Greetings and salutations, readers. Why you bothered to start reading is a mystery to me, but I am glad you are here regardless. Please make yourself at home.
Blogging is hard, hard work, and while I was quite flared up at the beginning, my initial energy has been spent setting up and organizing this blog. I am drained. Therefore, I'm going to shimmy my first real post to tomorrow.
I will, however, clue you in on a little introduction to this blog. While I spent quite a nice deal of time making my lovely About Me page, you can skip all that heavy-duty reading and just stick with me here.
My name is Autumn. As I write this, I am an 18 year old college freshman at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, fresh out of District 191. Since I was little, it has been my dream to one day become a teacher in ISD191, educating children in the same school district that had taught me; so it makes sense that I would be a loyal follower of the education politics going on in my beloved home, and that I might discover an interest in education politics. That's why for my new years resolution, I decided to watch all of the school board meetings for this year and then challenge myself to think critically about what is happening--and what better platform to do this than a blog? And so begins our fabulous journey together.
What to expect:typos, sass and typos
usually, each post will be a review of the most recent school board meeting, with a link to the live video and my own analysis and reflection. This is my own way of engaging in the politics of 191, and serves as sort of a learning exercise for myself. However, I'll be mainly talking of my own opinions in regards to how I think all the policies effect students, and I'd be extremely happy if people interact with me or start up debate!
(And if I happen to step out of line and you really think I have no idea what I'm talking about, feel free to knock me down a peg; after all, I'm just a no-good kid. There's still a lot for me to learn; please help teach me!)
However, there shall also be extra posts I write that do not immediately connect to school board meetings. For example, there is the recent Vision One91 referendum being voted on this February, and hoo boy do I have a lot to say about it. I also have quite a few other opinions regarding education, often including special education (being a SpecEd major will do that), diversity, or the inclusion of technology. I'm sure I'll get to talking about a variety of topics, many probably comprising of rants. My apologies in advance.
I hope my voice means something! In any discussion there has to be numerous voices, but sometimes I feel like the strongest voices in education politics comprise of only a few types of people. With time comes an invisible barrier that prevents one from fully understanding aspects of life that once seemed familiar...and so goes some views regarding education. Even with student representatives and encouragement for youth representation, very few students have the attention span or interest in joining the conversation. I would like, if I could, to be that representative, if only in the blogosphere.
So, if you are a student here to read up on the politics; feel free to correct me where I might be wrong in regards to your true concerns. If I'm speaking for you, I might as well do it right.
If you are a parent or concerned adult wondering what this little hooligan is saying about our district's politics, feel free to engage me in debate and teach me why those fine school board members know better.
And if you are some strange person floating about the internet and reading the politics of a distant and unfamiliar school district; well, I'll keep you in my thoughts, friend.
With that in mind, I bid you enter this lone student's thoughts, and help me learn to be a little more politically conscious. Thank you in advance.
Blogging is hard, hard work, and while I was quite flared up at the beginning, my initial energy has been spent setting up and organizing this blog. I am drained. Therefore, I'm going to shimmy my first real post to tomorrow.
I will, however, clue you in on a little introduction to this blog. While I spent quite a nice deal of time making my lovely About Me page, you can skip all that heavy-duty reading and just stick with me here.
My name is Autumn. As I write this, I am an 18 year old college freshman at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, fresh out of District 191. Since I was little, it has been my dream to one day become a teacher in ISD191, educating children in the same school district that had taught me; so it makes sense that I would be a loyal follower of the education politics going on in my beloved home, and that I might discover an interest in education politics. That's why for my new years resolution, I decided to watch all of the school board meetings for this year and then challenge myself to think critically about what is happening--and what better platform to do this than a blog? And so begins our fabulous journey together.
What to expect:
usually, each post will be a review of the most recent school board meeting, with a link to the live video and my own analysis and reflection. This is my own way of engaging in the politics of 191, and serves as sort of a learning exercise for myself. However, I'll be mainly talking of my own opinions in regards to how I think all the policies effect students, and I'd be extremely happy if people interact with me or start up debate!
(And if I happen to step out of line and you really think I have no idea what I'm talking about, feel free to knock me down a peg; after all, I'm just a no-good kid. There's still a lot for me to learn; please help teach me!)
However, there shall also be extra posts I write that do not immediately connect to school board meetings. For example, there is the recent Vision One91 referendum being voted on this February, and hoo boy do I have a lot to say about it. I also have quite a few other opinions regarding education, often including special education (being a SpecEd major will do that), diversity, or the inclusion of technology. I'm sure I'll get to talking about a variety of topics, many probably comprising of rants. My apologies in advance.
I hope my voice means something! In any discussion there has to be numerous voices, but sometimes I feel like the strongest voices in education politics comprise of only a few types of people. With time comes an invisible barrier that prevents one from fully understanding aspects of life that once seemed familiar...and so goes some views regarding education. Even with student representatives and encouragement for youth representation, very few students have the attention span or interest in joining the conversation. I would like, if I could, to be that representative, if only in the blogosphere.
So, if you are a student here to read up on the politics; feel free to correct me where I might be wrong in regards to your true concerns. If I'm speaking for you, I might as well do it right.
If you are a parent or concerned adult wondering what this little hooligan is saying about our district's politics, feel free to engage me in debate and teach me why those fine school board members know better.
And if you are some strange person floating about the internet and reading the politics of a distant and unfamiliar school district; well, I'll keep you in my thoughts, friend.
With that in mind, I bid you enter this lone student's thoughts, and help me learn to be a little more politically conscious. Thank you in advance.
