[Winona Online Democracy]
Amen to Virginia Laken's points! Yes, Virginia there is a need for that system-wide-thinking. (Doesn't sound quite as fun as, "Yes, Virigina there is a Santa Claus.) ;-> Before we start closing small schools, especially wonderful schools with strong family and community invovlement, we should discuss the questions you asked below. I firmly believe the problem isn't the PEOPLE on the School Board who spend more than they have or the PEOPLE in St. Paul who constantly underfund education everywhere in the state. I think the problem is the bigger SYSTEM. As long as we focus on small problems (i.e. how many seats do we need to eliminate, wage freeze or not, etc.) to address big problems (i.e. funding timing and sources, what kinds of schools would best meet the needs of ALL families today, etc.), we will continue to miss the boat. Of course that kind of discussion requires a patience and advanced level of conversation that rarely happens in public forums. I wonder if the media and community leaders would get involved? Dwayne Voegeli ======================= >Resent-Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 15:02:25 -0600 >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 16:04:33 EST >Subject: Re: [Winona] New Subjects >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >MIME-Version: 1.0 >Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Precedence: bulk >Resent-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Resent-Cc: recipient list not shown: ; > >I was reading some material today from a website Randy Schenket >recommended - www.pdkintl.org/kappan/k0106gol.htm. The topic of the site >is "Leadership In Education: Five Commonalties". In the piece, one of the >leaders who was interviewed by the author, talks about the fallacy "of one >size fits all" in speaking about schools. And went on to argue for "small >schools of choice with high standards and dedicated staff." This quote >got me to thinking about the citizens group that is currently meeting to >recommend school closing/consolidating. While I know this thought may be >coming in late in the process, I nevertheless was thinking that perhaps we >might want to rethink or put off for making such a decision until we have >considered the entire question of what education system our community >wants. I say this thinking that if we try to make our decision based >solely, or primarily, on budgetary concerns, we could be missing essential >elements of the bigger picture. I realize budge concerns are real and >definitely important, but I also wonder if the broader question, the >entire system issue, must be taken into consideration when we are talking >about building usage. Questions such as "What kind of schools do we want >in our Community?" "Do we, should we, offer a choice or options of type of >schools to parents and students?" Knowing that children learn in very >diff! erent ways and the one size fits all has been proven to not work. > It seems to me that these concerns be given the same consideration as the >budgetary ones - because they are part of the whole interrelated system. >Since I am not a part of group discussing this issue, I really am asking >these questions with the hope of getting some input, answers, and facts >from someone (or many) involved in the group. Are there discussions of >such topics taking place in these meetings? Virginia Laken > --------------- This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or unsubscribe All messages sent to the list must be signed with your actual name. Posting of commercial soliticitations is not allowed on this list. Report problems or questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
