John O'Neal wrote: > Minneapolis Public Schools provide several Magnet opportunities. > Please choose one that fits best with your children. Please do not > attempt to destroy opportunities for others who may have > different views.
Does this last statement imply that I am attempting to destroy opportunities for others who have different views? If so, I find that implication insulting. I am trying to insure that the public schools are not biased in the political perspectives that they convey to students and I am questioning how specific political perspectives come to be included in the public school curriculum. > My children were in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at > Patrick Henry H.S. Only two H.S. schools offered this program. There were > a limited number of slots but I was pleased that my children were able to > pursue critical thinking on an International basis. Why should critical thinking "on an International basis" be limited to magnet programs? I would expect that any quality secondary education curriculum would teach such skills. I don't think that it is critical thinking that is the issue here, rather it is the acceptance of particular political axioms and agendas. > Their final exams were graded by educators in Singapore and > other participating countries. A truly world class education > AND evaluation. Why is this important and how does it insure a world class education? Southwest High School was recently named one of the top 100 high schools in the United States (by a rather bogus measurement technique). How is it that in one of the top 100 high schools in America only 22% of the students pass the State's Basic Skills test in math and only 20% pass the State's test in Reading? Simply labeling a program as "world class" does not make it so, more evidence is needed. The only evidence that you have provided is that one of your children got into a good college (I am assuming that she was admitted into an undergraduate program...right?). Is this because of the International Baccalaureate program at Henry or just because your daughter is very bright? Since I have been posting to the list, I have tried to emphasize that the Minneapolis Public Schools should not be judged by the successes of individual students, but rather by measures that indicate the success rates of all students. THAT is social justice, a primary tenet of the International Baccalaureate program. However, I do understand why parents whose children are successful in these programs fight to protect them and why they might not be concerned about students who are less successful. Without special programs many parents would be forced to move to the suburbs or pay for private schooling. Profess global thinking, act locally. I believe that vouchers or quality public schools are the only ways to avoid this hypocrisy. Basic point: Provide opportunities for quality education to ALL of the students in Minneapolis. Michael Atherton Prospect Park 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. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ 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
