MN legislature

Four requests of the governor, state legislators / Joe Nathan’s Column

/ 2015 Columns, Columns (J. Nathan) / , , , , / 0 Comments

By Joe Nathan on May 20, 2015 at 3:27 pm Here are four requests as Gov. Mark Dayton and state legislators consider how to proceed after the governor vetoed the K-12 bill. First, to aid planning, a special session should be called soon and final decisions need to be made quickly. Second, please recognize and retain […]

Legislators wisely listen to state teachers of the year / Joe Nathan’s Column

/ 2014, Columns (J. Nathan) / , , , , , , , , , , , / 2 Comments

Originally published at:  http://hometownsource.com/2014/10/29/joe-nathan-column-legislators-wisely-listen-to-state-teacher-of-the-year-winners/ “These teachers have dedicated their lives to serving students and been recognized for outstanding work. As we examine how to improve public policy, it’s important to hear from some of the best of the best. We need to learn from their success.” That’s how state Sen. Chuck Wiger, DFL-Maplewood, explained a […]

Double testing costing Minnesotans millions / Joe Nathan’s Column

/ 2014, Columns (J. Nathan) / , , , , , , , , , / 0 Comments

Originally published at: http://hometownsource.com/2014/09/25/joe-nathan-column-double-testing-costs-minnesotans-millions/ Double testing of our high school students is costing Minnesotans millions of dollars. That’s money that could be better spent. What about spending some of those millions on, for example, high-quality early childhood programs? Or on extra-curricular programs? The ACT found many years ago that participation in debate, drama, speech, music and […]