Re: [Mpls] Minneapolis schools
Perhaps Ms. Mensing could specify what she sees as the "problem" in the Minneapolis DFL endorsing system? I have been a participant in that endorsing system, and I think it is more fair & open than any other endorsement process in the city. This DFL endorsing process seems to be producing school board candidates who are quite in tune with the voters of Minneapolis, based on the results of the past 15 years or so. The voters seem to have no "problem" in electing DFL-endorsed school board candidates. Choosing the same candidates as the voters at large does not seem to me to be a "problem" in an endorsement process -- quite the contrary! Tim Bonham, Ward 12, Standish-Ericsson >I agree there is a problem with the DFL's endorsing system in Minneapolis >and I hope DFL members will continue reforming the city endorsing system (as >I know I will do). >. . . > >Michelle Mensing >Armatage ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] This week in The Minneapolis Observer
T H E M I N N E A P O L I S O B S E R V E R A Weekly Digest of All Things Minneapolitan www.mplsobserver.com Vol. 2, No. 4 September 3, 2002 This is a preview copy of The Observer. To subscribe to the full-meal deal ($12/yr.) simply hit 'reply' and state your intentions, and we'll set you up. You can check out a sample issue at www.mplsobserver.com. Thanks. ** THIS WEEK IN THE OBSERVER: * Mediator: We Can Work It Out * Amazon on the Ropes * Beautiful Libraries; No Staff * Too Much Affordable Housing? * Whitewater Park Moving Ahead * Melissa Schmidt LRT Stop? Plus: Abbott Hospital at 100, local playwright hits it big, Lowry Hill and Lyndale burglaries, a princess on Franklin, $7,000 manhole covers, an ode to tomatoes, and two cheers for major league baseball. * WE CAN WORK IT OUT, SAYS FEDERAL MEDIATOR Federal mediator Patricia Campbell Glenn, who arrived in town after the uprising in the Jordan neighborhood last month and received a chilly reception from some black activists, says mediation has worked in other cities and can work here. Glenn told Shannon Gibney in the Spokesman-Recorder that, despite skepticism from activists like Spike Moss, the process will include ample representation from the black community and will result in a workable solution to recent tensions. "Mediation is a methodical process. Ultimately the aim would be a written document that both parties could live with," she said. And to concerns that city officials would control who represents the parties in the process, Glenn stressed that it's the community--not the mediator--who sets the parameters. "That is the responsibility of those people in the leadership," she explained. "Historically, we define leaders as people who represent other people's viewpoints. We never define leadership for a community." But longtime black activist Ron Edwards said the mayor is playing too big a role in defining the debate in this case. "The mayor and his administration have been trying to control all aspects of this deliberation," Edwards said. "The mayor wants to get 'the right kind of people' on this mediation panel, which means people they can control." Glenn presented her thoughts on the issue to the full City Council on Thursday, and Fifth Ward Council Member Natalie Johnson Lee said she believes her colleagues will vote to work with Glenn. "We're at the point now where we have to respond as a city; we have to act," she said. "We must put forth a real effort, and I think that mediation is the first step toward that." AMAZON FACING TOUGH TIMES Three years after making national headlines with its suit against online powerhouse Amazon.com, the venerable Amazon Bookstore Cooperative is struggling for survival. BEAUTIFUL LIBRARIES; NO STAFF? Minneapolis voters in 2000 approved a $140 million referendum to build a new Central Library and improve its community branches, but Mayor Rybak's proposed budget allocates $1.8 million less than the Library Board requested this year, a bit of ironic fiscal reality that may force significant cuts in service. RIVER WHITEWATER PARK PLAN MOVING AHEAD Whitewater enthusiasts and other interested citizens met last month with officials from the state Department of Natural Resources, the Weisman Museum, and the Army Corps of Engineers in the latest round of talks designed to determine whether a whitewater park should be built on the Mississippi River downtown. ** The Minneapolis Observer is published 48 times/year by Independent Media, L.L.C. ©2002 Independent Media, 4152 Snelling Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55406; www.mplsobserver.com. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the permission of Independent Media. Subscriptions: $12/yr. To unsubscribe, send us an e-mail ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) and we'll get you off the list and refund the unused portion of your subscription. Editor: Craig Cox Deputy Assistant Senior Managing Editor: Sharon Parker Contributing writers: Chris Dodge, Leo Mezzrow Online technical assistance: Christopher Pollard Equine consultant: Nora Cox Perspective: Martin Cox Thanks to: Dennis Shapiro *** Fight media consolidation! Support the independent press! Pick up your neighborhood newspaper! *** ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Schools: Why They Fail
By golly I believe you have it Mr. Mork. The reasons for wanting a better education for your child than Minneapolis provides should begin with those things which Jim Mork so accurately lists: Bad teachers! Wasteful Administrators! Distracted parents! BUT I believe he is wrong about "Unproven teaching methods". The methodology so employed has been proven. Proven to not be effective for 50% of students! As Mr. Mork asks for data, I would say this is fairly conclusive data that the system doesn't work. In fact if any child received such a score on a test I believe the grade given would be an F, as in FAIL. As to graduation from high school, honestly who cares. Whether it is from public or private school. This is an outmoded rite of passage that should be done away with, as the ability to teach grammar school with an 8th grade education was done away with. The public should pay for a minimum of two years of college and more if a person is doing well. No one but the military, (trying to exclude poor young people) honors this outmoded certificate. High Schools do not even honor it, passing it out to semi-literate people almost as often as to those able to do college level work. I know many successful people who did not finish high school, many did not even attend high school. Most however graduated from college. A good example of which is that anchor man fellow on ABC News. Fellow by the name of Jennings I believe. I do not know about Peter Jennings but the others received damn good educations from the military in only a few weeks. So there is a suggestion, hire as many retiring NCO's as possible, who had experience teaching at Military tech schools. Most have no college education, but they are the finest teachers, as a group, that I have experienced, (far superior to those in Graduate School). These fine men and women could change the way Minneapolis schools do business. There success rate is presently almost 100% working with many who were the "Victims" of public high schools. We should at least look at their teaching methods and possibly insist that any public school teacher be a "Graduate" of the schools the military uses for teaching its NCO teachers. While many will feel these are absurd suggestions, I think they are no more absurd than doing such a poor job that half of all students fail to complete a course of study that even the dimmest are given certificates for. Jim Graham, Ventura Village >If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it. - Albert Einstein - Original Message - From: Jim Mork <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, September 02, 2002 11:09 PM Subject: [Mpls] Schools: Why They Fail > Mark Anderson wrote: > "Jim Mork - Lots of people have zeroed in on the > problems for poor school performance - > unfortunately they are all different answers. > Our problems with the schools still are mystical > -so we'll have to muddle along until we > arrive at that utopia when everyone agrees." > > Mark, that answer is frivolous. Critics should > be very specific on what THEY think is mainly > wrong. Bad teachers? Wasteful administrators? > Unproven teaching methods? Distracted parents? > I mean, if you are considering a private school, > I think you need one or more REASONS, not just > some general idea that some private schools > somewhere have higher graduation rates. If that's > the only reason anyone can come up with, then > they are as big a failure as the worst school. > Because they don't really understand the whys of > the successful school. > > > > = > Jim Mork > Longfellow Neighborhood > -- -- > Minneapolis Discussion (With No Daily Limits) FOR RESIDENTS ONLY At: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mplscivicdiscuss/?yguid=66524673 > Subscribe Today! > > __ > Do You Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes > http://finance.yahoo.com > ___ > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: > http://e-democracy.org/mpls > ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Schools: Why They Fail
Mark Anderson wrote: "Jim Mork - Lots of people have zeroed in on the problems for poor school performance - unfortunately they are all different answers. Our problems with the schools still are mystical -so we'll have to muddle along until we arrive at that utopia when everyone agrees." Mark, that answer is frivolous. Critics should be very specific on what THEY think is mainly wrong. Bad teachers? Wasteful administrators? Unproven teaching methods? Distracted parents? I mean, if you are considering a private school, I think you need one or more REASONS, not just some general idea that some private schools somewhere have higher graduation rates. If that's the only reason anyone can come up with, then they are as big a failure as the worst school. Because they don't really understand the whys of the successful school. = Jim Mork Longfellow Neighborhood Minneapolis Discussion (With No Daily Limits) FOR RESIDENTS ONLY At: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mplscivicdiscuss/?yguid=66524673 Subscribe Today! __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Media portray us as animals
Rosalind wrote: > Mr. Lewis is quoting from the article in Pulse. He is not the person > appending the political rationale. Chris responds: My apology to Mr. Lewis for misattribution, however, my feeling regarding the quote remains the same. It is an irresponsible, half-baked analysis rooted in conspiratorial thinking about media/police relations This may be fashionable at a publication like Pulse, but it won't fly elsewhere. Simply, there is no excuse for mob assaults on reporters. The quote implicitly suggests there was justifiable motive. Wrong. Beckwith Ward 6 ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Baseball
In response to the arguments about other development: Several poor decisions (subsidizing the Target HQ, Block E, etc) do not justify more poor decisions (Stadia). We (Mpls voters) had a chance to punish those who made the first set of bad decisions, and did so. We will also do that, I predict, to those who make poor decisions on the stadia. By the way, just to offend everyone equally, I'm also against the Guthrie subsidies. The city should be a developer of last resort only. I might add that the cancer of our modern urban government is the perceived need to build (and build and build) commercial properties, and to prime the pump for that building, because our elected oficials perceive (corrrectly) that residents are unwilling (not unable) to pay the real costs of living in a city the size of Minneapolis. They would rather that it be subsidized by big commercial development, be it downtown or elsewhere in the city, so as to lower the residential portion of the levy. Due to that inability of residents to take the financial responsibility of paying the actual costs of city government (and any politician who would so propose would be guaranteed defeat at the next election), our city government becomes a development agency rather than a deliverer of services paid for by the governed, with their consent. This is a real shame. I am not anti-business, simply upset that to save their political skins from homeowners who would perceive an increase in their out-of-pocket property tax costs as a burden, instead of looking at it as a liberation from the development money-go-round ( and its insidious relative - TIF) our city must beg for development. I would suggest, gentle-list-members, that "we have met the enemy and they are us", to quote Pogo, a citizen who was smarter than he looked. Bert Black King Field
Fwd: [Mpls] Media portray us as animals
In a message dated 9/2/02 7:32:11 PM Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Subj:[Mpls] Media portray us as animals Date:9/2/02 7:32:11 PM Central Daylight Time From:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To:mpls@"mnforum.org.".mnforum.org Sent from the Internet Shawn Lewis wrote: > > In war zones, journalists are usually seen > as "neutral non-combatants." Why were Star > Tribune reporters beaten and TV news vehicles vandalized? I believe mainstream media were > quite specifically targeted for the role they > play as the public relations organ of police departments. > Chris responds I would be very cautious appending a political rationale - as you seem to - as explanation for what was clearly an act of mob rage. With this sort of logic, no telling what sort of acts of violence can be made politically justifiable. As is, your reasoning for the assault on the press/media folk sounds like a dubious blend of "blame the victim" and "kill the messenger." Beckwith Ward 6 Its kind of like Blame The Dog Breed, not the dog or its owner abuser! Jim Stomberg Isanti, Minn. You have a Great Day! Jim Second Chance PBGV Rescue Of Minnesota Second Chance St Bernard Rescue Pack Your Bags Roger! --- Begin Message --- Shawn Lewis wrote:>> In war zones, journalists are usually seen> as "neutral non-combatants." Why were Star> Tribune reporters beaten and TV news vehiclesvandalized? I believe mainstream media were> quite specifically targeted for the role they> play as the public relations organ of policedepartments.>Chris respondsI would be very cautious appending a politicalrationale - as you seem to - as explanation forwhat was clearly an act of mob rage. With thissort of logic, no telling what sort of acts ofviolence can be made politically justifiable. Asis, your reasoning for the assault on thepress/media folk sounds like a dubious blend of"blame the victim" and "kill the messenger."BeckwithWard 6 --- End Message ---
Re: [Mpls] Media portray us as animals
Mr. Lewis is quoting from the article in Pulse. He is not the person appending the political rationale. http://www.pulsetc.com/article.php?sid=123&mode=nested&order=0 Rosalind Nelson Bancroft > Chris L Beckwith wrote: > > Shawn Lewis wrote: > > > > In war zones, journalists are usually seen > > as "neutral non-combatants." Why were Star > > Tribune reporters beaten and TV news vehicles > vandalized? I believe mainstream media were > > quite specifically targeted for the role they > > play as the public relations organ of police > departments. > > > > Chris responds > > I would be very cautious appending a political > rationale - as you seem to - as explanation for > what was clearly an act of mob rage. With this > sort of logic, no telling what sort of acts of > violence can be made politically justifiable. As > is, your reasoning for the assault on the > press/media folk sounds like a dubious blend of > "blame the victim" and "kill the messenger." > > Beckwith > Ward 6 ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Honor the Naysayers!
I don't see a suggestion that a plaque be built honoring the car allowance for the director of communications for the mpls school board or a plaque for the diversity head who was hired part time yet gets a car allowance and 2 months vacation and over 80thousand dollars in a position that was empty for 5yrs. or is this wife beating also as Ms. Micklesen suggests. Dain Lyngstad Phillips/ edina --- ken avidor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Accountability!people want > accountability!...when they're talking > about public school teachers, that is. But, what > about highway > engineers?When MDOT's highway engineers screw > up so bad that > traffic gridlocks and people get injured or killed > in car crashes, do we > ask for the same draconian measures we ask of the > Public School system? > Take their licence to practice engineering > away?...shut down or even > "reform" MDOT? Privatize the highways? Take the > funding away? .nope, > nope, nope and nope...heck, we give them even MORE > money!!!..maybe like > Lynnell says, it's because teachers are mostly gals > and engineers are > mostly guys...who knows... > > Anyways, here is MY plan to build more > accountability into the > system > > * > HONOR THE NAYSAYERS! > > On every beautiful, functional structure in > Minneapolis is a plaque > proudly listing the public officials who had a hand > in approving the > building of it. > > Unfortunately, there are no such plaques for the > naysaying public > officials who voted against ,ugly and or wasteful > structures such as the > LSGI or the proposed stadium. I say it sometimes > takes MORE courage to > vote against a project than to vote for it. > > I say let's honor these responsible naysayers with > plaques on the site > where the boondoggle was to be built. > > I also think that plaques should be affixed to > completed boondoggles > like the intersection of Lake and Hiawatha that > identify who voted for > and who didn't vote for them. > > Maybe there should be plaques on the sites of > demolished buildings that > say, for instance "On the site of this awful > wasteland of parking lots > once stood the historic Gateway District and here is > a list of the folks > responsible for destroying it ..." > > The next time someone, says in frustration, "Who the > heck allowed that > horrendous thing to be built?!" they should be able > to check the plaque. > > Ken Avidor > Kingfield > > ___ > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic > Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: > http://e-democracy.org/mpls __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Media portray us as animals
Shawn Lewis wrote:>> In war zones, journalists are usually seen> as "neutral non-combatants." Why were Star> Tribune reporters beaten and TV news vehiclesvandalized? I believe mainstream media were> quite specifically targeted for the role they> play as the public relations organ of policedepartments.>Chris respondsI would be very cautious appending a politicalrationale - as you seem to - as explanation forwhat was clearly an act of mob rage. With thissort of logic, no telling what sort of acts ofviolence can be made politically justifiable. Asis, your reasoning for the assault on thepress/media folk sounds like a dubious blend of"blame the victim" and "kill the messenger."BeckwithWard 6
Re: [Mpls] Minneapolis schools/response to Mike Atherton
Lynnell - I hope you will accept another reply to your commentary, even though I am of the wife beating type (defined as a male concerned about the Minneapolis schools). Several people have commented on the difference in the schools in the southwest part of the city vs everywhere else, so I won't dwell on that. Instead I'll start out with those areas where I think you're right. 1) I'm really glad the city has returned to community schools, for three reasons. A) Busing kids all over tarnation really does eat into kid's study and play time, as you said. B) It's much easier for parents to get together to fix their school when those interested parents are also your neighbors. C) And the most important reason has nothing to do with academics - it's much easier for the kids to play with their school friends when they live close by. I think kids' social skills are as important to their future well-being as their academic skills. 2) Kids' academic progress depends more on the parents and the kids than on the school they go to. 3) The differences between the best and worst schools are not mostly due to the teachers at each of these schools. I think the teachers at my children's school are mostly dedicated and competent teachers. Most of the differences arise because of the differences in the kids and the parents. 4) I also think the leadership is trying hard to make things right. There was an article in the Strib today about how the High Schools have been dividing kids into smaller groups, so the teachers and kids in these groups get to know each other better. As I'm sure you know, the Middle Schools are doing the same thing. This is the best idea to come out of the education establishment in years. Now that I sound like an establishment DFLer (gag), I'll tell you the down side of our schools: 1) Even with community schools, it is very hard to make things happen at "our" schools. Our local school says they love to see us, but they really mean they want us to fund-raise, volunteer as helpers, and make sure our kids do their homework. God forbid we might have some suggestions of our own, or actually work with us outside the normal agenda of their classrooms. 2) The school does matter, even though less than other factors. 3) From what I've seen, the biggest problem of "bad" schools is the number of goof-off kids. When there are four or five such kids in every classroom, not much is learned. The good suburban schools (and southwest Mpls) probably only have one such kid in each classroom on average. The bad schools have several. I think we need to separate these kids, so the rest of the kids can learn. The school system thinks more attention should be paid to these kids. This would be ok if these kids were put in a separate class and worked with intensively that way. I realize this is essentially opposite to what Mr. Mann says. The current system tries to mainstream everyone - when a little separation would lead to a better result. 4) I've spent a lot of time tutoring my kids outside of school, just to keep them up to grade level. My parents never did that with me, why is it necessary these days? 5) The math curriculum sucks. They use the Chicago method, which basically consists of exposing kids to a new concept just long enough for them to be confused, then go on to the next topic. They later come back to the same topic again, to confuse everyone again. I think this is a city-wide policy - or maybe it's just the rule at Bancroft Elementary? Jim Mork - Lots of people have zeroed in on the problems for poor school performance - unfortunately they are all different answers. Our problems with the schools still are mystical - so we'll have to muddle along until we arrive at that utopia when everyone agrees. Mark Anderson Bancroft ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Re: Atherton's Mature Response to the Star Tribune
Although a minor point in a post regarding his quest to be a member of the school board, I can't let one bit of calumny toward his own neighborhood slide by. Michael Atherton said: > I've been > through this before in my neigbhorhood where rather than stand up > and voice support for a person's right to be heard, people are willing > to ignore injustice and prejudice in order achieve their own ends. That's > not how I live my life or how I honor my responsibilities as an > American citizen. > My response: Over three YEARS ago, Michael was on the losing end of a proposal to add pedestrian-level lights to his neighborhood and mine. The more distant that dispute gets, he seems to see higher levels of malevolence that caused the loss. Now he says that we "ignore injustice and prejucice." Just for the record, the acceptance of "injustice and prejudice" is not the way this neighborhood works, Michael's opinion to the contrary not withstanding. Steve Cross Prospect Park ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] List Manager's suggested reading of Syl Jones' racist prayer
Pamela Taylor wrote: > I am wondering how a person could ask for more edgy opinions, then ask for a > person who could give them more moderate views because they "think" that > would be closer to what the average African American person would be > thinking? Mark A.; I want edgy opinions from many different columnists. If I see a regular columnist in the Strib, that tells me that the the Paper believes his opinions to be mainstream - which I don't believe is the case with Mr. Jones. The Strib actually does provide commentary from a lot of sources, which is a good thing. They printed two of my Counterpoints last year, and that's all to the good :>). Pamela again: > Folks who may write moderately don't always turn out to be moderate in their > overall thinking and/or behavior. Does that mean they are not racist? > Nope, proves absolutely nothing except that they did not express they're > views publicly. They may only have toned it down because they believe that > is what folks may want to hear, or may be willing to accept at the time. > And they wanted to receive a paycheck and continue writing columns. Mark A. again: I only know writers by what they write. Someone can be a saint or a psychopath in his private life, but that doesn't add or take away from his writings. I've labeled Syl a racist because he regularly inserts racist comments in his writing. Pamela said: > If we stop pretending that we are all color-blind, and say things like race does not > matter, I think we would be much better off. Race is plays an underlying > role in all our lives in some way on a daily basis. And having racist > thoughts and actions does not mean I am against any race, because I am not. > I have no time nor place in my life for hatred. It simply means that this > spiritual being is having a human experience, and is very real and up front > about it. Mark A: I agree with you totally here. However, good writing is not just putting down whatever you're thinking at any given time. You should be mindful of the audience. Racist thoughts will tend to incite the audience, either good or bad, so you should state them only if you are conscious of this effect. I've found none of Syl Jones' columns to be insightful, but my point wasn't about his writing. My point is the tacit endorsement by the Strib of his racist commentary, since he is a regular columnist. In fact, as memory serves, his very first column was one of his most racist, which the editors presumably read before hiring him. I think the purpose of hiring him was to get an angry nr on staff, to show how progressive they are. Yes, Megan, I'm White. Mark Anderson Bancroft ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Strib school board endorsements
> > >Michael Atherton wrote: >Denny Schapiro was not and is not a critic of public education, he is a supporter >of the status quo. Mr. Schapiro was also endorsed by the Tribune and his chances > >were not destroyed prior to the primary by the Tribune editorial board referring to >him as a, "52 year old failed businessman with narrow personal concerns." I'd >like to see someone justify the Tribune's lack of endorcement of the only two >public school critics in a field of 12 canidates. > This, Michael, is why I can't vote for you. You're saying, on one hand, that the Tribune's describing you as a "52 year old graduate student" hurts your chances of election to the school board and was a hurtful thing for them to do. Yet you turn around and in the next sentence visit the same kind of hurtful (and inaccurate) description on Shapiro. You may not be the Tribune, but there are some 850 people, minimum, who will have that description of Shapiro to consider when they're cogitating their vote. It gives me the feeling that you are not a guy I should be voting for to work in the service of children. WizardMarks, Central > > >___ >Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy >Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: >http://e-democracy.org/mpls > ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Drugs, race, police relations, economics and an incident magnify a volatile, complex mix of issues in the Jordan neighborhood
> > >Steve Wash wrote: >"To all those who say: 'Let's get these homegrown drug >dealers off the street,' I'm saying let's look at >what's creating all these dope dealers," said Steve > >Wash, a south Minneapolis housing advocate. "It's the >only viable economic opportunity for many of these >young men. People don't want to hear that, but the >true problem is a solvable economic one." > > I have to disagree in part with my neighbor Steve Wash--a not uncommon event. Yes, drug dealing seems "the only viable economic opportunity" only if one insists that lots of money right away is the only solution. Much more than economics involved. There are other pieces to this puzzle which are far more intractable than economics. There is the belief that education is a "white thing" which is used every day against African American kids who are struggling to learn and used to keep them from learning. True enough, the situation under which they learn is racist. It is also sexist and classist, anti-intelectual, and etc. but the job, for any kid, is to learn and keep learning. Many of the drug dealers I run across are very bright but abysmally ignorant of so, so many common skills. There is an overflowing well of rage and resentment (justifiable), yet not much of a clue how to manage that power to go forth rather than to self-destruct. No matter the cause, once one's 18, adulthood is learning to contend. It's a heavy burden, but none of those who suffer under the onus of race, class, nationality, gender, and whatever other silly s**t we subject each other to, we still have to overcome it ourselves, in company with a few good pals to buck us up in the down times when it all seems too much. If we gave every African American male between 18 and 21 from a poor family $1,700 a month (that's what I make, so it's my litmus for how much it costs to keep body and soul together) to live on, it would not solve the problem because in giving it we simultaneously take something precious away. I don't have a term for, but it involves a positive self-love and dignity. Work, for adults, is what organizes our lives. I would contend that no male or female or undecided person 18 to 21 years of age can contend with him/herself 24-7. Work gives one a boss who organizes some of that time. School gives a way to organize that time. I think we need to dispell some of the destructive myths that poor African American kids, and consequently adults, operate from. As my dad repeated often, "money won't bring you happiness, but it will give you some classy misery." WizardMarks, Central > >___ >Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy >Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: >http://e-democracy.org/mpls > ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Atherton's Mature Response to the Star Tribune
Joseph Barisonzi wrote: >Re: [Mpls] Atherton's Mature Response to the Star Tribune Would you care to explain your choice of titles? Is it that you really do think of my response as "mature" or are you following the Tribune's example of the subtle use of insult and sarcasm? > There are several reasons that I will not be voting for Michael > Atherton. None of which are because neither the DFL nor the Star Tribune > to endorse him. I will share three: > > This first and foremost is that Mr. Atherton is not an advocate for > public education. (See post below as yet another example where is > criticism of Mr. Shapiro is that Mr. Shapiro "was and is not a critic of > public education") I am not an advocate for public education if being an advocate means ignoring the failures and faults in the present system. How can anyone be an advocate of public education in Minneapolis given the failure rates, the low tests scores, and the minority dropout rates? Maybe I should have rephrased my comment about Mr. Shaprio to state that he has never acknowledged or proposed plans for dealing with the problems in the public schools. If you want a candidate who thinks that there's nothing wrong with the publics schools, you're right, I'm definitely not the right candidate for you, but if you want to vote for someone who acknowledges the problems in the schools and has proposals for dealing with each of them then you might want to consider voting for me. I have stated repeatedly that I believe that a quality PUBLIC education is the best option for our country. However, I just don't believe that the schools currently provide a quality education for all of their students. If you don't want to vote for me for that reason, so be it. And by the way, I never sought the DFL endorsement and would never consider doing so. But, I had naively thought that the Tribune would give me a fair shot, in contrast to what many people told me, but they were right and I was wrong. > I believe school board member the legal, fiduciary, political, ethical > and moral to advocate, promote, boost as well as ensure the quality of > our public education system. I want my school board members to have the > finesse to be both advocates for improvement while also being boosters > for public education. I won't advocate, promote, or boost a lousy product just to put a happy face on a marketing campaign. We often elect politicians who are critical of the system, Paul Wellstone being just one example. Why is it that we need school board members who are blind supporters of the status quo? How are these candidate going to initiate and implement effective reforms? > The second reason is that based on Mr. Atherton's posts on this list I > feel I have had an opportunity to get to know his perspective on public > education and the role of schools in our society. I have read the > studies he quotes, and read the studies that make contradictory claims. > I have seen the limits of education and child development researches > applicability to the school setting. Mr. Atherton clearly does not > share my values about active schools and civic society. While I in no > way deny him the right to those opinions -- it doesn't mean I would want > to vote to have someone with those opinions be a trustee of arguably the > most important public asset in Minneapolis. (Apologies to all the Park > Board fans. . . ) Just what do you mean by "active schools and civic society?" This seems to be a common way to discredit someone politically. You ascribe to them views that they do not necessarily hold, just as Ms. Mickelsen did in implying that I support busing. Why don't you define your terms and then maybe we can have a rational discussion. > The third reason is that in a time of budget cuts, and immense > challenges because the electorate experimented with a "critic" in our > state government -- the personal style has exhibited -- especially since > the Star Tribune editorial -- has done more to convince me that the > editors may have in fact had an extremely valid point. Ah, the old guilt by association strategy. Just because Jesse Ventura was a government critic then I must share the same personality, positions, and ineffectual management style as he? What a ridiculous implication! By the way, I voted for Humphrey. If the Star Tribune editorial has done more to convince you that the editors have a valid point, then I would prefer that you NOT vote for me. Anyone who cannot see that the Tribune editorial was prejudiced, manipulative, and patiently unfair is ignoring the obvious. I've been through this before in my neigbhorhood where rather than stand up and voice support for a person's right to be heard, people are willing to ignore injustice and prejudice in order achieve their own ends. That's not how I live my life or how I honor my responsibilities as an American citizen. Michael Atherton http://QualityEd.US Candidate for
[Mpls] Honor the Naysayers!
Accountability!people want accountability!...when they're talking about public school teachers, that is. But, what about highway engineers?When MDOT's highway engineers screw up so bad that traffic gridlocks and people get injured or killed in car crashes, do we ask for the same draconian measures we ask of the Public School system? Take their licence to practice engineering away?...shut down or even "reform" MDOT? Privatize the highways? Take the funding away? .nope, nope, nope and nope...heck, we give them even MORE money!!!..maybe like Lynnell says, it's because teachers are mostly gals and engineers are mostly guys...who knows... Anyways, here is MY plan to build more accountability into the system * HONOR THE NAYSAYERS! On every beautiful, functional structure in Minneapolis is a plaque proudly listing the public officials who had a hand in approving the building of it. Unfortunately, there are no such plaques for the naysaying public officials who voted against ,ugly and or wasteful structures such as the LSGI or the proposed stadium. I say it sometimes takes MORE courage to vote against a project than to vote for it. I say let's honor these responsible naysayers with plaques on the site where the boondoggle was to be built. I also think that plaques should be affixed to completed boondoggles like the intersection of Lake and Hiawatha that identify who voted for and who didn't vote for them. Maybe there should be plaques on the sites of demolished buildings that say, for instance "On the site of this awful wasteland of parking lots once stood the historic Gateway District and here is a list of the folks responsible for destroying it ..." The next time someone, says in frustration, "Who the heck allowed that horrendous thing to be built?!" they should be able to check the plaque. Ken Avidor Kingfield ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] K-12 Education in Mpls a victim of reforms a la Bush
[This is the text of an Email sent to the Minnesota Green Party Listserve on August 20, 2002. It was sent in response to the idea that Public schools in Minnesota need massive investments and massive reform. I think that the schools in a majority of districts across the state don't need to be reformed, and their resistance to being reformed along the lines proposed by the Bush administration is commendable. Unfortunately, the Minneapolis school districts is not one of those school districts] We need a massive increase in spending on education. Across the US, appropriations for the K-12 public school system from all sources, reckoned as inflation-adjusted dollars per pupil, has steadily declined since the 1970s. Ditto for higher education. We need massive reform in some school districts, but not in others. The educational establishment in the US was generally on the right track during the 1970s and early 1980s, if you're idea of being on the right track is closing the test score gap without lowering the bar for high achievers. That began to change after the release of a 1983 report entitled "A Nation at Risk," which was issued by a blue ribbon panel of K-12 education experts picked by the Reagan-Bush administration. The thesis of A Nation at Risk: The test score gap was being closed at the expense of high achievers [during the 1970s and early 1980s]. However, the first Bush administration ordered the Sandia National Laboratories [a division of the dept of energy] to do an analysis of data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, a federal testing program. The thesis of A Nation at Risk was proven wrong by this study, which the Bush administration suppressed [it was quietly released during the early years of the Clinton administration] [An example of] the type of reform successfully promoted since 1983 is tracking students into nonacademic curriculum tracks as early as Kindergarten through the use of ability-grouping. The US was the first, and may still the only country where ability-grouping is done in elementary schools. It was widely introduced during the late 1950s and early 1960s in order to keep black students in their place, i.e., in the "low-ability" groups. Minnesota provides a chilling example of how the post-1983 K-12 school reform movement has set back the gains of the civil rights movement in the field of education. A generation ago 68% of blacks and 76% of whites graduated from high school in Minneapolis. Today only about 33% of black ninth graders finish high school on time in the state of Minnesota. The graduation rate for black students in the Minneapolis Public Schools is much lower than that. On the other hand, graduation rates for black students (the US average) have improved to a modest degree. The quality of education provided to the majority of students in other big city school districts has also declined in the past decade, but the public school system in Minneapolis takes the cake. [For example] The graduation rate for African American students in the Houston Public Schools is about 50%. That's about where its at in some of the other big city school districts like Seattle, Chicago, New York, etc. Sorry for not citing my sources in this post. I have posts at my web site that cover the same ground with sources properly cited. -Doug Mann http://educationright.tripod.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Section 8 mention in Mckinsey
Messer's Hohman started and Lohman commented about the Section 8 housing program. > >Affordable housing should represent a component of > >virtually every commercial development effort in the City where public funds > >are committed. snip > With regard to Section 8, I wish that someone would take on this issue. A > greater and greater number of landlords opt out it. There should be an > effort to find ways to make Section 8 more appealing by providing > incentives and support to landlords who accept it. And nothing of what I > just said says that landlords should have to tolerate bad tenants. What > are the kinks in Section 8 that can be worked out? Who's the expert on this? This is not a Minneapolis specific issue, but a very large portion of Minneapolis rental housing is involved with the section 8 program. What would make Section 8 more appealing? Section 8 has made some worthy improvements in the past 4-5 years. Still not enough. Less paperwork as always. I know it sounds like a throwaway line, but it's the most common response from landlords who get fed up and quit. Inspection of unit should be done before agreements are made with Section 8. Currently you show, screen, agree, in writing, to rent with someone who likes the apartment. Not so fast. Section 8 does an inspection and can order $thousands of dollars of work. Guess what? You have to do it. Doesn't matter if the apartment is more then reasonably ready. Doesn't matter if your annual inspection was passed two days ago. You have to do the work. Period. Secton 8 rental contract is still onerous and one sided. It takes away landlord options to deal with rule and lease violators. Don't listen when an advocate tells you " you can use your own lease if you want". It's BS. Email me off line, I'll make an appointment with you and show you a blank Section 8 lease or HAP Contract. Section 8 and accompaning fed-state-local-non-profit agencies to make you keep bad tenants. They do this by deciding what a bad tenant is, and backing it up with taxpayer financed legal dollars. The experts are the landlords. Listen to them, incorporate their concerns. I'll repeat as I started. It's much better now then in the past. Oh, and BTW. More landlords are particapating then one year ago (fact). That's because the vacancy rate has gone back up the affordable housing crisis is over(opinion). Craig Miller Northside Landlord Currently providing over 13% of my space to Section 8 tenants. [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Atherton's Mature Response to the Star Tribune
List, There are several reasons that I will not be voting for Michael Atherton. None of which are because neither the DFL nor the Star Tribune to endorse him. I will share three: This first and foremost is that Mr. Atherton is not an advocate for public education. (See post below as yet another example where is criticism of Mr. Shapiro is that Mr. Shapiro "was and is not a critic of public education") I believe school board member the legal, fiduciary, political, ethical and moral to advocate, promote, boost as well as ensure the quality of our public education system. I want my school board members to have the finesse to be both advocates for improvement while also being boosters for public education. The second reason is that based on Mr. Atherton's posts on this list I feel I have had an opportunity to get to know his perspective on public education and the role of schools in our society. I have read the studies he quotes, and read the studies that make contradictory claims. I have seen the limits of education and child development researches applicability to the school setting. Mr. Atherton clearly does not share my values about active schools and civic society. While I in no way deny him the right to those opinions -- it doesn't mean I would want to vote to have someone with those opinions be a trustee of arguably the most important public asset in Minneapolis. (Apologies to all the Park Board fans. . . ) The third reason is that in a time of budget cuts, and immense challenges because the electorate experimented with a "critic" in our state government -- the personal style has exhibited -- especially since the Star Tribune editorial -- has done more to convince me that the editors may have in fact had an extremely valid point. Joseph Barisonzi Lyndale Ward 10 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Michael Atherton Sent: Monday, September 02, 2002 9:35 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] Strib school board endorsements Michelle Mensing wrote: > Michael Atherton writes: > > When I started my campaign for Minneapolis school board a number of > > people told me I was crazy, that the educational establishment and > > the DFL would "destroy" me. > > There were obviously enough voters who broke away from the DFL mold to elect > Denny Schapiro (who ran as an independent) to the school board last year. > If a candidate has a message that resonates with voters, they will vote for > that person regardless of endorsement. Denny Schapiro was not and is not a critic of public education, he is a supporter of the status quo. Mr. Schapiro was also endorsed by the Tribune and his chances were not destroyed prior to the primary by the Tribune editorial board referring to him as a, "52 year old failed businessman with narrow personal concerns." I'd like to see someone justify the Tribune's lack of endorcement of the only two public school critics in a field of 12 canidates. > I happen to not agree with the > discussions I have heard from Michael Atherton, therefore I will be > selecting other candidates to vote for. And it will not be purely based on > DFL endorsement. I will be supporting 3 of the 4 DFL endorsed candidates > because I like what I have heard them say. My fourth choice has not yet > been decided, but I do know it will be one of the non-DFL endorsed > candidates. That is your right. I expect that many people will not vote for me, and probably three to four times as many now with the Tribune's distortion, but I'm running to make people aware that the failures of the public school system can be corrected and are not intractable. Not winning a school board seat will be more beneficial for me than winning, given that I would have worked compulsively to improve the schools and it would probably have consumed too much of my time. My family will just follow the path of many other parents who have the means and we will avoid the public schools. I just thought that voters should have a choice other than the typical DFL candidates who know little or nothing about education. Just what is it that you've heard the candidates say other than sound bits and platitudes? What exactly are their positions, proposals, and goals? Joe Ericson is the only one that I know that has taken the time to identify their positions on issues. > I agree there is a problem with the DFL's endorsing system in Minneapolis > and I hope DFL members will continue reforming the city endorsing system (as > I know I will do). But, I think it is a little simplistic to suggest that > the DFL will "destroy" candidates who are not endorsed. Denny Schapiro > seems to have survived. I have been told that Mr. Schapiro is well connected in the DFL and had previously been active as a party member. I respect the fact that he choose to run as an independent and did not seek endorsements, but as I pointed out his candidacy wasn't undermined prior
Re: [Mpls] Strib school board endorsements
Michelle Mensing wrote: > Michael Atherton writes: > > When I started my campaign for Minneapolis school board a number of > > people told me I was crazy, that the educational establishment and > > the DFL would "destroy" me. > > There were obviously enough voters who broke away from the DFL mold to elect > Denny Schapiro (who ran as an independent) to the school board last year. > If a candidate has a message that resonates with voters, they will vote for > that person regardless of endorsement. Denny Schapiro was not and is not a critic of public education, he is a supporter of the status quo. Mr. Schapiro was also endorsed by the Tribune and his chances were not destroyed prior to the primary by the Tribune editorial board referring to him as a, "52 year old failed businessman with narrow personal concerns." I'd like to see someone justify the Tribune's lack of endorcement of the only two public school critics in a field of 12 canidates. > I happen to not agree with the > discussions I have heard from Michael Atherton, therefore I will be > selecting other candidates to vote for. And it will not be purely based on > DFL endorsement. I will be supporting 3 of the 4 DFL endorsed candidates > because I like what I have heard them say. My fourth choice has not yet > been decided, but I do know it will be one of the non-DFL endorsed > candidates. That is your right. I expect that many people will not vote for me, and probably three to four times as many now with the Tribune's distortion, but I'm running to make people aware that the failures of the public school system can be corrected and are not intractable. Not winning a school board seat will be more beneficial for me than winning, given that I would have worked compulsively to improve the schools and it would probably have consumed too much of my time. My family will just follow the path of many other parents who have the means and we will avoid the public schools. I just thought that voters should have a choice other than the typical DFL candidates who know little or nothing about education. Just what is it that you've heard the candidates say other than sound bits and platitudes? What exactly are their positions, proposals, and goals? Joe Ericson is the only one that I know that has taken the time to identify their positions on issues. > I agree there is a problem with the DFL's endorsing system in Minneapolis > and I hope DFL members will continue reforming the city endorsing system (as > I know I will do). But, I think it is a little simplistic to suggest that > the DFL will "destroy" candidates who are not endorsed. Denny Schapiro > seems to have survived. I have been told that Mr. Schapiro is well connected in the DFL and had previously been active as a party member. I respect the fact that he choose to run as an independent and did not seek endorsements, but as I pointed out his candidacy wasn't undermined prior to the primary by the state's largest newspaper. Jim Mork wrote: > Michael Atherton writes: > "For instance, it's interesting that the two > candidates who "...are not quite up to the task > of being good school board members," are the two > of us best able to accurately cite educational > research to support our positions" > > Michael: (1) I have yet to see the research > that supports your views: (2) On what do you > base your claim that the endorsees of the > newspaper have no idea of what educational > research shows? This strikes me as a glittering > generality, a piece of puffery. (1) Although, I'm not as detailed as Mr. Mann I have cited a number of articles, you can find these references in the archives. Specifically have you read the Scientific American article on reduced class sizes? If so then we could discuss those findings in detail. (2) Of the board members who post on the list most never cite research. I found one reference Audrey Johnson to a study supporting the importance of parent involvement (which would actually support my positions). Catherine Shreves has incorrectly cited research on class size and computer use (both of these are covered by posts in the archives). Joe Erickson cited an article to support reduced class sizes which really dealt with instructional methods and not class size reductions (posts on this are also in the archive). [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Keith Says; The StarTribune's political endorsements appear to have little to > do with civic service. These endorsements have more to do with partisan > politics. Much to the detriment of public education for our children, the > Strib editors will take the tiniest positive detail of Mr. Atherton's life > and use it to make him seem, somehow, immature. How would a typical reader > make a reasonable judgment of Mr. Atherton's qualifications when he is made > to appear a middle aged career student with a grudge? Even if I was a middle aged career student with a grudge how would this
[Mpls] Media portray us as animals
These are three sections from article of "Pulse of the Twin Cities." "Explaining an explosion" by Lydia Howell. My point--Is the main stream media bias towards African Americans in Minneapolis? In war zones, journalists are usually seen as neutral non-combatants. Why were Star Tribune reporters beaten and TV news vehicles vandalized? I believe mainstream media were quite specifically targeted for the role they play as the public relations organ of police departments. The Star Tribune reported the shooting of Julius Powell only from a police perspective, without any civilian witnesses or comment from the Powell family. Theyve continued to criminalize the Powells by repeating a gun and narcotics were found, to bolster MPD claims a SWAT team raid was justified. The fact is about four cigarettes worth of marijuana were confiscated and it was a legal, registered gun. Media portray us as animals, states Tracey Williams, president of Minneapolis Spokesman-Recorder, a 68-year-old African-American newspaper. They rarely have us as eyewitnesses. When were allowed a voice, they pick the most upset personto discredit us. http://www.pulsetc.com/ Shawn Lewis, Field Neighborhood -- __ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Minneapolis schools/response to Mike Atherton
Michael Atherton concludes a recent post by writing: > Let's discuss issues and refrain from > ad hominem attacks. But earlier in his post he writes: > The Star Tribune, the Southwest Journal, > and the Southeast Angle seem to agree with this principle, given that their > strategy appears to be limiting the degree to which candidates' views are > made available to the public. People who live in glass hominems shouldn't throw stones. Of course, there is no "strategy" at the Southwest Journal to limit public information or discussion. (Editor's tip: avoid weasel words like "appears to be" - either it is or it isn't. Stand behind what you say, or don't make the claim.) Just like educators and grad students, we in newspapering face tough decisions. How do you cover a 12-person primary in a bi-weekly paper that has to make room for everything else in a 21-neighborhood community? (And also, a 12-person primary for 8 slots where two people aren't actively campaigning - in a sense, the whole exercise will only knock 2 active candidates out.) Our longest story in the Aug. 19 issue was on the schools race. As editor, I'm very open to criticism of our coverage. However, aside from a couple of snarky asides on this list, Michael has not made any specific objections known to me, so there's been no chance to discuss them. Who knows, I might learn something - and so might he! I do think a willingness to talk with (not just to) those you disagree with is essential to being a good school board member. After all, to change policy, you have to convince others to go along. Otherwise, it's just intellectual grandstanding. By the way, here's what we wrote about Michael's campaign in the Aug. 19 issue of Skyway News and Southwest Journal. Longtime list members can judge how well we captured the essence of Michael's effort. Should he survive the primary, we will have longer features on all eight surviving candidates. (And by the way, we don't do endorsements: we're confident our reportage gives readers the best way to make up their own minds.) Michael Atherton: Academic critic Atherton, a 51-year-old educational psychology graduate student with two children said he is running for the first time because "education has been my redemption from a life of what would have been crime." He believes his combination of street and academic knowledge can help the public schools successfully teach poor students of color. Atherton, of Prospect Park, said that one reason he's running is because current board members lack qualifications. "There is some pretty consistent and decent research out there and they don't know what it is, or they have misinterpreted it or they don't understand it," said Atherton. Atherton believes the schools over-emphasize small class sizes, saying research has not found a strong link between achievement and cost. He said his academic background make him more qualified to understand the latest research. Atherton also wants students to learn better-paying skills. He said the current programs in food service would not help students earn a livable wage, nor keep kids from dropping out. "Why can't we train people to be electricians, or steel construction workers, or carpenters or truck drivers? What they have now is you drop out, and you have a choice of selling drugs or finding a low-level dead end service job. I think we can affect the dropout rate by showing people better options," Atherton said. David Brauer Editor, Southwest Journal & Skyway News King Field ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Minneapolis Public Education: Bait and Switch
Jim Graham writes: > And David, parochial schools do not have to be "a model of desegregation > along class and racial lines?" They just have to provide an education. It's > Linda Mann's and your responsibility to provide social consciences for your > OWN children. Pay your "own" money and your "own" time to give it to "Your > own" children. Thanks for the lecture, Jim, but in doing so I think you missed my point. I agree that parents need to put their children first. That's precisely why I'm not coming down on Linda and Doug Mann for leaving the system. According to Linda's post, they found an unnamed parochial school that doesn't "ability-group," which I know is key for them. However, one cannot loudly champion one's commitment to desegregation and move to a system (parochial) with so many more tools to segregate (by race, behavior, income, disabilities, etc.) than the public one. Rhetorically, the Manns place desegregation quite high on the educational pedestal - in that sense, they disagree with your "put education first" point above. However, their ultimate choice supports your principle. I find that contradictory, and feel that it makes the point that education, not desegregation, should be the primary goal. David Brauer King Field ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Drugs, race, police relations, economics and an incident magnify a volatile, complex mix of issues in the Jordan neighborhood
Shawn Lewis: thank you for posting this article: > Drugs, race, police relations, economics and an > incident magnify a volatile, complex mix of issues > in the Jordan neighborhood > Curt Brown > Star Tribune > Two statements in particular resonated with me: "People in the suburbs don't realize the reality is we have two communities of people up here," Dolan said. "One that works, owns property and raises families, and a community of people that is selling drugs and committing crimes and would like to see the police leave the neighborhood. In the Folwell neighborhood, we actually had 3 communities: upscale households; people like us who got by from paycheck to paycheck; and low-income households, some of which attracted a good share of 911 calls. You couldn't paint the neighborhood with one brush. Friends of mine who'd venture into the neighborhood would claim in surprise, "This is really NICE!" But as in Jordan, it just takes one or two households to destroy the livability for everyone. "To all those who say: 'Let's get these homegrown drug dealers off the street,' I'm saying let's look at what's creating all these dope dealers," said Steve Wash, a south Minneapolis housing advocate. "It's the only viable economic opportunity for many of these young men. People don't want to hear that, but the true problem is a solvable economic one." When my grandparents lived in southwest Detroit, I remember a balloon man would walk down the street in the mid 1960s, a time when there was industry and jobs and families and disposal income for things like balloons. Twenty years later, that balloon vendor was replaced by drug vendors. Seeing the neighborhood reminded me of a ghost town--deserted except for a lawless element like you'd read about in the old West. When jobs move out, the people who can will follow them. The remaining ones will start their own underground economy. I would love to see the Carlson School of Management begin a business program for inner city youth. If you sell drugs, that means you have a head for business. Here would be an opportunity to use that sales talent for a positive purpose. Susan Maricle Bruno, MN __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
