Posted: 07/25/10 08:57
by Dave Mindeman
I can understand that Margaret Anderson Kelliher would be sharpening the discussion as we approach the primary, but I am not sure that for her, education funding is the right topic.
She criticizes Matt Entenza regarding his plan to end No Child Left Behind....and although we are all concerned about losing the Federal dollars involved, there is no question that because of the way it has been implemented, it is costing schools to keep it going.
And with regards to Dayton, the funding without fixing it argument is also a concern. The formula has been debated for some time and does need reform.
But Kelliher's criticism, although valid, come from a person who has had opportunities to deal with both problems but has done virtually nothing about them.
For most of her tenure as Speaker, she has criticized Gov. Pawlenty's approach to Minnesota education, and rightly so, but in the end, has ratified all the shifts and sleight of hand that has highlighted his methods.
She hasn't done anything to fix the formula (although she has been the one in the best position to offer changes) and certainly can't do anything about reforming NCLB because it is a Federal program.
I'm not criticizing what MAK is saying here -- it needs to be said. But the critique is disingenuous unless you can offer a fix or a better approach.
When it comes to education, MAK says the right things, but the real proof is in the doing.....and I question her record on that.
