List Manager wrote: > Hi folks - the thread's pretty general now. I think it's time > to move on to more Minneapolis-specific topics, educational or > otherwise.
I'll bring this back to Minneapolis because I'm just amazed at the irrational responses generated by this topic and I'm interesting in knowing how representative they are. That's why I started this thread. Other than one private school in Minneapolis, I have not met anyone in this city who truly supports a strong emphasis for math and science. Liz Greenbaum wrote: > Yeah - and how many people has science destroyed - think > Hiroshima. We could go on but let's not. I agree that Ms. Greenbaum and I will find no common ground. I am offended by someone who would claim that empirical evidence supports their position and then would fail to provide a reference for a single study. > Not to offend, but I feel sorry for your kids for you not > wanting to give them that exposure. I am greatly offended by someone who would not take the time to understand my statements and yet would make false public assumptions about my family. You seem to hear or believe only what would make me a smaller person than yourself. It also does not appear that the Arts have not make you more open minded or accepting of a diversity range of thought. My grandfather was an architect, my grandmother was an interior designer, my mother was an artists' agent. My step-grandfather was one of the most famous archeologists in Israel and my step-mother a painter. I studied modern dance in college and have worked in clay, textiles, wood, jewelry, stained glass, and have written poetry (although not very good poetry). My children, both of whom are under the age of four, have already had one dance class and are currently taking a music class at MacPhail; not to mention the emphasis on Arts over Literacy at their daycare. I have never stated that the Arts are not a positive aspect of human culture or that they should not be included in the curriculum of the MPS. What I have said, repeatedly, is that there appears to be an overemphasis on Arts and a serious lack of emphasis on Math and Science. Am I to assume that you are opposed to Math and Science receiving at least equal treatment in our public schools? I have also argued that literacy is more important than the Arts and given that the MPS cannot seem to provide an even basic level of literacy for all of its students, that an emphasis on Arts is misplaced. So, I would like to ask list members to rank the following on their importance to public education in Minneapolis: 1. Literacy 2. Critical Thinking 3. Math 4. Science 5. Arts Assume that this is a forced choice survey and you cannot rank topics on the same level. Please feel free to send your response to me offline. The ordering above is obviously my own ranking. Michael Atherton Prospect Park PS: Just a moment ago I check the list and found two new posts. One, from Gary Hoover about the wonderful sense of self that he derives from this children learning art and community; and another from Donald Greeley titled, "3 More Murdered in Minneapolis: Who's to Blame?" Doesn't anyone see the irony in an educational system emphasizing art that produces so many dropouts and criminals? Is what we need more art or literacy and job skills? 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
