[Mpls] class size - student achievement number of cops - crime

[David Tilsen]

I agree totally.  One thing we know is that students who manage to come back 
from difficult periods in their life, state over 74% of the time that it was 
an adult mentor that played a major positive role in their life.  they 
mention, in - order

teachers
coaches
parents
clergy
other -neighbors, friends, shopkeepers etc.

One thing that the Minneapolis School district does, if a student falls 
below a "C" average (one sign of trouble) is not allow them to participate 
in extra curricular sports.  This takes away their coach as a possible 
person of positive influence.  Yea good idea, If someone needs help, lets 
make it harder for them.

(I would like to point out that I was the only vote on the School Board 
against the "C" average being a prerequisite for sports).  this terrible 
(but very popular) decision has contributed to the drop out rate.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark" <rennerscons1000 at yahoo.com>
To: "David Tilsen" <dtilsen at qwest.net>; <mpls at mnforum.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 7:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Mpls] class size - student achievement number of cops - crime


>
>
> --- David Tilsen <dtilsen at qwest.net> wrote:
>
>>
>> > Our problem is motivating those students who find
>> the classroom and/school something they are
>> uninterested in or unwilling to participate in.
>> .
>
> And one thing which affects the motivation of students
> is the connection they have with their teachers, who
> try to raise self-esteem and increase enthusiasm for
> learning. This kind of positive attention is
> intoxicating and it is amazing how far it can take
> someone.
> But it is very hard to build these kinds of
> relationships in the first place, and I would say the
> larger the class, the less time a teacher has for each
> student, the less likely it will change student
> behavior and/or performance.
> Unfortunately I have reams of anecdotal evidence for
> this but very little research.
>
>
> mark from loring
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________________
> Yahoo! DSL - Something to write home about.
> Just $16.99/mo. or less.
> dsl.yahoo.com
>
>