 | Bits'n Pieces Fall 2007
Evidence and reflections on the educational consequences of our investment choices in time, resources, and finance. The
following are excerpts. Click on the PDF link below to download the
complete document, filled with Bit'n Pieces for use in your school
communications. Education
Eight conditions that
specifically affect the development of student and staff aspirations
(re: Dr. Russell Quaglia at MESPA 52nd Institute): belonging, heroes,
sense of accomplishment, fun and excitement, curiosity and creativity,
spirit of adventure, leadership and responsibility, confidence to take
action. Communities
The following five action
strategies for transforming communities and society have been
identified through the research of the Search Institute (copyright 2004
Search Institute) and may be accessed at www.search-institute.org
- Engage adults from all walks of life to develop sustained,
strength-building relationships with children and adolescents, both
within families and in neighborhoods.
- Mobilize young people to
use their power as asset builders and change agents. This means
listening to their input and including them in decision making.
- Activate sectors of the community—such as schools, congregations,
businesses, and youth, human service, and health-care organizations—to
create an asset-building culture and to contribute fully to young
people's healthy development.
- Invigorate programs to become more asset rich and to be available to and accessed by all children and youth.
- Influence civic decisions by influencing decision makers and opinion
leaders to leverage financial, media, and policy resources in support
of this positive transformation of communities and society.
Minnesota Costs and Consequences
For
the first time in 25 years Minnesota has dropped out of the top ten in
per capita tax rankings. (Star Tribune, June 12, 2007) Minnesota is now 12th in the nation in state and local taxes as well as in spending. (U.S. Census Bureau data) When
Minnesotan’s taxes and spending are measured as a percentage of
personal income, the numbers nosedive to 23rd in taxes and 31st in
state and local government spending. (Minnesota Center for Public
Finance Research). Throughout the last quarter century when
Minnesota ranked higher in public investment, we were actually gaining
on other states in income growth and quality-of-life rankings. (Dane
Smith, president of Growth and Justice, a public policy research
group) According to a number of groups, Minnesota’s tax
decline has already been accompanied by declining graduation rates,
slumping income growth, traffic congestion, increased poverty and fewer
people with health insurance. (StarTribune, June 12, 2007) On a
variety of indicators we are losing ground and “It has gone on long
enough that it is disquieting.” (Tom Stinson, Minnesota state
economist)
Bits_n_pieces_Fall_2007.pdf
|
