John M O'Neal wrote:
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.
On Sunday, July 11, 2004, at 07:03 PM, Michael Atherton wrote:
So what does this imply? We had an international city in 1910, maybe just not quite as diverse.
Just a couple of reminders about 1910:
Women did not have the right to vote.
Racial segregation was in place.
Ethnic segregation (Jews, other Eastern and Southern Europeans) was in place.
American Indians were not citizens and thus could not vote.
Immigration laws prevented Africans, Asians, (including South Asia and the Middle East), Mexicans, Central and South Americans from immigrating whereas Western Europeans were welcome.
19th Century Minnesota handbills printed to recruit immigrants were in German.
(Wir Stammten aus Deutschland nach Hausen Minnesota "We originated out of Germany and have come home to Minnesota")
"Minnesota Territory, for example, established Eugene Burnand as the territory's first Commissioner of Emigration in 1856. Burnand, from an office in New York, advertised Minnesota through pamphlets, immigrant newspapers, and persuasive speeches made to newly-arrived immigrants at the ship docks. Through his work, Burnand brought many new immigrants to the territory, particularly individuals of German extraction." http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/mnstatehistory/german_migration.html
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"Not quite as diverse" is an understatement. Minnesota fixed it to be that way. It is safe to say that Minnesota has never had the diversity challenge it is now experiencing and the Minneapolis public schools are at a most critical period of change.
19th Century education has got to give way. It will give way. It has given way to some degree. The number one lesson in all of this is that public education cannot be done on the cheap. When all we had to do was turn out kids to factory or farm work, big classrooms, less than a full year of school, no technology, and minimally prepared teachers were okay. (well, probably not okay, but that is what we did).
We now have to turn kids to information work, knowledge work, and service work. How does having crowded classrooms, nine months of school, and teacher front, kids in rows make that happen? It doesn't. Major system reform is needed and that costs money.
We at the top of the global society in order to maintain our position have to educate our young (all of them) to assume the summit. That includes learning sharing, kindness, generosity, tolerance, and helpfulness. Get the picture?
Best wishes,
Laura Wittstock Southeast
Laura Waterman Wittstock
MIGIZI Communications, Inc.
3123 East Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612.721.6631 ext 219
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.migizi.org
http://laurawatermanwittstock.blogspot.com/
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