Learning's blog

by Pam Costain, 6/30/08 • In early June, the New York Times did a story about two groups of education leaders who are trying to interject public education issues in the presidential debate, as well as into the wider debate in civil society. One group put out a statement under the rubric of “A Broader, Bolder Approach to Education” that was signed by a number of leading intellectuals, practitioners and school superintendents.

by Lynnell Mickelsen, 5/30/08 • Whenever I get into these public discussions over the many real problems in the Minneapolis public school, i.e. graduation rates, the achievement gap, the endless funding crises.……I often feel compelled to add that our three sons, ages 15, 18 and 20, have been in the city’s public schools since kindergarten; two out of three have now graduated. Sure, the class sizes are too large and yes, we’re always doing things on a shoe-string budget. But our sons have received an excellent education in a far more diverse setting than any private school offers.

by Carla Bates, 2/19/08 • Jolinda Simmes – a teacher and frequent contributor on the Minneapolis Public Schools forum – pointed all of us to some researchers from Harvard who were exploring the role of parenting as contributing to the achievement gap. The researchers are excellent and they suggested that two-thirds of the “achievement gap” could be attributed to factors other than the schools: parenting and poverty.

by Kate Towle, 2/14/08 • I’d like to send this virtual “Valentine” to our Minneapolis teachers.