September 1, 1998 - (For Tuesday M.E.) The state's two teachers unions have accomplished what their national organization could not: a merger. The Minnesota Education Association and the Minnesota Federation of Teachers officially become one today. The new organization is called "Education Minnesota." Union leaders say ending their competition over who'll represent which teachers means more time to focus on teaching students. But opponents say the merger is mainly a political move. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... (Sound) In the Education Building at the Minnesota Sta
September 2, 1998 - Better schools and lower taxes are the top two concerns for Minnesota voters. In a new poll conducted by MPR, the Pioneer Press and KARE-11, 25 percent of respondents say Education will be the single most important issue on their minds when they decide how to vote in the governor's race. An almost equal number said Taxes will be the deciding issue. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports:
September 2, 1998 - (For Wed. M.E.) As Most Minnesota school districts return to classes today an entirely new system for teaching and learning goes into effect. New state graduation standards stressing learning-by-doing are now in place. This year's 9th graders will be the first students to earn their diplomas under the high standards, known as "The Profile of Learning." Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... The Minnesota Board of Education gave final approval last spring to the key piece of its statewide graduation rules. The Profile of Learning goes beyond the basic-skills graduation requirements in reading and math and pushes students to higher academic achievement in ten broad learning areas.
September 4, 1998 - Judy Schaubauch and Sandra Peterson, the co-presidents of the new teachers' union, Education Minnesota, visit MPR’s Gary Eichten at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Schaubauch and Peterson discuss education issues in the news and answer questions from the fair audience.
September 9, 1998 - Arguments on the school playground may not seem very significant to most adults, but for the children involved the issues in a dispute can take on the importance of a Supreme Court case. And the conflict may be a symptom of larger problems. Several Minnesota schools are trying "circles" as a way of handling conflict and discipline in the classroom. At Lincoln Center Elementary School in South St. Paul students, teachers and parents use this approach to talk face-to-face about why a student may have started a fight or called someone a name on the playground. Minnesota Public Radio's Gretchen Lehmann reports.
September 9, 1998 - (For Wed. M.E.) The year-round school movement is picking up speed in Saint Paul. Saint Paul and five suburban districts opened a new year-round middle school yesterday. Most of the students came from two existing year-round elementary schools. Another year-round elementary is scheduled to open in Saint Paul next fall. Parents are pushing for the schools because they say they're convinced the alternative calendar means better education for their children. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... Students at Interdistrict Middle School take turns climbing a step ladder to pour cups of various-sized rocks into a long plastic tube. When it's finished, the tube will decorate the school hallways. Teacher Ron Schl
September 14, 1998 - Gubernatorial candidates are thick on the ground and in the air today.... the last day of campaigning before the primary. We caught up with the major party candiates as to hear their last minute messages.
September 29, 1998 - Minnesota continues to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. At any give time there are more than twenty thousand available jobs. State and county welfare reformers are hoping to take advantage of that open job market to help Minnesota's welfare recipients move back into the workforce. And Minnesota Public Radio's Kathryn Herzog reports there's been a shift away from education to on the job training.
October 2, 1998 - A panel of the Minnesota State High School League is warning coaches not to advocate use of the popular dietary-supplement Creatine. Baseball slugger Mark McGwire uses the product and it's showing up more frequently in high school locker rooms. But there are concerns about its long-term effects. The league's medical advisory board yesterday presented its findings on the product and developed position statement discouraging its use.
October 8, 1998 - MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports on Minnesota high court holding session in Duluth.