On Jan. 23, Alice Rockswold will embark for the opportunity of a lifetime.
A few weeks ago, the Mankato West junior was notified that she was chosen to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives Page Program and would be sponsored by local democrat Tim Walz - who is, himself, a former teacher at West.
For about five months, Rockswold will have regular duties in the halls of congress. She'll deliver correspondence and packages, assist lawmakers, answer phones and help prepare the floor for House sessions. Along the way, she'll be attending school each morning from 6:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and she'll be staying in a dorm with the rest of the pages.
Rockswold admits she's a fan of politics and credits her father for piquing her interest in the subject. She said they often watch Hardball together and have spent many hours debating policy: "We're generally on the same side," she said.
Rockswold, who will resume her senior year at West in the fall, said she is most excited about the chance to be present at the president's State of the Union address. Traditionally, the pages are allowed to be among those that line up to shake the president's hand on the way to the podium: "I hope I can make it," she said.
A description, application and history of the Page Program can be found here.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
More on Jody Allen Crowe ...
In Monday's edition of The Free Press, I wrote a story about Jody Allen Crowe, a longtime educator who has now devoted his life to raising awareness about the long-term neurological and developmental effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol.
Crowe's personal story is fascinating, much of which I did not include in the news article for space reasons.
He went to school in Grand Rapids and was in fifth grade when the nation's first school shooter, David Black, killed a school administrator.
That event haunted his life, eventually becoming a driving force behind Crowe's research into the links between Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and school shooters. He published a book on the topic, "The Fatal Link," and in it, Crowe documents that Black fit the profile of a child exposed to alcohol while in the womb.
He was a school superintendent and principals at several Native American reservations in Minnesota and Idaho.
During that time (which Crowe said were also filled with innumerable positive moments), he was sucker-punched, assaulted, cursed at, spit on and forced to wrestle more than one weapon from students' hands. He witnessed 12-year-olds running street gangs and 12-year-olds giving birth. During those years, one teacher at one school estimated that 70 percent of all children on the reservation were affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol.
But Crowe's crusade has not come without personal cost. In his book, Crowe documents the litany of ways in which prenatal exposure to alcohol affected his own family, including his wife's exposure and his daughter's decision to drink while pregnant. He writes: "It pains me to see what alcohol has done that cannot be undone."
Crowe's personal story is fascinating, much of which I did not include in the news article for space reasons.
He went to school in Grand Rapids and was in fifth grade when the nation's first school shooter, David Black, killed a school administrator.
That event haunted his life, eventually becoming a driving force behind Crowe's research into the links between Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and school shooters. He published a book on the topic, "The Fatal Link," and in it, Crowe documents that Black fit the profile of a child exposed to alcohol while in the womb.
He was a school superintendent and principals at several Native American reservations in Minnesota and Idaho.
During that time (which Crowe said were also filled with innumerable positive moments), he was sucker-punched, assaulted, cursed at, spit on and forced to wrestle more than one weapon from students' hands. He witnessed 12-year-olds running street gangs and 12-year-olds giving birth. During those years, one teacher at one school estimated that 70 percent of all children on the reservation were affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol.
But Crowe's crusade has not come without personal cost. In his book, Crowe documents the litany of ways in which prenatal exposure to alcohol affected his own family, including his wife's exposure and his daughter's decision to drink while pregnant. He writes: "It pains me to see what alcohol has done that cannot be undone."
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Flex learning year: Can't have it both ways
I was irritated when I read this story from the Marshall Independent about public attendance at a district presentation on its proposal to introduce a flexible learning year.
The proposal represents a coalition of about 30 south central and south western Minnesota districts who have collaborated on a proposal to begin school about two weeks earlier in August (with the intent of having more learning days before the high-stakes tests in April).
Such proposals have traditionally been rejected by the state - as Minnesota lawmakers have been very protective of State Fair and resort lobbyists who claim a post-Labor Day school start is essential for revenue. But this proposal represents an unmatched level of collaboration. Participating districts have agreed to implement the flex learning year for at least three years as well as share time and resources for staff development.
The proposal is nothing if not a genuine attempt by school leaders to reform an education system that, if the prevailing opinion can be trusted, is not producing students that are globally competitive.
Strange thing is, opponents attack the flex learning year because it puts kids in school during prime family vacation time.
To me, such have-cake-and-eat-it-too attitudes stand in the way of the one thing we all want: a better, more efficient education for our children.
The proposal represents a coalition of about 30 south central and south western Minnesota districts who have collaborated on a proposal to begin school about two weeks earlier in August (with the intent of having more learning days before the high-stakes tests in April).
Such proposals have traditionally been rejected by the state - as Minnesota lawmakers have been very protective of State Fair and resort lobbyists who claim a post-Labor Day school start is essential for revenue. But this proposal represents an unmatched level of collaboration. Participating districts have agreed to implement the flex learning year for at least three years as well as share time and resources for staff development.
The proposal is nothing if not a genuine attempt by school leaders to reform an education system that, if the prevailing opinion can be trusted, is not producing students that are globally competitive.
Strange thing is, opponents attack the flex learning year because it puts kids in school during prime family vacation time.
To me, such have-cake-and-eat-it-too attitudes stand in the way of the one thing we all want: a better, more efficient education for our children.
Autism and the special diet
A report in the January issue of Pediatrics is gaining widespread attention because it discredits several special diets that have come into vogue as treatments for autistic children.
Among the champions of these gluten-free, casein-free diets is celebrity Jenny McCarthy, whose son is on the autism spectrum.
I've talked to several parents in Mankato who have opted for special diets for their autistic children to help combat the indigestion and stomach pain that are often (and quite curiously) associated with autism. I've talked to teachers and professionals who agree the diets are helpful, if not near-magical. My mother, a special education teacher who specializes in working with autistic teens, believes the diets could represent a breakthrough in autism treatments.
But the panel of doctors who authored the Pediatrics study do not agree; their main assertion being that gastrointestinal problems are not more prevalent in autistic children. Anecdotal evidence, however, from teachers and parents of autistic children implies the opposite - that there is, in fact, an autism-specific stomach ailment often called "leaky gut."
For me, this debate hits close to home. My son has a developmental delay that often mimics the symptoms of autism.
During a specially convened clinic with a panel of area professionals, my wife and I asked about the efficacy of these special diets. It was then we were told by a very well-respected pediatrician in this area that there is no evidence the diets work to begin with.
Who's right?
I'm certainly not sure. But as the medical and educational professions continue to grapple with this mysterious affliction, this debate about special diets is sure to continue.
Among the champions of these gluten-free, casein-free diets is celebrity Jenny McCarthy, whose son is on the autism spectrum.
I've talked to several parents in Mankato who have opted for special diets for their autistic children to help combat the indigestion and stomach pain that are often (and quite curiously) associated with autism. I've talked to teachers and professionals who agree the diets are helpful, if not near-magical. My mother, a special education teacher who specializes in working with autistic teens, believes the diets could represent a breakthrough in autism treatments.
But the panel of doctors who authored the Pediatrics study do not agree; their main assertion being that gastrointestinal problems are not more prevalent in autistic children. Anecdotal evidence, however, from teachers and parents of autistic children implies the opposite - that there is, in fact, an autism-specific stomach ailment often called "leaky gut."
For me, this debate hits close to home. My son has a developmental delay that often mimics the symptoms of autism.
During a specially convened clinic with a panel of area professionals, my wife and I asked about the efficacy of these special diets. It was then we were told by a very well-respected pediatrician in this area that there is no evidence the diets work to begin with.
Who's right?
I'm certainly not sure. But as the medical and educational professions continue to grapple with this mysterious affliction, this debate about special diets is sure to continue.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Next up in education:
For those of you who simply can't get enough education reporting (hello? hello?), I thought I might give a little preview of what awaits after the holiday season:
- Several area superintendents are retiring, including John Rokke in Waseca and Willis Schoeb in Maple River. Both districts have records of strong achievement; but Waseca is facing a $2 million budget adjustment and Maple River closed a school last year. A consultant has already told the Waseca School Board that this year is not a particularly good one to be looking for a superintendent.
- There is a Dec. 31 deadline to apply for contract arbitration between school districts and their teachers unions. Mankato Area Public Schools appear headed in that direction after a recent contract offering was rejected by 97 percent of teachers. For many districts, contract settlements will be a deciding factor in how deep this spring's budget cuts will go.
- Education Minnesota, the state's teacher union, has publicly stated its opposition to the federal Race to the Top Funds. A story in the Star Tribune last week stated that Ed Minnesota has complaints about the application, which places a high priority on merit-pay initiatives. Could be bad news for local districts hoping for a bit of extra cash.
- Several area superintendents are retiring, including John Rokke in Waseca and Willis Schoeb in Maple River. Both districts have records of strong achievement; but Waseca is facing a $2 million budget adjustment and Maple River closed a school last year. A consultant has already told the Waseca School Board that this year is not a particularly good one to be looking for a superintendent.
- There is a Dec. 31 deadline to apply for contract arbitration between school districts and their teachers unions. Mankato Area Public Schools appear headed in that direction after a recent contract offering was rejected by 97 percent of teachers. For many districts, contract settlements will be a deciding factor in how deep this spring's budget cuts will go.
- Education Minnesota, the state's teacher union, has publicly stated its opposition to the federal Race to the Top Funds. A story in the Star Tribune last week stated that Ed Minnesota has complaints about the application, which places a high priority on merit-pay initiatives. Could be bad news for local districts hoping for a bit of extra cash.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Updating a special birthday wish ...
Keely Schuck, the 9-year-old girl who asked for donations to Heifer International instead of gifts on her birthday, has now raised more than $1,900. Her original goal was $500.
Since posting this video on YouTube, Keely has raised enough money to purchase at least three dairy cows for an organization devoted to sustainable solutions to world hunger.
Along the way, she's received donations from complete strangers; was able to meet local hunger activist Tim Strommer with Kids Against Hunger; and has been lauded by people across the community.
But most importantly, she fulfilled her birthday wish of doing "something meaningful in the world."
Well done, Keely.
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