I missed these two events last night at St. Olaf: The F-Word: What Are Feminists Moaning About? “Learn about feminism from Katie Asher ’09.” Vagina Wellness. “Wellness Center Event. Learn…
Category: <span>Education</span>
Our studio guest this week: Kathie Galotti, parent of two K-12 students and Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science at Carleton College, discussing the flap over the proposed district-wide 1 hr late start/early release on Mondays next year. I’ve turned off comments on this blog post. Continue the discussion (over 80 comments thus far) attached to Kathie’s Feb. 17 blog post, My objections to the proposed changes to the school calendar.
Click play to listen. 30 minutes. You can also subscribe to the podcast feed, or subscribe directly with iTunes.
Rob Hardy rhetorically asked in comment #71 attached to Kathie Galotti’s guest blog post about the district calendar flap, “How can the school district make itself feel like a real community, instead of education insiders vs. outsiders?”
I’ve been invited to attend the Northfield School District’s Key Communicator Network Training on March 19 (page 1 of the 4-page mailing is on the right – click to enlarge and then click the green arrow to enlarge again), and I plan to attend. I don’t think this program is likely to help address the issue Rob raises. (continued)
Yes, the District’s web site now says that tickets for the 2009 Rock ‘N Roll Revival were sold out as of Wednesday. But Rock ‘N Roll Revival emperor Tom McKown stopped by my downtown office this morning and let it slip that the show is actually NOT sold out. He then threatened to duct tape my mouth shut lest I reveal the information. But my journalistic integrity prevents me from knuckling under to such bullying tactics. Therefore, if enough people are interested, I’ll tell all. (continued)
Northfield Police Chief Mark Taylor has a letter on Page 8 in the December Northfield High School newsletter (PDF). High School Principal Joel Leer introduces the chief’s letter: “Chief Taylor details some troubling information that is coming out about young people in Rice County who have been abusing cold and cough medicines. Please talk to your children about what they are doing, seeing, and hearing in school.” (continued)
Tickets for Northfield High School’s Rock ‘n Roll Revival VIII go on sale today at the Community Services Division office in the NCRC. (It would be nice if A) the event had its own web site; and B) tickets could be ordered online.) The District’s web site says:
All tickets are $10 and are reserved seats. Performances are March 13,14,20 & 21 at 8 p.m. and March 15 at 2 p.m. Past shows have been sellouts so plan to purchase your tickets in advance. No phone orders please. Information at (507) 663-0632.
See the album from the 2005 event or this slideshow. (continued)
The last week in January, I interviewed three professionals who are trading their know-how for the ingenuity (and, to a certain extent, free labor) of interns from Northfield’s two colleges. One partnership has already led to an art project, transforming discarded steel breadboxes into women’s breastplate armor. And there is promise that another trade could result in two new Web sites that could help boost the careers of local ceramic artists and rock stars.
In a Dec. 28 NY Times commentary titled Should the Obama Generation Drop Out?, Charles Murrary argues that “It’s what you can do that should count when you apply for a job, not where you learned to do it.” I know it might be heresy here in the land of cows, colleges and contentment but I tend to agree. Like Murray, I think many employers already believe that a bachelor’s degree has “become education’s Wizard of Oz.” He writes:
In last week’s Northfield News: School search comes up empty. Their editorial this week: Drug dog search good start at schools. Kiffi Summa suggested in Tracy’s Locally Grown Open Mic blog post that we blog on this topic and Curt Benson followed up. I’ve included their comments below. I’ve not made up my own mind about this but I wish there was something on the Northfield School District’s web site that explained the rationale for its policy and procedures. (continued)