Joe Nathan / 2011, Columns (J. Nathan) / state shutdown /
Regardless of the politics, state funds should keep going to schools. That’s my conclusion after interviewing about 20 superintendents and principals, Gen Olson, chair of the Minnesota Senate Education Committee (and a Republican) and Charlene Briner, a spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). A shutdown may delay in payments to schools. Jeff Solomon, […]
Joe Nathan / 2011, Columns (J. Nathan) / Hennepin Theatre Trust, music /
Why did more than 2,600 people jam into the Orpheum Theater in downtown Minneapolis last week? They came to praise and promote high school musicals, during one of the most remarkable youth programs I’ve ever witnessed. It was rowdy, rousing and reassuring. Sarah Cartright, a prize-winning performer who recently graduated from Eastview High School told […]
Joe Nathan / 2011, Columns (J. Nathan) / Al Franken, Arne Duncan /
Change is coming from Washington D.C., change that will have an impact on every US public school in the United States. That was clear when Arne Duncan, US Secretary of Education and Al Franken, one of Minnesota’s US Senators, spoke to several hundred Minnesotans last wekk. They were discussing school leadership and possible revisions in […]
Joe Nathan / 2011, Columns (J. Nathan) / achievement gap /
Here’s further confirmation that public schools can have an enormous positive impact. Recently Elizabeth Holtzapple, Cincinnati Public Schools Director of Research, Evaluation and Testing, told me that the district’s public schools increased overall high school graduation rates to 81.9% in 2010. That is up from 51% since 2000. She also reported the district also has […]
Joe Nathan / 2011, Columns (J. Nathan) / online courses, online learning /
Autumn, Renee, Rosemary, Pam, Edgar and Ellen are among an intriguing group of 100,000 Minnesotans. They range in age from 17 to more than 50. They come from everywhere, Anoka to Zimmerman, suburbs, small towns, farms and cities. They are or have taken online courses from the Minnesota State College and Universities System. Here are […]