This is one of the rare occasions where I agree with everything in a post that Michael Atherton wrote. I think that the following 2 points should be emphasized:
In a message dated 6/15/2003 5:05:21 PM Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > 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 tack, > it's something that I would expect more from right wing > Christian fundamentalists [...] 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 learning how to use them? How > are students going to be able to evaluate accurate from inaccurate > arguments, rely on faith and individual experience? > [snip] > 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 -Doug Mann, King Field Educationright.tripod.com 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
