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

[Rick Kuhlmann]

David Tilsen wrote:

> 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.

Rick Kuhlmann writes:

1. The MSHSL requires that a student be making academic progress towards 
graduation. Many Minneapolis parents with kids in athletics know this to 
be the "D average" suburb line.  Minneapolis also has a higher 
requirement for attendance then other school districts:
'No athlete shall absent himself/herself from any class more than four 
times during the first three weeks of any grading period.
Further, no athlete shall absent himself/herself from a class more than 
five days each of the second and third three week periods
in a grading period. The penalties that shall be applied if absences 
exceed the above limitations shall be as follows:
- Five absences from any class the first three weeks shall carry a two 
contest suspension.
- Ten absences from any class the first six weeks shall carry a two week 
suspension from all contests or scrimmages. The student
may practice.' (Direct cut and paste from the MPS District 2005-06 
Athletic Eligibility Information-used without permission)

2. Many coaches do not teach in the same building they coach in. So 
there is very little they can do to influence a player as they only have 
their scheduled practice times for interaction.

3. The YWCA's and YMCA's have better facilities. How many burned out 
lights are there in your school gymnasium? At Southwest there so little 
space for athletic training that teams have to lift and exercise in the 
halls. Outdoor field space is lacking for many teams as they have to bus 
to practice (Golf teams excluded). The fields they do get to practice on 
are worn, rutted, rocky and used by thousands of other kids for MPRB 
activities.

4. Skill development at the younger ages is totally missing from most 
MPRB competitive teams. Park orgs rely on volunteer coaches and you are 
lucky to get one that played the sport past high school. (No offense to 
any coach who volunteers as they are gold, but I think they would agree 
they wish they could do more).

Start-up independent teams that play in traveling leagues are ignored by 
both the MPRB and the MPS. These orgs are more devoted to player 
development and to providing a higher level of competition. Teams from 
these orgs have to wait until all practice facilites are sheduled by 
MPRB teams AND they have to pay to use the practice facility.

So inspite of all that, we seem to be able to develop some outstanding 
student athletes. I have found over the years that the students who do 
not want to abide by the reles and regulations of the MPS even though 
they may be excellent athletes are not always the most positive team 
players. If a student cannot get to class, they cannot succeed. I also 
feel that when you play on a team that it would set a bad example to 
other students who do come to school, who do make grades to have a 
student who is not there and gets D' and F's play along side them.

Rick Kuhlmann
HPDL - Hale Page Diamond Lake