Peter Vevang writes:
Many respectable people disagree with your view, it isn't fair to belittle them or call them naive. It makes me angry that you would say that.
Many respectable people have wanted to overhaul General College for many years, and it isn't fair to call them racist or elitist. And I don't think John was out of line to point out that Councilmember Johnson Lee isn't making a good faith effort to understand where this proposal is coming from.
Everyone at the U is concerned about providing opportunities for promising students of all colors and backgrounds. But many people think that segregating students who need extra support in GC is not the best way to serve those students, or to use the university's limited resources.
Let's try giving our kids a solid education in high school, so we don't have to offer remedial education at the U where it costs more to provide. That means four years of math, science, language, and social studies for everyone.
For students who, for whatever reason, don't meet the main campus entrance requirements, state and community colleges present an opportunity to prove a commitment to learning, without the distractions of life on a big campus. The U of M main campus is not the only decent college in the state, and it is not the right school for every student. For example, MCTC offers solid courses in algebra, chemistry, literature, etc. Students who do well in state or community college can get into the U of M TC on merit. (Incidentally, "meritocracy" is not a right wing concept. It is the idea that success should be based on merit, not social status or wealth.)
As for the U's land grant mission and the tax payer support, the U has multiple campuses, all of which have different admissions standards. The U is not failing in its mission by seeking to elevate one campus to nationally-competitive status.
We have to make sure everyone has the opportunity for post-secondary education, as well as the support needed to complete the degree. And we also have to look out for students who work hard in Minneapolis public schools (or Brooklyn Center, or Tyler), get accepted to expensive private colleges, and choose the U for financial reasons. They, too, deserve an experience that helps them live up to their potential, and they deserve the chance to go to a university that aspires to excellence.
Becca Vargo Daggett Seward
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