Academic Standards Public Hearings
St. Paul Academic Standards Hearing
View
Academic Standards and give comments online
St.
Paul Central High School Hearing
September 22, 2003
The Aura:
There must have been 300 in the crowd at Central High School in Saint
Paul, with over 50 people signed up to speak. DFL Representative Jim
Davnie, on stage with the committee members, introduced himself as
one who “is here to hear what you have to say so that I can take it back
to the DFL House." Another DFL Representative, Mindy Greiling, sat in
the crowd. A newly formed group, Minnesota Against Proposed Social Studies
Standards (MAPSSS), formed by Dr Paul Spies, a
professor at Metropolitan State
University, distributed handouts to attendees.
What to Expect:
The
big names came in…professor this, committee chair that, President of the
MN Atheism Society, and many teachers… The majority attending were very
liberal, very demonstrative, and very rude. They often heckled and moaned
when something was said with which they disagreed. Many tried to go over
their 3 minute limit, ignoring the time frame until it was clear to
the committee that they would not stop on their own.
Some of the Accusations and Comments Made:
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Two speakers urged committee members to resign in protest to these “conservative standards.”
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One said they “REFUSED to teach these standards!”
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One said that he was glad MAPSSS has been developed, because "I am going to get involved! Now I know where my support is!"
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“Neither gays nor history teachers were represented on the committees, because they would never allow these kind of standards to be there!"
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One teacher complained that he knew a lot of "good teachers" who wanted to get onto the committees but "not one of them did!" He demanded to know what criteria was used." Commissioner Yecke answered gracefully, but also indicated that this was not set up to be a dialogue. He was argumentative.
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One teacher said she just came back from a visit to Cuba and advised that we in America should take after their system. After all, she saw a ratio of 1:20, and the teachers had their students under control and everyone was happy learning!
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An Australian, who teaches at Central High said claimed that "if we don't teach our students the same as England, and the European schools, our students will not be able to compete in a global world."
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Two Asian women had concerns that Japanese-American standards were not included, especially their part in WWII. They did say the Commissioner has already addressed this concern. It was overlooked and will be included.
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A speaker from the atheism association argued that "evolution is fact” and "creationism should be put down, way down here." (and pointed to the floor)
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A Professor from Gustavus said she felt junior high students ought to be able to use higher critical thinking skills and evaluate history, using critical analysis. Students shouldn't have to memorize dates and so much rote information. “What good does it do?"
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One speaker demanded that we need 3 more St. Paul hearings and 4 in Minneapolis. "Then you would hear how we all feel!"
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Several speakers complained that "Maple River has influenced these standards."
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