Actually, I believe one can focus too much on the longer history of an individual's politics and behavior and too easily disallow for changes in perspective.
That, it seems to me, is counter to everyone's hope that people are both capable and desirous of changing outmoded views. We hope and work for rehabilitation in criminals but presume they cannot be so. We hope and work to change the hearts and minds of legislators and other policymakers and don't believe them when they have. It is cynical and sad to assume that people are incapable of reversing their world view and of reforming their behavior to comport with that reversal. This is one of the reasons alcoholics and other addicts find it necessary to remain anonymous, and one of the reasons too many people cannot either admit they've been wrong, made a mistake or that others can change their stripes with enlightenment. My reading of David Jennings' more recent past - his work and his views - is that he underwent something of an epiphany while at the Minneapolis Chamber, of all places and that his considerable assets could be put to very good use working for a new friend he made then - Carol Johnson. In doing so, he became what many believe is apostate in the eyes of his former Republican colleagues by reversing his position on public education - a system Republicans want to privatize and are doing well with by first starving it, then taking the decayed corpse and raising it over their heads to say, "See, we told you it doesn't work. Now let's put education in the hands of those who can do better - the marketplace!" The Minneapolis School Board was stupid in simply creating a line of succession by elevating Jennings to the superintendency without a series of hearings on why he should be so appointed. They could have predicted that in that town the disingenuous Statens, Gleasons and Mosses of the world would descend on that decision without a process justifying the selection of a white male - and make no mistake that is what this is all about. The board should have set up a process to allow community input on their selection, but Jennings' political history should not render him automatically unqualified to manage the system. And I don't believe for a minute that the lack of a PhD or an ED qualifies a person more than the innate talent and deep street experience and respect for what education is suppose to do - create the next generation of qualified citizens and leaders. Perhaps many people are more qualified to run the Minneapolis Schools, but I dare say few within shouting distance and as familiar and Jennings is with the workings of the system. As a dyed-in-the-wool progressive, I see little in this argument to throw Jennings out of contention because he's a white male and a/or has carried a Republican label...a Republican then, who has recently voted for Democrats. Labels and scarlet letters do no good to in running a society based on human values. Andy Driscoll Saint Paul on 10/12/03 9:23 PM, Joe Nathan [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Tom Searles of Waconia doesn't try to defend Jennings' legislative history. > Actually, I have looked at his history. Again, I ask you and others who are > such strong defenders of Jennings, - what do YOU think he did in the > legislature that would justify appointment, without looking around - to Mpls > supt? > > Tom also says a similar process (i.e., not looking around) produced Carol > Johnson. True. Good point. > > Was Minneapolis well served by not looking around then? It's not clear. The > Minneapolis Public Schools had a very mixed record under Dr. Johnson. > Despite the record of the fundraising arm of Minneapolis schools, in a paid > advertisement today, to say it has been a time of progress, the record is > quite mixed. (Yes, I have looked closely at this). REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
