Monthly Archives: August 2016

Theo Olson Gets a New Job–and Kid Glove Treatment from the St. Paul Pioneer Press

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Could the Author of the Racially Inflammatory Blog St. Paul Parents Protested Last Spring be Taking Over Your Child’s Classroom? Good Luck Finding Out.

Ever have an argument on the phone where the other person yells something accusatory and hangs up? Or the social-media equivalent, where you get blasted and then in the next keystroke blocked?

To be clear, I’m not talking about a debate that ends with an irrefutable mic drop, but the kind of childish shouting match where you know the other guy’s “la la la la la” is meant to cover the fact that he’s shooting blanks.

This is precisely how I felt when I read the slender St. Paul Pioneer Press story with the headline, “Embattled Como Park teacher takes job outside district.” Turns out Theodore Olson, who you might remember outraged Facebook with racially inflammatory, thinly fictionalized stories about his classroom, has a new job.

You know, the guy who gave his student-characters names like L’Vaughnte and Deshawn and—this will hurt—D’Ray. And who then described them beating each other, “whoring trains” and gangbanging. Who posted pictures of student work online, complaining his kids won’t even try.

Where did he get a job? Doing what? Can’t tell you. What happened with his suspension, which followed complaints by outraged parents? Can’t tell you that, either. The six paragraphs that follow the headline are scant on details. Continue reading →

Opt-Out: White, Wealthy and Willing to Dictate to Other People’s Kids

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#Optoutsowhite = So true.

A study released this week confirms it: The nationwide movement to boycott annual assessments that reveal the yawning racial disparities in schools is led by wealthy whites whose largest concern is teacher evaluations.

I knew it, but I’m still gobsmacked to learn just how wealthy and just how white. Researchers at Teachers College at Columbia University surveyed more than 1,600 opt-out movement adherents in 47 states. Turns out 92 percent are white and their median family income is $125,000–more than twice the national median.

Nearly half—45 percent–are educators. Two thirds are either teachers or opt out because of the influence of a close teacher friend. No surprise, then, their highest ranked concern is the use of student outcomes in evaluating teachers.

So the people with the means to send their children to the most desirable schools, which are staffed with the most experienced teachers, are seeking to shut down the data pipeline. Which revealed the immoral racial disparities in students’ access to quality teachers.

Oh yeah—and a majority describe themselves as progressives. Continue reading →

Booing, Hissing and Running Out the Clock: The Other Nasty Endorsing Convention

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If You Haven’t Genuflected at the Right DFL Altars, Don’t Bother Running for School Board

I don’t know about you, but as we head into the meaty shank of this year’s political cycle I feel forced to give myself little pep talks about representative democracy. Because among the many problems with the ugly populist wave we’re riding is other people. I mean, to be mostly but not entirely facetious, it’s really hard to accept that I have exactly as much power as any of Trump’s Chick-fil-A-eating, Avalanche-driving zealots. Or their counterparts on the left.

Among the dark, late-night minor obsessions this has spawned, I’ve gotten into the habit of checking Minneapolis School Board Director Tracine Asberry’s campaign website. Every time I visit endorsements by more Democratic-Farmer-Labor party types have disappeared. We’re talking about elected officials who, three months ago, approved of Asberry’s performance in office but who now won’t break ranks to say so.

Like the other incumbent seeking re-election this year, Josh Reimnitz, Asberry attended the the party’s city-wide endorsing convention last April and agreed to abide by the DFL’s endorsement, as did newcomer Kimberly Caprini. Which is always problematic, right? If you don’t agree, you won’t be considered. And if you don’t go into the convention having genuflected at the right party altars, well good luck to you Chuckles. Continue reading →