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December 16, 1999
Lt. Gov. Schunkvisits District 88Veteran teacherdiscusses herboss, Grad RuleBy ERIC SERRANO Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- If Lt. Gov. Mae Schunk's visits to schools are intended to provide a sounding board for teachers and students with concerns about education, she got an earful with a stop here Wednesday. Schunk, a 36-year teaching veteran and the person Gov. Jesse Ventura tapped to help reform the state's education system, toured some of District 88's elementary programs and fielded questions from a class of high school social studies students during the visit. She also extended her stay by an hour to hear teachers' concerns about school funding and the Grad Rule. "I'm the governor's eyes and ears in the classroom," Schunk, told the high schoolers. "Part of my job is to find out what are the issues, what are the concerns , and what can the government do about (those issues)." The state's newly implemented higher graduation standards, or The Grad Rule, were an issue raised by the high schoolers who sought the one-time curriculum specialist's view of Minnesota's hottest educational topic. "I think we need to have standards. We need to know what kids know at what level. We need to see that they can take their knowledge and apply it with problem solving and critical thinking skills," Schunk said. "Students should be able to analyze a problem and synthesize what they've learned to achieve an answer." She pointed to Ventura's "Big Plan" for, "... creating healthy, vital communities...," and the role the higher standards will play in making the plan a reality. "Without a good educational system, without the knowledge that a diploma means something ...," the "Big Plan" will have little chance for success, she said. Schunk criticized the manner in which the Grad Rule and higher standards were implemented. "I think it should have been implemented in the lower grades first," she said, thus allowing the younger students to gain and build on some of the skills the higher standards require, specifically in skills like research. Students also sought Schunk's views on some of the problems her boss has encountered since taking office, particularly the controversies surrounding comments in Ventura's interview with Playboy magazine, and his decision to referee a professional wrestling match last summer. "Does it create any tension at the Capitol? Are there a lot of people having second thoughts (about supporting Ventura)?" one student asked. "I think the media will listen to what (Ventura) says and pull a line out that can draw a lot of attention," Schunk responded. "I think he is not a normal politician. He says things just like he thinks. Things can roll out of his mouth, and even I have asked him is that what he meant, and find out that how it was presented is not how he meant it," she said, referring to the Playboy interview. Ventura's non-official activities haven't " damaged the office or himself. I think his language could have been milder," Schunk said. "Most politicians do more than just write books while they are in office. There is nothing (in law) that says they can't do something on their private time," she said. Ventura's non-governing activities have also resulted in a number of charitable donations, she said. The governor donated $100,000 of his $1 million paycheck for the wrestling match to charity. The proceeds from the Jesse Ventura action figure have also been slated for charity. "Any plans for a Mae Schunk action figure?" one student asked. "Actually there are," Schunk said, adding that any proceeds from a Mae "The Teacher" Schunk figure would go to educational organizations. Schunk, who was originally scheduled to depart at 3 p.m., Wednesday, extended here stay to meet with district teachers and other staff, following her classroom visits. Like the students, teachers voiced concerns about the Grad Rule, the bulk of which focused on providing districts with more consistency from the state in the administration and assessment mechanisms of the standards and the accompanying Profiles of Learning performance packages. Schunk suggested teachers not attempt to tie specific standards to any one particular class offering. "Don't nail a standard to a class. You can get a standard into more than one place." Teachers still having problems with the standards should seek help from staff at the Department of Children, Families, and Learning, she said. "Part of the problem is that the standards end up driving the curriculum," physics teacher Virgil Debban said. Using CFL experts to address the issue won't do much good until the state establishes uniformity and consistency, he added. "(Physics teachers) developed a package last year that was approved (by the state) last year. This year a different group says it's not approved, and we have to go back to square one." District Activities Director Mark Woodbury asked what plans the Ventura administration has for the projected $1.6 billion surplus. "We don't have any inside wires to the Legislature and that's where that issue will be decided," Schunk said. Schunk aide Steve LeBeau told the group that funding is a common issue raised during visits to schools. "Every school says they need more money, but many can't pass an (excess operating levy) referendum," he said. "There is a tension in nearly every community when it comes to (the projected surplus). Many will say they want to see more money spent on education. But then there are just as many who say the want to get that money back in a rebate," LeBeau said. Schunk said until the surplus issue is settled by lawmakers, Ventura and his staff will continue to press for an additional $50 per-student hike in the basic funding formula and an increase in funding to reduce class sizes. Debban, who also serves as the teachers union's chief collective bargaining negotiator, said last year's hike in education spending for the first time in nearly a decade was misleading to the average taxpayer. "There was more money, that's true, but other things that were once their own special account have been folded into the general fund," he said. "Things like capital improvements, transportation, now have to fight with salaries and other expenses. That makes it tough when it comes time to build a contract. Teacher are looking for better salaries, and districts are looking at cost containment." "The governor knows teachers are underpaid. But, he also realizes that we can't do it all in one biennium," Schunk said.
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