[Mpls] Nick Coleman on Schools

[Michael Atherton]

As sure as winter brings snow to Minnesota,
educational reform will be accompanied by a blizzard
of propaganda.

I'd just like to reality check some of the
points raised in Nick Coleman's column in the
Star Tribune:
http://www.startribune.com/stories/357/4370040.html

First, Principal Gertrude Flows Barwick says:
"We can't select our students. We have to take 
anyone who comes in that door. These are not the
children who go to charter schools."  Well,
they might not be the same children that go
to charter schools, but charter schools are,
for the most part, "forced" to accept everyone 
who comes through the door.  See State Statute 124D.10, 
Subd. 9. Admission requirements.
"A charter school may not limit admission to pupils 
on the basis of intellectual ability, measures of 
achievement or aptitude, or athletic ability."
"A charter school shall enroll an eligible pupil who 
submits a timely application, unless the number of 
applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, 
grade level, or building.  In this case, pupils must be 
accepted by lot."

Secondly, Mr. Coleman states, "Public schools are
under unceasing attack, tax money is being channeled
to competing schools--some of which operate with 
laughably little oversight--and the best and the brightest
are abandoning ship. And 'No child left behind?'  It's a
joke."

The Federal No Child Left Behind law (NCLB) has nothing to
do with the problems cited by Mr. Coleman.  If you
want to blame anyone for "competing schools" you should
identify the State Statues that created the Charter School
Movement (ours were the first in the Nation). And, if you 
want to place blame for the best and brightest leaving the
Minneapolis Public School you should attack the policies
of our own school board or the parents who are opting out
of a failing system. You might also blame our State
Legislature for shifting the tax burden and restructuring
school financing, but you should not impugn the NCLB law. 

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park