Eli Kaplan wrote: > Please do not prejudge any program or MPS because you may not > have all the facts about the situation. Statistics can be geared > to show anything. Talk with the kids about their experiences.
Bad statistics can be geared to show anything, valid statistical techniques cannot. Although liars can use statistics, you don't need statistics to lie. I'm astounded that the defenders of the MPS take such an anti-intellectual/anti-scientific track, it's something that I would expect more from right wing Christian fundamentalists. If the science of psychology has taught us anything it's that individual judgment is subject to any number of irrational biases; among them unconscious influences, the spuriousness of human memory, social conformity, submission to authority, etc. If science has been successful in many fields, such as Physics, Astronomy, Biology, and Medicine then it has been because of the study of statistics. So is that what they teach in the MPS, that statistics can be geared to show anything so don't bother leaning how to use them? How are students going to be able to evaluate accurate from inaccurate arguments, rely on faith and individual experience? I see the same difficulty with Mr. Brauer's rule that he will, "...only listen to those with kids IN the school system." How do you know that your children are getting a quality education if you are not familiar with what can be achieved in other educational systems? As to the argument that there are merit scholars from the MPS system. I would agree that there are students who are bright, self-motivated, and well supported who will excel in any educational system, but we should be concerned about the "typical" student, not the exceptions. Secondly, if you look at MPS as a whole you will see that there are radical differences by geographical location and race. I would be more likely to accept Mr. Brauer's argument if he were willing to have his child placed randomly within the Minneapolis Public Schools. I looked carefully at my choices in Southeast and do not believe that schools rate as acceptable, let alone excellent. I believe that the world's most powerful country can have an excellent public education system (and it's not the money it's the structure). I have to admit that what I expect for my children may not be close to the norm expected by most parents. There are many American families who are not interested in rigorous academics or a challenging intellectual environment, but there are other school systems that meet a variety of expectations, the MPS do not. David Brauer wrote: > So ... I'd still like to hear from parents with kids in > Minneapolis Public Schools' Small Learning Communities. So would I. In addition, I would like to know why the MPS implemented SLCs system wide rather than testing them on a smaller scale first (it seems like an approach that is scaleable). I would also like to know the preliminary statistics. Have SLCs had any impact on dropout rates, truancy, student behavioral problems or student achievement? If the MPS does not have the systems to collect this information they're in a world of hurt and in need of new management. Michael Atherton Prospect Park TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
