February 4, 1997 - Democrats in the state House of Representatives are still reeling from the Senate's surprise passage yesterday of mandatory standardized testing for all public schools. House DFLers wanted to take their time with the testing issue, but now they're feeling pressure to meet the Senate's challenge. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports from the Capitol: It's not just the timing of the Senate's action that's caught House DFLers off guard. They're also suprised by how close the Senate's plan is to what Governor ARne Carlson wants. The Senate legislation, introduced by DFL leader Roger Moe, would impose state-wide achievement tests for 3rd, 5th, 8th and 11th graders. The Governor likes the Senate legislation so much, he's offered to sign it immediately -- if and when the House goes
February 4, 1997 - A Minnesota House higher education panel took its meeting on the road last night to the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus. Legislators were greeted by students, educators and community members pleading for more support. Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher reports.
February 5, 1997 - Many Minnesota educators are embracing President Clinton's call to make college-level education available for everyone. In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, Clinton said at least two years of college should become as universal as a high school education is now. Local educators say it's an achievable goal.... as long as the funding is there. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... President Clinton says his number one priority for the next four years is to ensure all Americans have the best education in the world. His goals include enabling every 18-year-old to go to college, and every adult
February 6, 1997 - The films of Kenji Mizoguchi are known for their long takes, compassionate view of women, and uncompromising social realism. But the problem is that his films are not that well known. Mizoguchi, considered one of the most important directors of all time, was born at the turn of the century in Tokyo. He died in 1956, having made as many as 86 movies. On Friday, the Walker Art Center and the U-Film Society begin showing a selection of Mizoguchi. We asked Marlena Gonzales Tamrong, an associate film curator at the Walker, and Kinji Akagawa, a Japanese-born artist and teacher, into the studio to help us understand Mizoguchi's films and their impact. Marlena Gonzales Tamrong is an associate film curator at
February 11, 1997 - The Duluth public school district will become the first in the state to hire a for-profit company to operate a "charter school." The State Board of Education has voted to approve The Edison Project Charter School proposal. The charter school deal comes as Governor Arne Carlson is proposing new legislation that could open the door to an unlimited number of charter schools in Minneosta. Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher reports. It has been more than 20 years since Mary Miller attended Birchwood elementary, the same school her daughter now attends...Miller says it's apparent Birchwood h
February 11, 1997 - A quickly growing company nestled in the tiny northwestern Minnesota town of Carlstad is quickly getting an international reputation for it unique product. The company's called "Mattracks." They make something that can transform a standard four wheel drive pick up truck into an all terrain machine capable of driving through almost anything. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
February 12, 1997 - Statewide standardized testing would be required for Minnesota primary and secondary schools under an agreement reached at the capitol this week. The Senate added a testing provision to the bill restoring 337-million dollars in planned cuts to schools. The bill now goes to a conference committee. Legislators and state education officials must now agree on what kind of tests should be used to measure academic achievement. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM: 7006 | TIME: 5:21 | OUTCUE: sound out --------------------------------------------------------- Minnesota's top education official says statewide standardized testing is the key to improving education for all students in the state. Robert Wedl, commissioner of the Department of Children, Families and Learning says
February 13, 1997 - One day after a faculty unionization vote at the University of Minnesota professors are still taking stock of the results. The unionzation failed by a very small margin -- 692 votes to 666 -- but as Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports, pro-union professors aren't necessarily unhappy about the outcome.
February 13, 1997 - With this week's legislative agreement to hammer out a plan for statewide testing of students, many Minnesotans are asking what will be done with the test results. One suggestion a conference committee will consider is proposed by a central Minnesota lawmaker. D-F-L'er Joe Opatz wants the tests to be used to gauge whether students' scores improve at each school, reward schools that show improvement, and provide help and possibly punish those that don't. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM: 7258 | TIME: 3:56 | OUTCUE: s.o.c. --------------------------------------------------------- S
February 19, 1997 - Another winter sports season is wrapping up for Minnesota high school teams. State tournaments in gymnastics, wrestling, hockey and basketball are just weeks away. But far from the noise and sweat of gymnasiums and ice arenas, other high school teams are also preparing for tournament competition. The Minnesota State High School Quiz Bowl tournament is scheduled March 6th and 13th in Burnsville. Quiz Bowl teams stress brains over brawn and pit some of the area's brightest students against one another in competition as fierce as any athletic event. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.