Comments on: DNT Watch: Headline changes, but little else

By: Beverly

Beverly — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:11:46 +0000

I like the part where baci says parents know what’s best for their kids. I agree.

By: maryb

maryb — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:49:28 +0000

good education (that teaches critical thinking skills) doesn’t come cheap. … and neither do good newspapers!

By: mevdev

mevdev — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:43:12 +0000

Humans need education. They start out as little ignorant unintelligent wads of flesh. Only by massaging them with information and experience can we bring about intelligence, logic and progress. The things humans do not need is war. Schools are incredibly worthwhile. Accountability for government funds is as well. So, while we are analyzing these schools for every penny they spend we ignore war profiteers and these silly million dollar bombs, billion dollar planes, spying on innocent people, and downright disrespectful interrogation at airports. Check out this chart http://www.wallstats.com/deathandtaxes/ Very little money goes to schools and a lot of money goes to military. We have a fundamental problem of fear. We used to fear everyone but ourselves, but now we fear EVERYONE. I sincerely believe that if we had a very small standing military we would not be overrun, we would not have more terrorist attacks and we would have more than enough money to do whatever we wanted (schools, transportation, health care, less taxes). We have been plagued with retaliation, vengeance, anger, bigotry and hate. So, my solution to 9/11? Ignore it. Yes, it takes a big man, but for 3,000 dead we've now taken over countries that we cannot maintain. Thousands of our precious soldiers have died and been maimed. What is the cost of 3,000 people when it comes to vengeance? Apparently a lot more than 5,000 people. If we are looking to save human life, war is not the answer. Education is.

By: Elissa

Elissa — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:45:51 +0000

I’m hesitant to enter this debate because it’s really all so tiring. Like my colleague Mary from upthread, I am here educating students.

Instead of arguing about charter schools, I just wanted to say that I’ve been very happy working for Edison for a number of years now. I’ve worked for a traditional union public school, an independent school, and now a charter school, and I feel that the issues with all three have been comparable, just as the goal and mission of all three have been to do what’s best for the education of the students.

Also, fwiw, Duluth Edison Charter Schools gave their own press release that answered many, if not all, of the points in that report.

By: rollergirl

rollergirl — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:56:44 +0000

I taught at the Edison school system in Duluth. While many of the teachers I worked with were brillant, it was one of the most horrible experiences of my life. During my tenure, the Edison school system was run very poorly – and I know what you all are thinking, but I’ve also taught at many schools in 709 and did not have any where near the same bad experience. I wasn’t suprised by the DNT article about Edison AT ALL. That being said, it isn’t fair to lump other charter schools in the same boat as Edison…. That’s my 2 cents.

By: baci

baci — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:46:49 +0000

I just wanted to thank PDD for providing a forum where I could trade arguments and constructive debate with people I respect entirely, like Tim K and mrashley…..even though they are dead wrong….hehe

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:22:14 +0000

I think this conversation is really interesting and maddening too. I am a teacher at Washburn Edison Middle School and think we have a fantastic school with a devoted staff! It bothers me that there is so much criticism of charter schools (which are public schools, I will remind you)especially knowing how much we the teachers care about the kids and how much time and energy is spent making our school a great place for them to be. We accept all kids and have similar if not more diverse demographic than most of Duluth Public Schools. Right now I find Matt Entenza’s “think tank” really irritating. He is not trying to enlighten the public but rather trying to find the smallest reasons to make goods schools look bad in the public eye and the DNT and local TV news do not help by reporting only a slice of the whole story. He has dedicated a big part of his career denigrating charter schools.
Why would it ever be wrong to educate kids? I just don’t get it.

By: Tim K

Tim K — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:34:49 +0000

My beef isn’t with charter schools in particular, rather the fact that we’ve starved public education through various political scams throughout the years. The same folks who hate the New Deal (still! after all these years!) also hate public education. If public schools were funded AS THOUGH WE CARED, there would never have been a need for charter schools. It’s the same with a lot of other issues in this great land of ours- health care, crime, poverty- you name it. And yes, it isn’t just the money. It’s also the political will to do it right in the first place. Why is it that we all have to go off in our own little corner to do our own version of this or that, when we could come together and hammer it out into a workable system for all. Ooops! I’m sounding a little anti-America….

By: baci

baci — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:20:16 +0000

TK, I see….yes, we get per-pupil $$ from the state of MN. We are district 4085. District 709 tax levies are associated with the local school district.

And for the record, we do not have any easier or more difficult time unloading “violent” students. It’s a problem that’s the same at every public school, charter schools ARE public schools.

with that guys I’m sure you’ll be able to answer for me any questions you may have. I’m pretty sure you all know my stance.

SCHOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER!!

By: Tim K

Tim K — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:36:33 +0000

I don’t know about HCIS, but Edison gets the same per capita allocation that the public schools get- therefore, whether you know it or not, it comes from taxpayer dollars. And I stand by my statement about selectivity. Charter schools have a much easier time unloading violent students than the regular public schools. If HCIS has its own policy that is more like the public schools- good for them. But state and federal laws on compulsory education have tied the hands of public schools in this area (topic, not geography). ANYWAY, can we please get back to bashing the Trib?