April 24, 1998 - NOTE: Nerland = NEER land Many people in American seem to be searching for spiritual meaning...even at a time when church attendance is on the decline. As part of our continuing series on religion in everyday life...Minnesota Public Radio has asked individuals to to reflect on what faith means to them... and the role it plays in their lives. Emily Nerland lives in Moorhead where she is an elementary teacher and attends Trinity Lutheran Church. Emily Nerland is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead. Sun 28-MAY 11:34:41 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04
April 27, 1998 - More than a year after floodwaters swept through hundreds of homes in the Red River Valley... some people have yet to begin rebuilding. A combination of construction complications and fear of another flood are stalling repairs. Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher reports... (nat. of raking leaves...) As Gene Schutt rakes up the dead leaves lying scattered in his garden in Ada, he's getting excited about his new lawnmower...
April 27, 1998 - A public school in southwestern Minnesota has won a major legal victory. Vesta Elementary School is a small school that's owned by members of a religious community, but rented to and run by the Wabasso School District. It's a public school open to all, but the vast majority of students are members of a religious group called the "Brethren" by outsiders. The curriculum includes no religious instruction, but the school has made some adaptations to the Brethren's beliefs, such is not using television in the classroom. Several years ago, two taxpayers sued to block the school... contending it amounted to state sponsored advancement of religion. But today, the U-S Supreme Court rejected that argument by deciding not to hear the case. That means an earlier Appeals Court ruling that sided with the district will stand. Chris Thomalla school that runs the Vesta elementary school.
April 28, 1998 - On Thursday, the state of Minnesota will release the results of the 1998 basic skills tests for reading and math. The tests are designed to measure whether eighth graders are meeting the minimum requirements for graduation. But a new study shows that the tests are harder than the public has been led to believe. A study commissioned by an association of 24 metro-area schools also shows that many students who failed the basic skills tests scored above the national average on national tests. Mark Mallander is the Executive Director the Association of Metropolitan School Districts and he joins us now. Sun 28-MAY 11:24:53 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
April 28, 1998 - Faculty at Minnesota's State Universities have authorized a strike against MnSCU - the State Colleges and Universities system... although a strike date has not been set. The Inter Faculty Association, which represents more than three-thousand faculty members, has been negotiating since its contract expired last June. The union's demands include higher pay raises and less reliance on part-time faculty. Ann Weyandt is chief negotiator for MnSCU. Sun 28-MAY 11:24:52 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
April 28, 1998 - Mental health experts say talking is the best way to recover emotionally from a disaster. And that's the advice the people of Comfrey and St. Peter are getting as they rebuild following last month's tornadoes. Talking about loss and suffering is especially important for children. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports. 12-year old Paul Honnerman was not home when the March 29th tornado heavily damaged his family's northern Nobles County farm. He and his 7 year old sister Jill were staying five miles away at their uncle's. Paul was outside flying his kite before the storms moved through. : (and right at the time the tornado was hitting at our place
April 28, 1998 - CHILD PSYCHOLOGISTS TELL US THAT EVEN VERY YOUNG CHILDREN ASK THE KIND OF QUESTONS THAT CAN ONLY BE CALLED SPIRITUAL.... WHO CREATED THE EARTH? WHY AM I HERE? HOW DO I KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT AND WRONG? SOME CHILDREN FIND ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS IN CHURCH.....OTHERS DEVELOP A MORAL SENSE COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM ORGANIZED RELIGION. ALL THIS MONTH, MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO IS EXPLORING THE ROLE RELIGION PLAYS IN EVERYDAY LIFE IN A SERIES OF STORIES, COMMENTARIES, AND SPECIAL PROGRAMMING. MARY STUCKY REPORTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MATTERS SPIRITUAL IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN.
April 28, 1998 - The latest 8th grade test scores will not be released until Thursday, but school districts and state officials are already battling over what the results mean. An organization representing 24 metro-area school districts is accusing state officials of misusing and distorting the test scores to advance a political agenda. But state officials struck back today, defending their testing policies and their motives. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... This was the third year of 8th grade testing in reading and math...but the first every school in the state had to participate. Last year, about one third of all students tested failed, prompting a public outcry...a
April 30, 1998 - This year's eighth graders scored better than those of years past on the Basic Skills Tests in reading and math. The tests are Minnesota's first step toward tough graduation standards. The class of 2000 must pass the tests to get a diploma. A passing grade is 75-percent or better. State officials say the scores show schools are making needed improvements but there is a lot of work yet to do. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... Statewide, 68-percent of the 8th graders tested in February passed the basic skills reading test, up from 59-percent last year. In the math test, 71-percent passed, up just one percent from a year ago. Bob W
April 30, 1998 - We've all been children once, but sometimes it's difficult to remember exactly what it was like to be nine years old. It's an age when kids are trying to understand the confusing language and rules of adults while constantly being thrust into new situations. It's frustrating when things don't make sense, and aren't fair. Author Nicholson Baker, who is often intrigued by things most of us overlook, decided to capture the essence of being nine years old, but he knew he wasn't qualified to do it. So he turned to his real-life daughter Alice. He carefully jotted down her many adventures, real and imagined, as she adjusted to a new school in England. The result is the book "The Everlasting Story of Nory." --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM: 6123 | TIME: 7:18 | OUTCUE: "...new duties in the offing." ------------------------------------------