Michael Atherton: "If the date were changed to 1964, the location to Mississippi, and the race of the new school superintendent to Black
and the race of the community leaders to White this would
look a lot like racism."
This doesn't look anything like 1964 in Mississippi. In fact, I see no racism in this statement at all. What I see are well-reasoned arguments questioning the process and questioning the individual who was chosen through this process.
This is an individual who has left an extensive "paper trail" as a legislator so he is a known quantity. It is absolutely appropriate for the community to cite his past history in examining his fitness for this new position. Since this man has taken some rather interesting positions on social justice/race issues in the past, it is completely reasonable to wonder how he can provide leadership to a school district that serves primarily children of color.
The big argument the Strib seemed to be making in their gushing praise of this appointment is that the Minneapolis Public Schools would now be "run like a business" [I'm paraphrasing here]. Well, as someone who has worked in health care for over 25 years, I've seen the effects of health care run by bean counters vs. caregivers and I don't like what I've seen one damned bit.
While everyone wants public schools (as well as all government institutions) to be run in a fiscally responsible manner, public schools AREN'T businesses and the business model is an inappropriate way to run a school district. Business management is built around profitability--if a division or department isn't pulling it's weight, it gets closed down. Are we going to close down schools that cost more to operate (something they are apparently already doing by closing and consolidating smaller schools like Downtown Open) even if they produce better results? As long as the business model is pursued and the "bottom line" is the goal, where will the needs of the children and community fit into the picture?
I've seen plenty to tell me that the choice of Jennings for this position is questionable at best but little to show me why he belongs in this position. I support the community's right to raise these concerns about both the process in which he was selected and the selection itself. After all, our families are the "end users" of the public school system--we have a very important stake in this issue. I'm glad to see the community step forward on this issue--it's what democracy is all about.
Michelle Gross
Bryn Mawr
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