Michelle Mensing wrote: > Michael Atherton writes: > > When I started my campaign for Minneapolis school board a number of > > people told me I was crazy, that the educational establishment and > > the DFL would "destroy" me. > > There were obviously enough voters who broke away from the DFL mold to elect > Denny Schapiro (who ran as an independent) to the school board last year. > If a candidate has a message that resonates with voters, they will vote for > that person regardless of endorsement.
Denny Schapiro was not and is not a critic of public education, he is a supporter of the status quo. Mr. Schapiro was also endorsed by the Tribune and his chances were not destroyed prior to the primary by the Tribune editorial board referring to him as a, "52 year old failed businessman with narrow personal concerns." I'd like to see someone justify the Tribune's lack of endorcement of the only two public school critics in a field of 12 canidates. > I happen to not agree with the > discussions I have heard from Michael Atherton, therefore I will be > selecting other candidates to vote for. And it will not be purely based on > DFL endorsement. I will be supporting 3 of the 4 DFL endorsed candidates > because I like what I have heard them say. My fourth choice has not yet > been decided, but I do know it will be one of the non-DFL endorsed > candidates. That is your right. I expect that many people will not vote for me, and probably three to four times as many now with the Tribune's distortion, but I'm running to make people aware that the failures of the public school system can be corrected and are not intractable. Not winning a school board seat will be more beneficial for me than winning, given that I would have worked compulsively to improve the schools and it would probably have consumed too much of my time. My family will just follow the path of many other parents who have the means and we will avoid the public schools. I just thought that voters should have a choice other than the typical DFL candidates who know little or nothing about education. Just what is it that you've heard the candidates say other than sound bits and platitudes? What exactly are their positions, proposals, and goals? Joe Ericson is the only one that I know that has taken the time to identify their positions on issues. > I agree there is a problem with the DFL's endorsing system in Minneapolis > and I hope DFL members will continue reforming the city endorsing system (as > I know I will do). But, I think it is a little simplistic to suggest that > the DFL will "destroy" candidates who are not endorsed. Denny Schapiro > seems to have survived. I have been told that Mr. Schapiro is well connected in the DFL and had previously been active as a party member. I respect the fact that he choose to run as an independent and did not seek endorsements, but as I pointed out his candidacy wasn't undermined prior to the primary by the state's largest newspaper. Jim Mork wrote: > Michael Atherton writes: > "For instance, it's interesting that the two > candidates who "...are not quite up to the task > of being good school board members," are the two > of us best able to accurately cite educational > research to support our positions" > > Michael: (1) I have yet to see the research > that supports your views: (2) On what do you > base your claim that the endorsees of the > newspaper have no idea of what educational > research shows? This strikes me as a glittering > generality, a piece of puffery. (1) Although, I'm not as detailed as Mr. Mann I have cited a number of articles, you can find these references in the archives. Specifically have you read the Scientific American article on reduced class sizes? If so then we could discuss those findings in detail. (2) Of the board members who post on the list most never cite research. I found one reference Audrey Johnson to a study supporting the importance of parent involvement (which would actually support my positions). Catherine Shreves has incorrectly cited research on class size and computer use (both of these are covered by posts in the archives). Joe Erickson cited an article to support reduced class sizes which really dealt with instructional methods and not class size reductions (posts on this are also in the archive). [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Keith Says; The StarTribune's political endorsements appear to have little to > do with civic service. These endorsements have more to do with partisan > politics. Much to the detriment of public education for our children, the > Strib editors will take the tiniest positive detail of Mr. Atherton's life > and use it to make him seem, somehow, immature. How would a typical reader > make a reasonable judgment of Mr. Atherton's qualifications when he is made > to appear a middle aged career student with a grudge? Even if I was a middle aged career student with a grudge how would this impact the quality of my performance as a school board member? You could always characterize Martin Luther King as a "middle aged cleric with a grudge." Many people who are socially and politically active have personal motivations for their actions, how effective they are at implementing social reforms is determined by other factors. Michael Atherton http://QualityEd.US Candidate for Minneapolis School Board Prospect Park ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prepared and paid for by the Atherton for MPS Committee. 156 Orlin Ave SE, Mpls, MN 55414 _______________________________________ 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
