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At least every year I seem to read about the latest standardized test results for public school students in Minnesota (“COVID Drugs Seen in Low Test Scores,” Aug. 26). Our great state is often said to be near the top of the U.S. education system, but is rarely reported compared to other countries (in the real world). There’s been a lot of focus lately on the racial “gap”, with big intentions to reduce it. What about serious analysis and practical new initiatives to close the gap between all Minnesotans and the world?

Grant McLennan, Vadnais Heights

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Devinder Meyer writes that he opposes Becker’s proposed changes to public school policy, which prohibits “political indoctrination and the teaching of inherently divisive concepts” (“Battle of School Censorship”). Freedom of Speech in the World,” Opinion Exchange, 22 August).

I agree that prohibiting the teaching of concepts that are inherently divisive is too vague. That part of the policy could be used to prohibit the teaching of valid topics. But it is reasonable to ban political indoctrination or the teaching of a particular political ideology. No parent wants their children to know that one political belief is true and another is not. You may love it when your children are indoctrinated with your political beliefs, but you don’t like it when they are indoctrinated into political beliefs you don’t agree with.

Meyer also opposes banning the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in schools. He implies that history cannot be taught accurately without teaching CRT. The subject of CRT is not facts about the history of slavery, Jim Crow, or racism. CRT is his one interpretation of racism. According to Wikipedia, “CRT scholars believe that the social and legal construction of race promotes the interests of white people at the expense of people of color, and that the liberal notion of “neutrality” in U.S. law does not discriminate against racism. claims to play an important role in maintaining Formally an unfair social order whose colorblind laws continue to have racist consequences”. CRT is a controversial political ideology. It should not be taught as an accepted fact in the K-12 history curriculum.

James Blunt, New Brighton

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The constant battles between teachers and parents who have separate needs and desires for their children in the coming year are easily fixed. Some people think that, so I propose the following.

Those who want a normal smart teaching experience with trained teachers can go for one room.

Parents who want their children to learn in a different environment can go to different classrooms. An important factor is the teaching of parents desiring special conditions. This way they can see how exciting and easy it is for an experienced teacher to teach her 20 to her 30 children and give them the education they need. increase!

Remember, parents must be present every day and do all relevant work, including classroom instruction, grading, and discipline as needed. .

Good luck and have a great school year!

Paul J. Burton, Eden Prairie

student loan

Last July, House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi said President Joe Biden could not legally allow federal student loans unilaterally. This must be done through Congress.

Charlie Rose, the top attorney for former President Barack Obama’s Department of Education, said such plans would likely be overturned by the courts and the federal government would likely be sued by student loan companies.

Those with these loans should be prepared for this “forgiveness” to be short-lived. The Supreme Court is unlikely to allow the president to unilaterally forgive his $330 billion to his $500 billion debt.

A better course of action would have been to work with Congress to pass legislation to address the unmanageable costs of a college education. By rewarding college, you’re actually making things worse.

Jim Piga, Mendota Heights

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Anyone who thinks that forgiving $10,000 in student loan debt will wipe out all student debt simply doesn’t understand the cost of college. That’s about half what most colleges cost her for a year. It’s helpful and you don’t have to sneeze, but it’s not a free ride for everyone.

Julie Quinn, Le Center, Minnesota.

tax

Ironically, at a time when Republicans are bashing the IRS for political gain, they’ve been accused of deducting more than $150,000 in job taxes from their wages for Hennepin County Chief Public Attorney Cassius Benson. Furious at the prospect of an investigation and prosecution? The Internal Revenue Service? (“Feds probe Chief public defender,” Aug. 26.) Or is this precisely why the IRS needs to hire more auditors and strengthen enforcement? A source of hundreds of thousands of dollars. As a longtime owner of a law firm that paid collected taxes (and survived a courteous state audit), I support audits and auditors to ensure that business income self-reporting is accurate and that business owners ensure that they pay their taxes. withholding tax. What happens to employees who file income tax returns but do not pay them? Are they liable?

Which one? Is the IRS a key function of government? Should Republicans get a pass against crude pandering? And will Democrats endorse Biden and promote the investigation in favor of more enforcement? ? Irony.

Tom Olson, St. Louis Park

state fair

I enjoyed a suitably upbeat front-page article on the first day of the Minnesota State Fair (“Feel like the old days for fair-goers,” Aug. 26). I myself had a wonderful day there.

However, there were conflicting notes. I was having lunch with a good friend at the Underwood Street store when I spotted a booth across the street. In front of it was a huge signboard called “DUMP WALZ”. Beneath that was an ugly caricature of the governor holding a bag of money (presumably depicting Governor Tim Waltz running away with our hard-earned dollars) . And below that was a row of signs denoting the governor’s “failure.”

Shortly after, I noticed a small plane trailing a banner overhead declaring “WALZ FAILED!” We and our fellow fairgrounders were able to ‘enjoy’ this spectacle for the rest of the day.

As I commented to my friends and some others I ran into, I don’t remember seeing or hearing such nasty, overtly negative political discourse at the State Fair. . decades).

Even if I agree with the sentiment expressed (sorry I don’t agree — I think Waltz and Lt. Peggy Flanagan did a commendable job in an unprecedented trying time), such a vulgar and spiteful message is I feel unforgiven in “The Great Minnesota Get-Together.”

Frankly, even if I tended to agree with the governor’s opposition message, it would raise big questions.

Bob Patton, Plymouth

history

Owning slaves is stigmatized and difficult to understand today. , there has been a flurry of moves to rename or deny the schools, lakes and public buildings named after these infamous figures. It makes people feel better and seems to reduce discomfort for some of us today.

But think about this. Our ancestors were probably people who chose the names of individuals who were admired for their political or financial achievements and bestowed upon them those names or endorsed them. , generally respected for their great intelligence, wisdom and hard work, which contributed to this situation in the first place. Maybe.

We all need to strive to be better than not only the now despised celebrities, but our own ancestors. Or if our greatest human rights achievement was to rename a building, our descendants will one day Do you question us?

Wayne Dalsten, Bloomington