On Sat, 10 Jul 2004 14:12:53 -0500 "Michael Atherton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote re: [Mpls] Draft Resolution on layoffs and realignments
(snip)
John O'Neal wrote:
I would like to see Minneapolis as an International city. That
requires an International quality education and community outlook. Our
students should have the opportunity to be literate in at least two of
the six official languages of the United Nations. I used the term
official language because there are five Chinese languages and several
distinct forms of each of the other five. To do that, we need to start
them in the K-6 grades.
Michael Atherton replied:
I believe that these statements help to illustrate how out of touch
many people are with the Minneapolis public schools.
We have a problem insuring that all of our children are literate in
ONE language let alone two or more. Before we worry about International
quality education, let's face up to our problems here in Minneapolis.
COMMENT:
Our first problem in Minneapolis Public Schools is that we
apparently do not agree on whether they should exist let alone what to do
if they do exist. The clear visions that I have seen expressed are: 1. We
don't want to pay taxes for anything. 2. We don't like public education.
3. Unions are the devil's playground. Fortunately, I hope, most of us are
not in those groups.
I hope that most of us think that public education is necessary for
a valid working democracy. I hope that most of us want public education
to be a basis for preparing our children for future learning, building
communities, and entering avocations and vocations.
While successful education faces problems all over the world, we are
in Minneapolis. We can make it work here. The Govenor's Task Force
reported on Almanac (Ch. 2) Friday night that they feel we need to
determine the educational programs and then fund those programs.
Those of us who are in touch realize that we live in a global
economy. Those of us who are in touch realize that, in Minneapolis, we
have, at least, significant communities of Lebanese, Mexican, Southwest
Asian, Somali, and Vietnamese immigrants as well as established
African-American, European, and Native American communities. We already
have an International city in fact. We need to build on that strength.
Minneapolis Public Schools has had difficulty educating students in
one language because of lack of vision for why the children are being
educated and because the schools are burdened with non school tasks. The
community tasks of Arts, Athletics, Health Clinics, Libraries, Music, and
more need to be centered around the schools but supported as part of the
fabric of the community.
Because Minneapolis has been occasionally progressive, many bright
spools of thread for the community support tapestry already exist in some
neighborhoods but not in others. Some may remain neighborhood specific
but most concepts can be widespread but unique to different communities.
A series of festivals every year that include community needs fund
raising can weave the financial blanket to warm the schools' extra
curricular needs
Currently we are concentrating on reducing all aspects of
Minneapolis public education.while negotiating a probable contract with a
new administrator. We are cutting schools and teachers to a certain
budget level but have not decided on why we are educating the kids at
all. The reassignment of teachers is a valid administrative tool to fill
a single position where no one bids. The current disruptions are only
valid if you plan to close all the doors. Otherwise, more state taxes
must increase funding of Minneapolis and other districts.
Thanks
John O'Neal
Holland Neighborhood
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