March 24, 1997 - Several recent racially-motivated attacks against Somali immigrants in Rochester have shaken the city's image as one of the best places to live in America. Citizens have responded by signing pledges of non-violence and businesses have donated thousands of dollars to a fund to help police catch the attackers. Much of the racial tension in Rochester shows up in the community's young people. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe prepared this report on why racism is surfacing among teenagers and what the schools are doing about it.
March 24, 1997 - **SCHOEDULED WEEKEND 3/15-16 and ATC 3/17-18** School reform continues to receive a lot of attention... and CHARTER schools have become part of the school reform equation. These unique public schools are free of many of the state regulations and mandates allowing teachers and students to experiment. Commentator Ann Daly Goodwin says charter schools are one of the better routes to school reform. Commentator Ann Daly Goodwin taught in the public schools for 16 years. She now lives, and writes in northern Wisconsin. Sun 28-MAY 20:27:35 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
March 24, 1997 - DFL-ers in the Minnesota legislature have released their spending priorities for the biennium. It's the blueprint members of the DFL caucus will work from as they try to move ahead this session with decisions on how to fund legislation. But As Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports...the difference between THEIR plan and what the GOVERNOR wants to spend is about 350-million dollars...and it sets the scene for what could be a showdown in the remaining weeks of the session: The DEMOCRATS want to spend MORE. More on just about everything than what the Governor outlined in HIS 20-point-three billion dollar budget for the biennium. Two MAJOR differences are, the Democrats want to
March 24, 1997 - The Minnesota Gopher mens basketball team makes its first ever appearance in the NCAA Final Four Saturday. Minnesota plays Kentucky in the semi-final game. The Gophers' electrifying play through the initial rounds of the tournament has been matched only by the enthusiasm of fans who have followed them hundreds of miles to watch them. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham has a report.
March 25, 1997 - With the Minnesota Gophers Basketball team appearance in 1997 NCAA Tournament’s Final Four, Midday discusses intercollegiate athletics and Gopher teams with guest Mark Dienhart, University of Minnesota Men's Athletic Director. Program also includes listeners call-in questions.
March 28, 1997 - Three Native American police officers from Minneapolis are visiting the White Earth Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota this week to teach residents about street gangs. The officers say Native American gang members move back and forth between the Cities and reservations, so parents and teachers need to know a gang symbol when they see one. Catherine Winter of Mainstreet Radio reports.
April 1, 1997 - Peter Hutchinson from the Minneapolis School District says a systematic community effort is needed to help students be successful. Hutchinson outlined his challenge for increased community involvement in public education in his annual "State of the Schools" speech this morning. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
April 1, 1997 - Ten thousand delegates are arriving in Minneapolis for National Catholic Education Conference. The event runs tomorrow through Friday at the Minneapolis Convention Center. In Minnesota after twenty five years of declining enrollments, Catholic schools in the state are enjoying modest growth. School officials are scrambling to find enough classroom space and a handful of new schools are under construction. Parental demand is apparently driving the renewed interest in Catholic schools as they search for a spiritual component to their children's education. Rachel Reabe of our Mainstreet Radio team has the story.
April 2, 1997 - SHRINKING BUDGETS IN RECENT YEARS MEAN THERE ARE FEWER ART PROGRAMS IN MANY SCHOOLS..PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS. A FARGO ART GALLERY IS TRYING TO HELP FILL THE VOID WITH ITS SUITCASE ART PROJECT. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIOS DAN GUNDERSON REPORTS. (SFX) SECOND GRADE STUDENTS IN A SMALL RURAL NORTH DAKOTA SCHOOL LISTEN EAGERLY AS CINDY HALE LIFTS PIECES OF NATIVE AMERICAN ART FROM A SLIGHTLY BATTERED SUITCASE. AS THE CHILDREN PASS THEM AROUND HALE TALKS ABOUT THE NORTH DA
April 4, 1997 - The chairman of the Senate K-12 education budget committee today dropped a small political bomb today (Friday) when he proposed a version of Governor Carlson's school vouchers plan. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: DFL State Senator Larry Pogemiller says his plan isn't a vouchers plan -- it's a "CERTIFICATES" plan. But both plans seem to share the same basic philosophy: the idea that free-market-style competition would be good for Minnesota's schools: