I sincerely hope Michael Atherton runs for the Minneapolis Board of Education. While many of his posts to this list generate controversy, I enjoy the fact that he takes issue and challenges others posting on education-related topics, and speaks well during the course of debate. The dialogue is good (another testament to the value of this list). I think many of his education-related posts over the past couple of years, demonstrate an in-depth understanding of education from both a practical and policy-oriented perspective. I appreciate his many references to peer-reviewed national research as opposed to the usual 'common sense' and 'feel-good'- oriented approaches, the untested solutions if you will, proffered by so many when discussing education policy. Too often, talk is indeed cheap. I encourage him to take that bold step-- to make the commitment; to run for public office and actively campaign. Challenge parents, taxpayers, voters and those other candidates seeking election to the MPS Board of Education to actively discuss public education in Minneapolis-- talk about the strengths and weaknesses of the system and offer potential strategies for improvement. Raise the level of dialogue. Run Michael, run!!
Michael Atherton states in part, > I am not sure that I am running for a seat on the school board, > but I might be for several reasons: > > 1) The schools are in crisis and nobody seems to be doing much > about it. > 2) Most of the current school board members don't seem to be > familiar with many > basic issues and research in education (or they have > misinterpreted them). > 3) There don't seem to be any candidates on the horizon who > know any more > than current board members. > 4) We need new ideas and solutions and I have lots of them. > 5) The social injustice of failing to provide basic skills and > quality education to > minority students conflicts with my ethical standards. > 6) I see education as the most important foundation of a > democratic society. > 7) I have two children who will be of school age in several > years and I would > like to be able to send them to public rather than private schools. > ~~~~ Michael Hohmann Linden Hills www.mahohmannbizplans.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
