Jesse Lykken
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Comments
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On the article Superintendent Announces Priorities to 'Reshape' Minneapolis Schools
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On the article Dibble's Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passes
Jesse Lykken
8:59 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013
ReplyNicely done, Sen. Dibble, and all of those good Americans who voted in the affirmative for this bill. Did but one Republican Senator vote on the right side of history? Shameful. If the Republicans continue to exclude everybody who isn't a straight, caucasian, Christian gun-nut, their party will soon dwindle away to Bachmann, and .... well, Bachmann.
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On the article U.S. News & World Report Ranks Southwest High School No. 11 in Minnesota
Jesse Lykken
4:32 pm on Monday, April 29, 2013
Can this possibly be true? A public high school that only accepted students based on academic merit? With no name here on the post (suspicious) I'm thinking this is all hogwash. I've had 5 kids go through Mpls. public high schools (two still in), three at South and two at Southwest. The only qualifications were geography and siblings, unless there were indeed some secret, shadow rules. Actually, that wouldn't entirely amaze me.
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On the article How Well Do Schools Handle Conversations About Race?
Jesse Lykken
4:17 pm on Monday, April 29, 2013
Where, oh where to start ... Ok, students staging a non-violent protest isn't exactly "misbehaving". Of course there is discrimination and prejudice in schools, as humans are not perfect and even the best intentioned of us all too often favor other folks who happen to look like we do. What did bother me about the article was the mention of "community activists". It has been my experience that these folks too often stir a pot that needs no further stirring, anything to get themselves on the news. Racism is all about fear, and our society is still sadly quite fearful (exhibit folks who post but are too afraid to leave their name), and until we all master our fears, the people we fear will sense it, and will react accordingly. Those reactions are rarely positive. Conversations about (so-called) race are usually awkward, but there is nothing wrong with that. The danger is having a closed mind, and being so very sure that problems which have plagued humanity for tens of thousands of years somehow got solved in the last five.
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On the article UPDATED: SW Journal Reports Principal Carol Markham-Cousins Out at Washburn HS
Jesse Lykken
12:12 am on Saturday, April 20, 2013
Reply@PaulRevere: Firstly, thanks so much for your valuable help in our nation's initial revolution! We couldn't have done it without you. Ok, whomever you actually are, I will take your advice and thank myself as a "non-public school parent" (thanks Jess!), or at least I was. Tuition got too expensive so we now take advantage of the public schools that both white parents (me) and black parents (my wife) pay for with our taxes. Now, although my public school education (Washburn) wasn't half bad, I still wasn't able to divine what the point of your rant was (other than that I am a racist). You seem to be mostly angry at "freeloaders" who "actually believe that Public (sic) schools are owned by them, while everyone else Pays (sic) for it". Mr. Revere, when you close your eyes and picture these freeloaders, what do they look like in your own mind's eye? Just curious. Say, about your suggestion that I "grow up" ... I would be afraid that I would take things (and myself) too seriously if I did so. Praise be that we have responsible patriots such as yourself around to keep an eye on things. Oh, I think your CAPS KEY GOT STUCK.
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On the article Minneapolis Police Crack Down on 'Scavenging'
Jesse Lykken
11:55 pm on Friday, April 19, 2013
For years there was a rather shabby fellow in his 50s who, with his 8 year old grandson in tow, "scavenged" our recycling each week, hauling away the cans. They had a great time getting up early, working hard, making some money, and spending quality time together. I am kind of sad that they no longer work my neighborhood, as grandfather and grandson will miss the opportunity to be arrested together for the dastardly crime of ... well, it must be pretty bad if the police are going to make it a focus of their limited resources and efforts. Then again ...
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On the article What Right Do Students Have to Protest at School?
Jesse Lykken
9:06 pm on Monday, April 15, 2013
Odd. If our public school system is so corrupt, inefficient, and inept, how can they possibly succeed in their supposed mission to turn our children into "liberal drones"? Is brain-washing then the ONE thing our schools are good at? I think not. I am no fan of the superintendent, nor of her plethora of administrators without portfolio. However, I think their civil disobedience policy seems both enlightened and fair. I think the claim that "most really successful people in our country didn't do well in school" is peculiar, unless "successful" is defined as "largest bank account". If successful means, on the other hand, charitable, intellectually curious, happy, kind, good citizens, excellent parents, then IMHO most of these folks probably did quite well with their studies. The reflexive fear of anything or anyone labeled as "liberal" is almost laughable. Almost.
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On the article UPDATED: SW Journal Reports Principal Carol Markham-Cousins Out at Washburn HS
Jesse Lykken
2:11 pm on Sunday, April 14, 2013
ReplySo, why was Markham-Cousins actually dumped? In most cases, it's best to "follow the money". The enrollment at Washburn seems to have changed quite a bit as the parents of white kids began to see public schools as an alternative in an economy where private school tuition became prohibitive. These kids were fed into Washburn. Test scores went up dramatically (a fact which makes some a bit vulgar in their glee) and the MPS Administration took full marks for this improvement. Could it now be that the focus of Washburn is no longer to help the marginal achiever, but rather to hold on to these parents and retain them in the public school realm? To not let them "escape" back to SPA, Breck, or Blake? Monied parents want what is best for their kids, as we all do for our own. A focus on more difficult courses and enrichment for the high achievers may well be Washburn's new direction, which tends to make Markham-Cousins old news. It will be more than interesting to see which qualities are trumpeted for Washburn's new leader. We shall all be listening, and watching.
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On the article Hodges Picks Up 4 Endorsements for Mayoral Campaign
Jesse Lykken
8:51 pm on Tuesday, April 2, 2013
ReplyI'm thinking this time around that experience will be at least as important as progressive ideology, which makes Mark Andrew an attractive candidate.
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On the article Hodges Picks Up 4 Endorsements for Mayoral Campaign
Jesse Lykken
8:49 pm on Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Great ... another conservative with an opinion but no last name...!!!
Jesse Lykken
1:00 am on Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Courage? We can only go by what we've seen thus far. Hey, let's close North High! Wait, too many scary people are yelling at me, so we'll keep it open (sort of). Hey, this district is top heavy with administrators, many of them without portfolio. Let's put the taxpayer money where it will do the most good, helping kids directly. Wait, without multiple layers of administrators to surround me, actual parents might be able to get in touch with me personally. We need MORE administrators, and a fine, pricey new castle to house them in! That will help the kids! (well, not so much, but I just hate it when parents actually find me to complain!). Courage? I'm not holding my breath.