Thank you. Mike six minutes now past 11. And good morning. This is midday on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary. I can glad you could join us. It's part of our continuing campaign coverage here on Minnesota Public Radio. We are presenting a series of interviews on major issues with the candidates for Governor this week course, we've been focusing on education and during this first hour of. Midday. We're going to pull together all those interviews so that you can compare what the candidates are saying about education later this hour we're going to open the phone lines and we would like your reactions to what you hear from the candidates for Governor and their thoughts and education. That's our subject this first our let's begin with the Republican Party endorse candidate st. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman here is Minnesota public radio's Mark Makowski early in 1996. St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman took a political risk and came out in favor of school vouchers. Let's put aside the a Urology lab. I put that splits try to succeed. If we've got an opportunity to do good things for the kids of Saint Paul, then let's seize that opportunity. Let's do the right thing at the time Norm Coleman was still a Democrat and the idea of using public money to send low-income students to private schools was anathema to many of the dfl party faithful in particular the teachers unions who back the dfl Coleman's willingness to line up with Republican Governor Arne Carlson on the vouchers issue was the beginning of the end for his career as a Democrat and later that year he switch to the Republican Party 2 and 1/2 years later Coleman no longer supports vouchers. He says, he now prefers the tax breaks Governor Carlson initiated in 1997, which help parents pay for education related expenses. Coleman says tax incentives are the better way to give families more education choices, but he still willing to propose other education reforms that still make many DF Fellers and the teachers unions see red. I scored merit-pay education still have a few systems in the world in America. We don't worry what excellent reward Excellence but also hold people accountable. Coleman is a pragmatist about education. He like standardized tests. And he thinks the state should find ways to demand better academic results, but he's not wedded to any single approach but there's no one perfect system for every kid. I believe that introducing Notions of of crafts competition Charter Schools a range of options for kids strength is public schools. I want strong quality public education. I am ashamed about that. The question is, how do you get there? And you don't get there by simply promising more money or simply promising to protect what we have some democratic candidates of proposed increasing the amount of money the state gives local school districts right now the state picks up about 60% of school budgets, but Mark Dayton for example says the state should contribute 100% which he says, Lower local school taxes Coleman calls that pie-in-the-sky thinking he says. Funding of schools might lower local taxes temporarily, but he says those taxes will creep right back up again and residents will find themselves paying higher property taxes and higher state taxes. Ultimately. Coleman says the state should not put more money into Local Schools until it can get better guarantees that the money will really help Minnesota's kids learn. At the capitoline Martin Koski, Minnesota Public Radio. If you're just joining us for this first hour of our midday program, we're presenting a series of interviews with the candidates for Governor on the issue of Education later. The shower will be opening the phone lines for your reaction to the candidates. We just heard from the Republican candidate. Let's turn out of the five dfl candidates running for governor. We began with a report on skip Humphreys use an education is Minnesota Public Radio is Laura McCollum starting with the critical toddler years and running through college. He quotes his running mate state. Senator Rodger mult lock. These are the book ends of Education. The book in the center is very important that came through 12th, but it is terribly important that we get it right in the first part and in the latter part as well in the first part Humphrey supports tax credits for learning based daycare and encourages schools to provide all day kindergarten in the latter part. He says the stage should fun two years of Lights for needy Minnesota students. He also Advocates more State funding to reduce class sizes saying a well-trained Workforce is vital to Minnesota's future, but it's a great investment the return on that investment. We have to remember that some will say this is spending well in a sense it's pending but it's also very much an investment. He hasn't said specifically how he'll pay for smaller classes tuition-free college and other education priorities, but will likely announce his budget plan this week. But Humphrey says Minnesota can afford to put more money into education giving the state's Rosie Financial picture and he says the state should pick up more of the education tab than the current 67% property taxpayers pay the remaining 40% used to see that we get to a 70/30 ratio at my own personal goal. I think it would be wise for the state to look towards a longer-term goal of 7525. Now that what is that do that that ensures a more uniform system of education and that's very important. It also give some tax relief because it takes the pressure off of the local burden Humphrey says more estate investment in education and needs to be combined with high standards to hold schools accountable. He generally supports the State's graduation standards, but thinks there should be more local involvement in the profile of learning that portion that require students to master 24 scales in 10 different learning areas. He is strongly opposed to vouchers and says, it's inappropriate to put public dollars into private education Aubrey's other major educational priority is safe schools, and he tells some of his attorney general initiatives Humphrey says students now feel their schools are safer, but they're still a significant number of young people that have real fears and we know that many of them are are very real that there is violence that web. Unfortunately show up mainly knives but we've had some occasions of guns. We know that the cat calls that start and maybe an elementary school become very harsh harassing calls and become the kind of violent negative calls and actions that are totally destructive of of an individual's confidence in themselves and are very hurtful. He says he's talked to hundreds of schools about preventing harassment and hate crimes that says the governor needs to take a more active role in promoting safe schools. He also says education policy should involve listening to parents ideas about improving schools for their children. I'm Laura McCollum, Minnesota Public Radio, Mike Freeman is proud to say, he's the product of public schools and his children attend public schools passionately believe in the role. And the contribution of public education, I think one of the two phenomena is in this country that showing the greatness of this people has been a free public education system, but like is dfl counterparts Freeman police public school education needs Improvement. He supports Statewide testing to help gauge the successes and failures that says the profiles of learning is too bureaucratic and should be adopted only by schools that want it for him and says, he's prepared to increase the state's portion of funding to 70% up from the current 60% when I left the legislature after the 1990 session. It was in the neighborhood of 68 to 70% Unfortunately of the Carlson ministration it fell as far as to 54% which means 46% had to come from local property-tax that's wrong and I want to change that promises a 20% property tax reduction for homeowners and renters through Rent rebate programs and my boosting the state's contribution to K-12 education freemanwood Target an additional two hundred million dollars from the Surplus to schools which have a high enrollment of students on the free and reduced lunch program academic challenges. It doesn't mean they can't learn and they do learning they do well but there are additional challenges for many of those children. We need to provide smaller class size additional teacher's aide tutors minter's additional assistance to those kids. We need and those schools with large percentage of kids on free reduced lunch. That's not just Minneapolis. And st. Paul that's all over the state in the Northwestern part Southwestern Minnesota as well as his class size to be smaller. He's proposing all-day kindergarten for parents who want it for their children and he would guarantee first-year free tuition to a public college or Vocational School to all Minnesota High. School graduates but assistance would be capped at $2,800 as for vouchers for parents wishing to send their children to private school. He opposes it public education. I do not support Arne Carlson voucher light which was tax credits and enhance deductions. But there's no question in my mind. The Carlson's voucher light you basically taking money directly away from public education says he'll be Hands-On but he won't micromanage schools to leave management up to a commissioner of Education. This is Karen Louise Booth Minnesota Public Radio, when it comes to outlining and education agenda dfl gubernatorial candidate Doug Johnson points to his years as an elementary school teacher to show his familiarity with the classroom Johnson is not harshly critical of the current Public School System, but says if elected governor he would seek to redistribute money between rich Core districts and to boost the state's Sheriff public education cost to 75% State support for K through 12 education. And as well as developing formulas that bring more equity in the funding amongst districts in the state. We have some very very large districts that they're providing great education, but there's a bigger burden on the property taxpayers. I as an example on the one that comes to mind is the anoka-hennepin school district, which isn't adequately funded and treated unfairly by the state displayed formula Johnson says St. Paul and Duluth schools are also under funded by the current Formula. Well outer ring Twin Cities suburbs have disproportionate property tax. Well, he would redistribute State money to put District's on more equal footing on school policy issues Johnson is less reform-minded than he is on school funding his main recommendation for increase parent involvement is not likely. To make him any enemies we have to be willing to look at ourselves in the mirror and say, you know, how can we get to higher test scores for students? How can we get our parents more involved in the schools? Because that's really the key and the teachers have to help facilitate getting parents more involved in their child's education and we seen a lot of students that have been going to the private schools and being homeschooled and I'm not the one that criticize is that in any way, but I'm telling public education you have to be willing to change we're going to see more of that occurring and that's the key a higher standards and accountability. He says he supports the extent to which standardized tests are used in the schools and he's cautiously optimistic about the profile of learning a piece of the State's new graduation standards that require students to master 24 skills in 10 different learning areas. Johnson says he review the initiative as chair of the Senate tax committee committee members. Highway 2 hours asking questions about that, because it's new and know everyone's I was afraid of change but I'm hopeful that it's going to work. I think it brings more accountability into the school's Johnson. Also supported Arnie Carlson's tax credit measure which allows parents to write off education expenses. But Johnson says the state's major Financial commitment should be to public education. He doesn't endorse the concept of private school vouchers in which the state actually helps parents pay for private school tuition. The major changes Johnson says he'd introduce for Minnesota schools would be in the realm of Public Safety rather than education. He says the state must do something about drugs and weapons in the schools to go to school to feel safe when parents send their young ones out the door in the morning are they should know that there is a zero tolerance for drugs and weapons in the school and a mic Prime plank for For bringing more Crime Control in the state. That's a high priority item to have zero tolerance of drugs and weapons in the schools. And the fact that I advocate on a random basis are using drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors in our school. So the 99% of the kids go to school to learn and don't want to deal in drugs or deal with weapons that they are safe. But in line with his self-described Common Sense candidacy Johnson says zero tolerance wouldn't mean expelling students for bringing say squirt guns to school only real knives and guns in Duluth. I'm a near Adel Minnesota Public Radio the education issue at later in the shower will be opening up the phone line so that you can react to what the candidates have been talking about. In all there are five dfl candidates for Governor. We've heard from three of them. Let's resume our series now with the report for Martin Koski on former State Senator Ted mondale's views on education Ted Mondale likes to frame issues in economic terms. And this is especially true when it comes to education education reform. He says is about serving the needs of Minnesota's economy specifically making sure businesses have enough skilled workers Mondale believes. Minnesota students are not being prepared for a high-tech Work World the standards we have today are at a sixth grade level. So what we're saying is if you can pass the 6th grade testing, you take all these at home profile. So we put together there for you are ready to go out and have a career and take start a family and you know, I have Economic Security. That's that's wrong that the 6th grade test is not What the schools and what the workplace are saying we need to be Mondale says he likes the new Statewide basic skills test because he thinks they've called attention to schools where students are failing to learn but he says the profiles of learning the new Statewide curriculum standards are too bureaucratic. He says the state should raise standards without dictating how students will achieve them. There's example I get from teachers. They tell me that you're giving me State all this money and this mandate to teach kids in 4th and 5th grade that don't know how to read self-esteem yet. When were telling us in first and second grade that these kids are behind and we need extra resources teaches kids how to read so they can have self-esteem you're not there. And then that's the Crux of the problem that we're having today and every year we pass a 300-page bill and every year we tell the school district something else is important and we're missing what's important right now the states share of school budgets hovers around 60% Mondale believes this They should put more money to schools through a special fund dedicated to raising academic achievement in the spirit of local control school districts would request money for whatever purposes. They believe are most urgent Town St. Louis Park at might mean technology in North Minneapolis. It might mean you no police cars are all day. Kindergarten what I'm saying is we have to flip this around and not have a one-size-fits-all when it comes to the issue of public money for private education Mondale sits on the fence. He opposes vouchers public aid for low-income kids going to private schools, but he supports the State's new tax breaks for parents who spend money on extra curricular education like computers or summer camps something other Democrats believe will siphon State resources away from public schools. Mike Freeman for example says he'd probably try to repeal the education tax credits. Monday would also funnel more State money into higher education public and private. He says the state should pay for the college education of Minnesota high school graduates who go to college in Minnesota. I promise like that could turn out to be very expensive. So mondale's plan comes with restrictions. The scholarships would go only to students with B averages or better and the state's contribution would be capped at the level of tuition at the University of Minnesota students going to more expensive schools would have to make up the difference Mondale scholarships would pay for 4 years of college not just one or two as proposed by his opponents, even though he calls himself a fiscal conservative Mondale says the state should not scrimp when it comes to education the money's there. I think we need to be specific about how much we're going to spend and where we find it from the annual cost of mondale's Education plans could reach 125 million dollars a year by 2001 But Mandel says the budget surplus and more efficiency and state government will make sure that the book Stay balanced at the capitoline Martin. Kosty, Minnesota Public Radio. Mark Dayton shares the same education goal is his for dfl gubernatorial counterparts. He wants the state's public schools to be better. They all also agree. It'll cost more money Dayton says the state is not investing enough in education. And he says the solution is for the state to provide 100% of the funding for K-12 education and eliminate the use of property taxes but to do so, he's also proposing to expand the state sales tax. He's weathered some criticism for it, but even his critics acknowledge his honesty on the tax issue. In real inflation-adjusted dollars the state per-pupil formula has been half the rate of inflation during this decade. We have shifted the burden onto the local property-tax what people see on their property tax statement and increase in funding for their local schools and they think yeah, we are spending more money. We are paying more money, but they don't realize this mostly to try to make up the difference between what they lost and I from the state so it if we're going to put our practices where our beliefs are we need to provide increased the hours for public education proposes expanding the school day far beyond any proposal from his Challengers. He's proposing to keep schools open from 7 in the morning to 7 at night 7 days a week for remedial and enrichment programs. He says the state needs to give working parents the assurance that their kids are safe super vised and productive when school's out before the work day end. Like most of the Democratic candidate State and opposes School vouchers. He calls them a Band-Aid to the Crux of the problem in public education today, but he supports charter schools schools run by teachers and parents free from school district bureaucracy and often with specialized educational missions table and the whole education policy how to be dictated by what's best for for the chip for the children on the other hand is say we're going to just handle everybody is slipping they're going to run around and thereby we're going to solve all the problems of education is just a lie, and it's a really been a huge disservice to the public debate. The issue of Dayton is skeptical I wouldn't support Anything that this department has of Children and Families and learning has done for the last 40 Years cuz I think they've been and this Administration has been terrible in its bashing of public education Public School teachers. And in this case, I think they put the cart before the horse first so that when students are tested they do better but Dayton says change must begin at the top of the administration. He says he wouldn't want to change the 1998 legislators vote to abolish the State Board of Education, but if elected governor, he would appoint a commissioner of Education who has classroom experience. This is Karen Louise Booth, Minnesota Public Radio, all the Republican and dfl candidates for Governor on education and to conclude our series of reports or not to hear from Jesse Ventura the Reform Party candidate for governor once again, He asked me for your reactions to the candidates comments, but first with the Reform Party report yours Laura McCollum, when Jesse Ventura the former mayor of Brooklyn Park announced his running mate last month. He admitted he had little experience with education policy. He said because of that he chose May schunk a teacher with 36 years in the classroom in this Governor campaign, but not anymore not anymore because I think that my lieutenant governor is going to be a Hands-On person questions to shank whose ideas include more parental involvement in schools and making sure all Minnesota children learn to read by the end of first grade, but Ventura does have strong opinions about education in Minnesota is opposed to open enrollment calls School busing a complete disaster and says parents are partly to blame for the problems in public schools. Defaulted what did they do? They cut and ran they started pulling their kids out of school and sending them to private school or what. Does that leave you with when the good people start running off and it's time to bring those people back in. The only way we can do it now is through results and Tara says the way to get results is through smaller class sizes and grades 1 through 3, but unlike many of the other Google tutorial candidate Ventura doesn't think that means putting more money into education because if you look at the Minneapolis school system right now, they spend more per-pupil than any other school system in the state of Minnesota and yet they're test results are the lowest and agrees with one of his dfl. Opponent Mark Dayton who wants to stay to pick up 100% of funding education instead of the current 67% Ventura says property taxes shouldn't be used to fund education and he pledges to disc. By the state's property tax system, if elected Governor Ventura also has harsh words for dfl gubernatorial candidates who Advocate two years of tuition-free college for needy Minnesota students. If I were to go along with that program, here's how I'd switch it. I'd make it the last two years of college that way you get the pikers out. That way you're going to get the people that are going to graduate how many kids go to a year to a College Dropout and never see College again for the rest of their life yet. You've got Mondale Freeman and Humphrey wanting to pay for that first two years of National Lampoon's Animal House. Ventura says, the States song education responsibility is k12 and 1 students turn 18. They're on their own Ventura off and says, he's a proud product of the public school system a graduate of Roosevelt High School in South Minneapolis. He says a return to Neighborhood schools like the ones he attended prior to open enrollment and desegregation busing Anchorage school pride and strong ptas and ultimately improve education in Minnesota. I'm Laura McCollum, Minnesota Public Radio at 11 to discuss the full range of issues in this year's race for governor, and of course, you'll have a chance to call in with your questions. That's tomorrow at 11 here at midday for the rest of this hour though. We would like to sample your thoughts and what the candidates have been saying about education. We've heard now from all seven of the major candidates, and now it's your turn will invite you give us a call to 276 thousand is our Twin City area number to 276 thousand if you're calling from outside the Twin Cities, you can reach us toll-free, and that number is 1 800 to +422-828-227-6000 or 1 800-242-2828. Lots of thoughts from the candidates for Governor on education, and we'd like your reactions how much do they cost of education? For example, should the state be picking up as opposed to the property taxed are those credits and deductions for tutors in computers in the like is that a good idea should the state help pay for a year or two or more of college to the profile of learning program that we've heard so much about that be modified or scrapped how important is funding for preschool education Merit pay for teachers. Is that a good idea? Just some of the things the governor candidates have been talking about what do you think? Give us a call? 227-6000 or 1-800 to +422-828-227-6001 800-242-2828 and we'll get to our first caller in just a moment. John D. Rockefeller senior was the founder of Standard Oil and spent much of his professional life crushing his competitors. He was also one of this country's greatest philanthropists using the fortune. He accumulated to establish schools and medical research institute. Hi, this is Bob Potter learn more about Rockefeller on some money this week from his biographer Ron chernow five on Minnesota Public Radio FM 91.1 in the Twin Cities. Today is programming is made possible in part by The Advocates Minnesota Public Radio contributors include General Mills foundation and the Dayton Hudson foundation on behalf of Dayton's Mervyn's in Target stores for all Arts and Cultural programming reminder over the noon hour today. It's off to the National Press Club should be an interesting program live broadcast from the Press Club today featuring Steven Brill. He's the editor-in-chief of brell's content. And of course made a big big splash with his first edition. When he provided an extensive critique of media coverage of the Lewinsky matter and raised all kinds of media hackles. Well today he goes before the media at the national Press Club to talk about is his reporting Steven Brill coming up over the noon hour today weather forecast partly cloudy, maybe a shower in northeastern Minnesota with eyes low 70s to around 80°. They Twin City forecast partly cloudy today 75 to 84 high temperature right now in the Twin Cities. We have a sunny sky and 73 degrees again where I asking for your thoughts now on what the candidates for Governor have been talking about in terms of the education issue. What have you been hearing that you like dislike? What would you like to hear from the candidates that perhaps you haven't heard yet? Go to our first caller Ron. That would be you. Thank you for calling calling rather than these sixty to seventy percent. We had the past and I think that the Freeman and Humphrey both would like to do that and I've requested funding is the way that have to go it's not fair that property owner should should pay more for educate the stage children. It should be something that all minnesotans Sharon and the best way to do that is the really through the income tax or the state sales tax, which is what state funding where it stays that they get their money. So you like you like that for a certain responsibility and end with a Kohler Courage that some of the others that maybe don't quite have. All right. Thanks Ron move on to another Thoughts on what the candidates for Governor have been saying about education time go ahead and appreciate the person who works a lot of long hours as I'm sure a lot of people do I don't get the opportunity to read the paper thoroughly everyday. I try and touch base with it everyday and I kind of rely on NPR to help me with some of the in-depth reporting. So I appreciate the the series I only caught the Jesse Ventura portion and I was particularly surprised by the selection of the person as lieutenant governor with the background education. I certainly understand his his desire to have that kind of experience and I applaud him for that. I'm keeping a completely open mind. So this isn't a total endorsement of Jesse Ventura at this point. I'm just making some comments on what I heard. I was also particularly surprised by the fact that he is agreeing with one of his competitors have Mark Dayton and then like the previous caller. I think that's a very wise decision. In terms of funding the state funding education 100% grade school particularly. And also I thought Ventura is inside on the last two years of college as opposed to what he called the Animal House approach to the first two years. Some people don't make it through college as much as they desire to get a college a 2-year post-secondary education. They don't make it for variety recent some of it may be funding some of it maybe their approach and their attitude and some of it's just a matter of people mature differently than others. So I thought that was particularly intriguing especially for such a large man who who sometimes isn't taken so seriously. Alright. Thanks, Tom. Again. Jesse Ventura will be here tomorrow at 11. So you'll have an opportunity to discuss the full range of candidates full range of issues before the electorial. Candidates Mike what are they? Have you been making it what the candidates have been talking about terms of education, but down here in Rochester. We've had some some real trials and tribulations with funding. I think that's the way that the state money is distributed to the district says it's pulling an equitable for every dollar tax. We pay in Rochester for Education. We get $0.65 back and I don't think that's quite Fair they need to do to redistribute that a little bit better. We've had some budget crunches down here and I think they have all over the state and we need to do a little bit better job of making little bit more Equitable. And also I think that we need to drop these things like profiles of learning that that's causing so much turmoil in the In and work out the curriculums for the school. So you cure finding district is trying to do all sorts of things like in order to increase the number of credits available. They're trying funny things like block scheduling and they it's really causing a lot of turmoil and within the districts and the profiles are are really an administrative nightmare. They really I think they need to just back off of that scrap it and let the district's decide what they're going to do. All right. Thanks Mike. Bye bye hair color with some thoughts on what the candidates have been saying on education and go ahead and just calling in regard to the issue of the profiles of learning. I'd like the previous caller. I guess. I feel that it would be better left. If not scrapped at least left up to the local districts if you look at education historically Moncler back to Pioneer times there was a concern with teaching children what to be it wasn't so much concern was teaching them what to be as a profession but teaching them what to be people are most of the children in the cage rates hurt one through eight one room School houses in the planes on the plains knew they were going to be Farmers or why the farmers Etc. So education may be at its richest was about what people should be. I think that's what the profile of learning is all about. And we live in two pluralistic of a society to come up with the definition of what children should be anymore. And so for that reason it should be left at the local level. And I think too that is the attraction of private schools because parents feel like they do have more of a voice in what what children are taught to be so with the concerns of political correctness social in Etc I think that at the very least the profile of learning should be left to the Local District. Thank you all from those of you who are listening reactions to the comments of the candidates for Governor on education and what they would do in terms of Education policy if they were elected governor, we've been reporting all week series of reports focusing on each of the candidates earlier this hour, we were kind of package them all together. So you have an opportunity to hear them back-to-back and compare and contrast and now we'd love to hear your reactions to 276 thousand Twin City area number to 276 thousand outside the Twin Cities one 800-242-2828. By the way, we should know that next week. We're going to be focusing here on Minnesota Public Radio next week. We're going to be focusing on the tax issue. I should be pretty interesting Demetrius. You're next. Yes, good morning, Bob. How are you? Just fine. I am not I should correct you and the other callers because poor Bob Potter here is going to take a wrap for for my work. I'm not Bob Amanda and say good morning to everybody in the rest of the folks were saying in the Twin Cities area. I'm calling because of the wheel for a couple reasons. First of all as a director of a new Charter School in Science Academy. I'd like to make a comment about the the wide range of comments and reports. He made an all the candidates as a real as it relates to charter schools for started the ball actually called Minnesota statute 120.064 called results-oriented charter schools, and it's interesting to hear many many of the candidates in this is a national Trend to that both bipartisan and many other candidates of the other parties really uniformly support charter schools. And I think the reason is and the reason why myself and many other people are currently in Minnesota develop. Started many Charter Schools as you remembered Charter Schools were originally developed here in Minnesota. That's because they really address in a positive way. All of the issues that were brought up in almost all of the reports that you mention issues such as accountability Innovation and School Reform the school safety because the nature of most charter schools are smaller in which case kids become typically more responsible for the sense of belonging the kids desperately need in this day and age without especially with a large number of dysfunctional families or family's that are experiencing divorce issues of cost of cost efficiency. That was a big issue raised across all the party platforms and of course parent involvement in the need for parents to have a say to cater the different programs. And so we would like to continue and I'm sure I'm speaking on behalf of many many of the directors of parents and children of the charter school movement are men so that we would like to see all of the candidates regardless of party. Supporting charter schools because they really do work. Thanks for your comments. You're welcome preciate it have a nice Point. Let's move on to another collar with some reactions to what the candidates have been talked about Ed. Hi. I would like to comment on the list of interest statement that the Minneapolis schools spend more money than any of the other schools get the results of poor. So that indicates the him that's throwing money at the education is no good. I think he used to mistaken because he does not consider what he could should call the raw materials in suburbs whether you whether you Scholastic Santa's how much better the wealth of the population is higher a books and TV books and and computers and all kinds of educational aides are available for children at the parents pressure to get the Temptations much greater that live in the safe environment. There's no comparison, I think What the needs of schools? I'm certainly interested in schools need far more maybe the money being thrown a thing in the scooter City Schools is not enough. I would like to comment on the other items. He makes about giving scholarships to students. He is he's against it and to some extent I agree. However is scholarships for what college are very helpful. Did I say that because I'm a product of this sort of development. I grew up in New York City and the during the Depression. No way. Could I have the fortitude to go? Let's say to Columbia University. That was City College and if your grades when you graduate from high school with 80 or 85, you went to college practically free. That's what I did now, of course New York City with large enough and they had the same Chris is in kind of a standard of education. So the students were a value to them the same bases here in Minnesota in the metropolitan area lights safe. Half that state by send it and preferably that should be national standards like the college entrance test and on that basis if anybody gets whatever it is 85 90% those students should get a freaking scholarship. All right. Thanks and let's move on to Paula who joins us this morning. Good morning. What's data school here? So I kicked in the little elementary schools. And what concerns me the most when I hear about comments about education is I so rarely hear about support for Arts education and I think for students who learn kinesthetically or learn through doing art and fired and music are so important to those those children and I worried about not hearing how supportive candidates are to those kinds of students who learn to that way as opposed to that paper pencil math science kind of learning that happens in the classroom. That's my comment. I just wanted to get that out there that is really an important part of a child's education talk about that a little bit. Thank you very much sampling comments from those of you listening right now on. What the candidates for Governor have been saying in terms of education and how they would change the education policies of the state if they're elected governor this fall again to 276 thousand or one 800-242-2828. If you'd like to join our conversation Jason, go ahead. Hello. I just like to comment on first of all, I totally agree with mr. Ventures of use on a the two-year rule for the college payment plan. That would probably get that would probably save a lot of money has to pay for the last two years of college before you pay for the first two years. Would you like to pay for any of it are or just if you're going to do it just do the last two years that I've seen I come I go to school at rctc here in Rochester Minnesota. I'm also the other thing I want to comment on was that I'm a national Guardsmen here in Rochester and I find it amazing that it like other states like Wisconsin. They pay 100% tuition for National Guardsmen. And I really feel like the state of Minnesota doesn't take care of national Guardsmen. Like it should I mean these men and women are willing to step up for their state and Country Real ultimately die if they have to and they're only willing to pay 62% of our tuition. All right, and I just don't feel like that's right. All right. Thanks for coming Jason. Thank you. Appreciate it by Sarah. You would be next to your comments on what you been hearing from the candidates for Governor. I wanted to talk a little bit about that caller who called in about the charter schools 2 minutes ago, and I have sort of a different experience. I thought one year and a charter school in North Minneapolis about two years ago and found it to be very negative experience and for many reasons and one of the biggest reasons who said the management was left to Was granted the charter and there was a lot of financial corruption going on in that school. I left after one year mainly because of that reason but I found that many of the kids are not being served on their special education plans and that money was, you know supposed to be there but it wasn't we had Senator wellstone came and several other politicians came to visit the school politicians are really talking up these Charter Schools, but I think they actually know very little of what's going on in the school, which is a big concern to me because I think it a lot of these kids are being cheated out of What you know the public right to an education because it is still a public school. The other thing I want to come in on to as a teacher. I really would like to see the Cannabis talk more about demanding more parental involvement. I feel like our current governor has really really bass teacher's to no end and I feel like he knows very little would actually goes on in our schools on a daily basis and I hate I have Thirty fifth graders in my room every year and it's if he could see what we do on a daily basis in our classrooms how hard we work and how dedicated we are and I'll pass that we are I think you'd see that it's not really the teachers that are the salt. No problem. There always are teachers that aren't you know, pulling their weight, but I think that you know, Mike the students that do the best are the students that have parents that are at least willing to show that they want to help even if maybe you know, they haven't graduated from high school themselves, at least they're showing up. They make an effort to be at school to be a conference has those kids do better? It's it's really true and and I would like to see the new governor really more passion into what's actually going on in our in our classrooms. Thanks for coming we have time for at least one or two more folks here, Amy. I haven't heard any candidates addressing the fact that there's a system out there which I'm sure most people are familiar with which kids at times ineffectual teachers and their positions. I mean, there's almost nothing you can do to get rid of a bad teacher and I came out of the public school system myself and I think most of them are very good and I have good things to say about my experience in the public schools. But at the same time I had several teachers who did go ahead and pick up a pizza that's not inspiring it all to waste of taxpayers money to waste of kids time and I also like to add a second point that I do agree with a proposal to have the state fund a hundred percent of Education because we need a Level Playing Field that where Kids in poor communities are subject to less because of you know, the economic conditions in their Community. That's all I have to say. We have time for your thoughts as well. Go ahead as well Norm talks a lot about accountability, but he's talking generally about 15 that accountability away from generally adequate public school system, which serves all of its students be talking about charter schools, which knit basket of a few hundred students and vouchers would shift the responsibility to private school to make up for the fact that our public school system isn't adequate. So I think that he's really evaded the fact that the public school system needs to be supported whether it's an funding or in whatever the curriculum guidelines are and etcetera. Circumvented the fact that the general system itself needs to be adequate by shifting that accountability to parents into charter schools in vouchers and all these other ideas. That's just my general, Thank you and Roy, can you make it real brief sentence private schools? Why won't the public schools good enough for their children and Michael. I guess we can maybe squeeze you in as well as quick comment. Yes. Hello. I'm calling because the first while there was a great with the wisdom and with Jesse Ventura was saying about paying for the second half of college Years. Also what I'm looking for. The voter is an appeal for common sense and I completely agree as a teacher that teaches need to be held accountable for their for the adequacy of their incompetence of their profession, but also, I believe that That parents need to be held accountable for what they're doing as well doing homework coming conferences things like that. Thanks so much for calling it. All right, when we are out of time. Unfortunately thanks to all of you who to call in the shower. I'm glad you could get you or your reactions to the candidates on the are we going to say next week will be focusing on the tax issue and we'll be doing much the same thing here on Minnesota Public Radio reports through the week and follow up here on Monday. And I also reminder in terms of our coverage of the candidates again tomorrow at 11 Reform Party Go tutorial. Cannot Jesse Ventura will be in our studios here for Full discussion of all the issues and of course you have an opportunity to call and that's tomorrow at 11. I'm Ray Suarez America's interest in international markets is taking off this year with Asia and Russia and diary conomic straight lawmakers have had to decide how much of our national interest is tied up in the economic well-being of other countries treasury secretary Robert Rubin joins us to talk about the interrelationship of the global economy on the next Talk of the Nation from NPR news. Mr. Suarez will be along at 1 this afternoon for Talk of the Nation over the noon hour today or going off to the Press Club Steven Brill media critic Steven Brill at the Press Club. Now for The Writer's Almanac.