Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/author/joe-nathan/page/5/)
Having marched for civil rights in the 1960s, and having taught government, politics and American history since 1971, I hope we see Minnesota’s better side this fall when we decide about whether to Continue Reading
Would you find a movie entertaining in which a father repeatedly struck and screamed at his six-year -old daughter? Probably not. A national authority on child abuse is deeply concerned about a movie that contains such scenes, especially when potential movie goers are not warned about what the movie contains.But, incredibly, and unfortunately, TC Daily Planet reviewer Jim Brunzell III recently described this relationship as “a loving bond of father and daughter,” In his July 18 review of “Beasts of the Southern Wild” reviews, he wrote that the movie also depicts “harsh realities we are faced with in doing what is best for one another and moving on.”Because the impact of child abuse can be so strong and long lasting and the response of Brunzell and some movie critics has been bizarre, it’s important to discuss.First, here are comments from an interview with Amy Russell, deputy director for the National Child Protection Training Center. The National Center is based at the William Mitchell School of Law. She has a master’s degree in counseling and graduated with high honors from the State University of New York, Buffalo, law school.So she is a trained counselor and an attorney. Continue Reading
If they register by August 1, Minnesota’s 10th graders can take a free career technical class on a college campus. This is a historic expansion of Minnesota’s Post Secondary Enrollment Options law, first adopted in 1985. And high school students helped produce You Tube Videos in English, Spanish, Arabic Hmong and Somali providing information about Post Secondary Options. Continue Reading
Schools sometimes take students to visit museums, but something unusual has developed at Phalen Lake Hmong Studies Magnet in St. Continue Reading
Today’s column honors two heroes: a teacher, now in his 70s, and a school senior in her teens. Teacher Will Fitzhugh, and Woodbury East Ridge High School senior Anushua (Shua) Bhattacharya are connected because of the outstanding paper that Bhattacharya wrote. Continue Reading
You’ve probably heard of “flipping out,” meaning getting very excited. But Minneapolis and other metro area district and charter teachers are using the word in a new way. Both national and local talent is being used to help students and families gain the benefits of video. Continue Reading
“This was monumental,” according to Gary Cunningham, Vice President at the Northwest Area Foundation in St. Continue Reading
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Some surprising, as well as some continuing themes emerged through contacting 35 Minnesota district and charter school leaders from urban, suburban and rural communities. They were asked what was their single most important recommendation to/request from the 2012 state legislature.Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. The opinions expressed in the Free Speech Zone and Neighborhood Notes, as well as the opinions of bloggers, are their own and not necessarily the opinion of the TC Daily Planet.Five major themes emerged. 1. Despite years of adjustments, some strange things can still be found in Minnesota’s funding formula. Elk River Superintendent Mark Bezek pointed out that although substantial numbers of students in that district live in Anoka or Hennepin counties, the district loses several hundred thousand dollars a year because as of 1999, its administrative office was not located in the seven county metropolitan area. A Minnesota Senate education committee administrator confirmed this.2. Continue Reading
As we move toward 2012, here’s some good news about closing urban achievement gaps. Creative, hard working educators in Minneapolis and Cincinnati, in partnership with Cargill and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, have produced major academic gains. Both district and charter public schools are involved. Here’s what happened.
Here’s an early Christmas, Hanukah, or Kwanza present to young people that can save you and your family thousands of dollars. Really.
Please take 10 minutes to read “One Year Out,” at http://press.collegeboard.org/releases/2011/content/new-college-board-research-86-young-americans-believe-college-essential