August 21, 1997 - The latest wave of immigrants arriving in Minnesota includes the parents or grandparents of earlier immigrants. A large number are from the former Soviet Union, and they have decided to live in the suburbs near their families. They want to learn English but the people who teach ESL or English as a Second Language courses are having a hard time keeping up with the demand. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more.
August 21, 1997 - A new report from the federal Education Department finds high school enrollment this fall will reach an all-time high and continue to break records for the next ten years. The reason: children from the baby boom generation of the Forties and Fifties. Education Secretary Richard Riley calls it a severe crisis that will have many implications, including the need for new school buildings. Dan Bryan is in charge of school facilities for the state department of children, families and learning. He says overall Minnesota doesn't expect the kind of growth seen nationally. But, there are other considerations.
August 21, 1997 - A federal appeals court says a southwestern Minnesota school can operate a school that models its curriculum on the beliefs of a religious group. As Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Collins reports, the court ruled in the case of the Wabasso school district which operated a school primarily for students of the "Brethren" religious sect and modified the curriculum based on their religious beliefs.
August 22, 1997 - St. Paul Public Schools will have at least 227 new teachers in classrooms for the start of the school year, and the district is still filling vancancies. Some of the new teachers are recent college graduates, but the majority come to St, Paul with experience in other districts. District officials held an orientation this week for 200 teachers to better prepare them for challenges of urban classrooms. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
August 29, 1997 - Longtime University of Minnesota band director and music professor Frank Bencriscutto died yesterday of lung cancer. He was 68. HJohn Zdechlik worked as Bencriscutto's assistant ('64 to '70) and considered him a good friend and mentor. He says Bencriscutto changed the face of band music.
August 29, 1997 - School district officials in Grand Forks say the return of their students is an important step in the community's recovery from spring flooding. Grand Forks students returned to classes this week for the first time since April. The school year begins Tuesday across the river in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. This won't be a normal year for either school system. The flood damaged several schools beyond repair, work crews are still repairing other buildings and many students will spend the year in temporary structures. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... (Sound of kids) First and second grade students at Belmont Elementary sit o
September 1, 1997 - Say the word "archeology" and some people think of Indiana Jones racing through a jungle while clutching a priceless artifact. Amateur archeologists in southwest Wisconsin are finding that image isn't usually accurate. Students and teachers working along-side professional archeologists at a University of Wisconsin--La Crosse field school learned archeology is a bit more low-key, often more about braving mosquitoes and mud. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
September 1, 1997 - Classes start tomorrow at Edison High School in Minneapolis. A summer flood did millions of dollars in damage to the northeast Minneapolis facility. But school officials say an around-the-clock repair effort and an outpouring of help from volunteers will allow the district to open the doors on schedule. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more. Volunteer Gloria Sat, an Edison graduate from the l980's, didn't wait to be told where to go or what to do. Finding no one at the volunteer desk, she walked until she found someone who needed help organizing a classroom. Sat says many neighborhood residents are Edison grads and have a good feeling about the school. tape . . . i live northeast, it's our school we're hear to help out.
September 2, 1997 - On the first day of school, Midday features a a back-to-school show with guest Joe Nathan, director of the Center for School Change at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute. Topics includes charter schools and test scores.
September 2, 1997 - Midday offers a special back-to-school "Talk of Minnesota" program to hear from parents of school children and others on what they would like kids to learn this year. Listeners call in with comments and questions.