[Mpls] wenonah/keewaydin and city schools (long)

[Michael Atherton]

First, I like to say that it's good to have someone here again who's 
willing to knowledgeably discuss issues related to the MPS.
  
Dennis Schapiro wrote:

> If we cannot establish a trusted system for balancing competing values -- 
> a system in which you can lose a battle but still trust the process -- 
> the exodus of families will accelerate and we will soon look 
> like a lot of other urban school systems.

We already look a lot like other urban school systems...we look worse
(at least in relation to our acheivement gap).  So it's a reasonable
to make concessions to upper-SES Whites to keep them in the system?
Seems like the same kind of reasoning that perpetuates social
promotion.  No wonder Black parents are opting out in increasing
numbers.
 
On a more personal note, perhaps Mr. Schapiro can explain why the
St. Paul Public Schools provide far more options for four year
olds than do the MPS.  Why do the SPPS have Kindergartens for four
year olds as well as other programs for four year olds and the MPS 
only (if funded) have a ~2 hour High Five program.  Why do the SPPS 
allow children under five born after September to be tested and attended 
Kindergarten and the MPS do not?  Why do the SPPS have schools 
specifically designed for gifted students and the MPS do not?

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park