Joe Nathan / 2011, Columns (J. Nathan), PSEO / Brenda Cassellius /
Dozens of raised hands, and a new report from Minnesota Commissioner of Education Brenda Cassellius reflect good news. More Minnesota high school students are taking and passing challenging college level classes. Cassellius wisely praised the progress, and stressed the significant work left to do. The raised hands came when I asked about 50 emerging metro […]
Joe Nathan / 2011, Columns (J. Nathan) / corrections, mistakes /
Acknowledging mistakes is wise, not weak Several people surprised me last week. They were critical of a principal and a superintendent who changed their minds. I’ll say more about these specific situations in a minute. But today I want to talk about people, including me, who make mistakes, or are challenged by people who disagree with […]
Joe Nathan / 2011, Columns (J. Nathan) / Arne Duncan /
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was direct when he spoke in Minnesota last week. While complementing some of Minnesota’s reforms and education accomplishments, Duncan pointed out that we have one of the nation’s largest achievement gaps between whites and students of color. He is “shocked” that Minnesota does not have stronger “alternative routes” into […]
Joe Nathan / 2011, Columns (J. Nathan) / choosing a school /
What advice do educators have for Minnesota families starting to think about what schools their child/children will attend next year? At one point, families had no public school choices. But over the last 25 years, the Legislature has given families new public school options via open enrollment, area learning centers, charter pubic schools and Post […]
Joe Nathan / 2011, Columns (J. Nathan) /
Will Fitzhugh lives and works with a powerful, provocative philosophy: He believes “that the pursuit of academic excellence in secondary schools should be given the same attention as the pursuit of excellence in sports and other extracurricular activities…Varsity athletics and athletes are celebrated everywhere. We celebrate Varsity Academics®.” (Fitzhugh’s emphasis) I’d like to help spread […]