Minneapolis Roosevelt High parent advocates greater academic challenge, more parent involvement
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When Minneapolis parent Rachel Skildum-LeGarde is asked about what she is looking for in a school for her children, her answer comes quickly: she wants challenging and rigorous academics, strong art, theater, and music offerings, and a solid athletics program.Her three oldest children are currently enrolled at Roosevelt High School in south Minneapolis, and so far, Skildum-LeGarde is cautiously optimistic about the education they are receiving there. In her view, Roosevelt is making “a lot of strides” in its music and art departments, and Skildum-LeGarde also feels that Roosevelt has offered her children a “fairly good” sports program.When it comes to academics at Roosevelt, however, Skildum-LeGarde is not quite convinced that her children are getting a solid, comprehensive education. While Roosevelt is an IB (International Baccalaureate) school, Skildum-LeGarde notes that that program, with its emphasis on critical thinking and deeper student engagement, does not start until the 11th and 12th grades.Skildum-LeGarde said there is not a program in place, such as the “Middle Years” program for grades 6-10 that some IB schools have, to ensure 9th and 10th graders are being academically challenged. In fact, Skildum-LeGarde feels her son is getting an “easy” A in English class this year as a 10th grader, and wonders whether or not he’ll be adequately prepared to start the rigorous IB program next year, as a junior.For her, this is important. She said that, while she does “try to supplement” her children’s education at home, they are at school for up to ten hours a day, with classes and after-school activities, and she’d like to feel as though they are getting the “best start possible” on a path to college.Skildum-LeGarde serves on both the DPAC (the district’s citywide parent group) and the Title 7 Parent Committee, which is for Native American parents, and she thinks finding more and better ways for parents to get involved in their children’s education is important. Continue Reading
