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Three major messages Minnesota educators, policy-makers and parents sent each...
Joe NathanLooking back over 2013, I think Minnesota parents, policymakers, taxpayers and educators sent each other three major, memorable messages about public schools. Thanks to many folks who’ve...
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St. Paul high school senior asks adults to listen/learn from teenagers
Joe NathanRecently St. Paul Federation of Teachers President Mary Cathryn Ricker invited me to listen to and learn from students at Harding High school. Many had important insights they wanted to...
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State, local officials decide to share info that can save families thousands...
Joe NathanImportant decisions were made in the last week. Minnesota Commissioner of Education Brenda Cassellius and a number of local superintendents have decided it’s time for thousands of Minnesota...
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Better Ed group fails fairness test, should know better
Joe NathanA Minnesota group calling itself “Better Ed” should know better than to distribute misleading statistics. Perhaps even worse than the original act of distributing a postcard with inaccurate...
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Sometimes surprising speakers at Mn Chamber of Commerce education conference
Joe NathanGiven protests, both ahead of time and while the meeting began, there were several surprising presentations at a recent Minnesota Chamber of Commerce meeting on education. Pickets protesting...
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Why do K-12 school administrators oppose free speech for colleges/universities?
Joe NathanA group of Minnesota high school and college students are asking for things that apparently are threatening to some school administrators. Kelly Charpentier-Berg, Aaliyah J Hodge, Sam...
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MN Dept of Ed Finance Award given to 69% of traditional districts, 85% of...
Joe NathanMinnesota Department of Education’s School Finance Award will never compete with “March Madness” for public attention. But MDE recently gave 69 percent of Minnesota’s traditional districts...
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Minnesotans praise Cesar Chavez: The man and the movie
Joe Nathan “Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate a person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate a person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who...
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Long time civil rights activist challenges charter school/segregation charges
Joe NathanBelow is Bill Wilson's Minnesota Senate testimony from earlier this year. Bill is the first African American to be elected to the St. Paul City Council, the first to be elected City Council...
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Harding High School's graduation portfolio process is a model for Minnesota
Joe NathanWhat a great way to end a high school career! For more than a decade, Harding High School, part of the St Paul district, has been requiring each seniors to create and present a portfolio...
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High school student earns BA degree via post secondary options
Joe NathanEighteen-year-old David Greer is remarkable. He’s just earned a high school diploma and a four-year college degree. He may be the first Minnesotan to use Minnesota’s Post Secondary Enrollment...
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Legislators mostly listened to students/community activists urging more info...
Joe Nathan “As a graduate of the PSEO Program I can honestly say that participating is one of the smartest decisions I've ever made, and I would encourage every student to participate in this program,...
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"Keep their Minds Engaged in Wonder": Educators' advice about summer learning
Joe Nathan“Keep their minds and bodies engaged in wonder during the summer months when they are not attending school.” That’s what Julie Olson, director of elementary education for the Rosemount-Apple...
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Union, charter, district and community leaders offer families suggestions for...
Joe NathanMoney was not mentioned by any of the more than 30 educators & community leaders who responded to a question I asked about the first month of school. Each of them described the most...
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Respecting Yom Kippur, Eidl-Adha, Christmas and Easter
Joe NathanEvents this week led me to several questions about Christmas, Easter, Yom Kippur and Eid al-Adha. Many readers are familiar with the first two, but some may not know much about the last two...
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Seven Minnesota education successes in 2014
Joe NathanLooking back on 2014, seven Minnesota education stories strike me as especially encouraging . This isn’t to suggest everything is perfect. But students, families, school faculty, Gov. Mark...
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Great lessons from Harding's History Day and great opportunities for history...
Joe NathanThe friendship of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and evangelist Billy Graham was just one of many unexpected things I learned about at a recent terrific Minnesota History Day celebration at at...
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Students, Parents, Teachers Celebrate Public School Choice
Joe NathanIt was quite a bipartisan celebration. From Brainerd, Crystal, Golden Valley, Forest Lake, Princeton and the Twin Cities, students and adults danced, sang and spoke at a meeting in St. Paul...
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