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. This is a survey of 1,507 young people who graduated from high school in 2010. Students were interviewed either by phone, or Read more »
It’s not well known, but Minnesota played a central role in Apple Computer’s ascendancy. Here’s more about that, and comments from education leaders about the impact of Apple and its late co-founder, Steve Jobs. Curt Tryggestad, Little Falls superintendent believes, “… for nearly four decades Steve Jobs and Apple enhanced the art of education by Read more »
Here’s a free, fun, family “back to school” August activity: visit one or more two- or four-year colleges or universities. Officials representing colleges and universities made it clear last week that they welcome such visits. You and your youngsters can learn a lot. Visiting a campus also can help motivate youngsters for the coming school Read more »
With all the talk about political principles, I decided to ask several Morrison County area principals and higher education leaders about their personal priorities. George Weber, superintendent of District 484 (Pierz area) Schools, wrote, “I try to convey an organizational culture that absolutely believes that we can find a way to be successful with all Read more »
“The shift is not ideal, but we did give school districts the extra money (and then some) to pay for any of the additional costs,” Republican Rep. Pat Garofalo of Farmington, said. DFL Rep. Mindy Greiling of Mounds View said, “My biggest concern is the terrible school funding shift, going from 70/30 to 60/40.” Those Read more »
There’s a mirror at the end of displays in the Dr. Martin Luther King National Historic Site at Atlanta, Ga. As I learned in visiting last week, there’s a question next to the mirror. It’s a quote from King, who won the Nobel Peace Prize. Just 1.5 miles away at President Jimmy Carter’s Library, there’s Read more »
Regardless of the politics, state funds should keep going to schools. That’s my conclusion after interviewing about 20 superintendents and principals, Gen Olson, chair of the Minnesota Senate Education Committee (and a Republican) and Charlene Briner, a spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). A shutdown may delay in payments to schools. Jeff Solomon, Read more »
Autumn, Rosemary, Renee, Pam, Edgar and Ellen, are among an intriguing group of 100,000 Minnesotans. They range in age from 17 to more than 50. They come from everywhere, Anoka to Zimmerman, suburbs, small towns, farms and cities. They are taking online courses this year from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system. Here Read more »
What’s the Memorial Day weekend going to mean for your family? Perhaps you’ll consider not just the traditional TV, picnics, parades and so on. If you’re interested, the Minnesota National Guard has dozens of ways to help on a section of its Web site entitled, “how can I help?” You’ll find it at www.minnesota Read more »
BY JOE NATHAN Little Falls area educators like Curt Tryggestad, Laura DeChaine and Michelle Brekken, are urging families to talk with youngsters about bullying. Judging from a statewide survey involving thousands of Minnesota sixth, ninth and 12th graders, this is an issue for a lot of young people. Here’s what educators suggested, and here’s what Read more »
Hundreds of parents, grandparents, educators and students, gathered on the Minnesota State Capitol steps recently, not to protest but to praise. They were honoring about 50 students, ages 5-18, whose essays were selected as the best from more than 2,000 submitted. Asked to describe their “best day” in school, young people offered sometimes surprising, sometimes Read more »
“The rowdier you are, the more fun we’ll have.” That was one of the first things that Chloë Agnew, a member of the wildly popular singing group, “Celtic Woman” told Minnesotans attending their show recently. This was one of more than 60 shows they are doing around the U.S. this spring. Two hours later, hundreds Read more »
This is the story of a beloved public school teacher. It’s about Ron Moeller, who recently died at age 48. More than 300 parents, educators and students attended a spaghetti dinner and memorial service in his honor recently. At that service, St. Paul Elementary School teacher Joe Flahavan recalled that he and Moeller were “surrounded Read more »
Recently, Brenda Cassellius, Minnesota Commissioner of Education, met with the ECM Editorial Board of ECM Publishers in Coon Rapids. She recommended major, thoughtful changes in the way Minnesota teachers are evaluated. She also questioned how well principals have been trained to do this. Improving teacher assessment is part of the top seven priorities for the Read more »
In an encouraging display of bipartisan agreement recently, Minnesota legislators said, “yes” to collaboration between district and charter schools. Wisely, they said “no” to a proposal from the Lakes International Charter and the Forest Lake School District that was confusing and troubling. Collaboration can help participating faculty and students they serve. For example: • James Read more »
