Jim Mork wrote:

> To suggest somehow that Carol Johnson was racist against her 
> fellow African Americans causes shock and awe of disbelief.  

I don't recall suggesting that Carol Johnson was a racist,
I was claiming that she was an ineffective bureaucrat.

> Nor do I believe for a minute there was a coverup.  

This is the part of the Detective story where the main
character says, "Strange, I never mentioned "coverup."
Interesting that you should choose this word, "coverup."
Although I'm not inclined to conspiracy theories, there was 
a recent article in the Tribune that amounts to little more 
than pure humbug: "Minneapolis schools improved under Johnson." 
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4034911.html

To say that the schools improved under Dr. Johnson does not
mean that Dr. Johnson can be credited for their improvement.
You might as well say that, "Economy improved under
Clinton," or "Schools improved while Atherton in 
Minneapolis."

What's most disingenuous about this story is that there
are simple statistical procedures that could have determined
with a high degree of certainty whether the improvement in
the Minneapolis schools during Johnson's tenure was
different than that of similar school districts.
Why not use them?  

> By the way, I know lots of Minneapolis residents who have 
> liberalism that is more than skin deep. I think some of those
> who recently joined us here need  to get out more.  

Great! You'll have to introduce me.

> And listen more.  They seem to cook up opinions in their 
> isolation that have absolutely nothing to do with the REALITY of 
> Minneapolis. 

The REALITY of Minneapolis is that the city has been negligently
mismanaged for years and the school system, while adequately
serving White students, has one of the largest racial academic 
gaps in the Nation. A gap that would shame many Southern school 
districts, even in the days of segregation. See Star Tribune
article: "Schools face an alarming racial gap."
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4040339.html

> And they SLANDER the people of the city because of their faulty 
> information (hint: the U campus does not substitute for the city)

Ad hominem, ad hominem.  A while ago I provided a link to
maps that show the disproportionate distribution by race of
students in Minneapolis High Schools and I challenged list
members to provide an explanation.  I'm still waiting.
Why don't we stick to the issues and not worry whether my
perspective is blemished by place of study.  

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park


TEMPORARY REMINDER:
1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject 
(Mpls-specific, of course.)

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