Greens and the Republicans a representative from the inner city in the House. As might imagine he turned me down. I'll vote for Jonathan Palmer if he runs in the fall! - Erik (full signature below) Alan Shilepsky wrote: > > Am I in the Twilight Zone or something. Judy Farmer, who has been on > the School Board for as long as I can remember, often as its head, is > endorsed for yet another term, and a bright, thoughtful, articulate, has > paid-his-dues young(ish) man of color like Jonathan Palmer is > rejected?! > > It is not like everybody is thrilled with the job the Mpls Schools is > doing and wants to retain a winning team. The Minneapolis is not > producing results we want to continue with so we need some new blood to > push for constructive change. > > To me this endorsement failure shows the bankrupcy of the Mpls DFL Party > (as did some of its 2001 endorsements), and makes me proud to have left > it. I will not be held responsible for its myopia, its debts and its > mistakes. > > It also shows the need for electoral reform--we need to elect School > Board members either via districts or, better, by proportional > representation. Does Phillips, Seward and Powderhorn have a School > Board member, or do the four corners know what's best for them? > > Alan Shilepsky > Downtown Joe Barisonzi wrote: > > List, > >SNIP< > >I wish that someone had the power to > make a strategic decision on behalf of the DFL and the city and urge > Judy Farmer who has had the opportunity to serve on the board for long > enough to see more then one class enter kindergarten and graduate high > school, to step aside and support emerging civic leadership. -- In cooperation, Erik Riese Seward: a great place to live, work, learn, and play! (612) 242-8528 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ _______________________________________ 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
