Over the past week there has been an onslaught of letters in the St. Cloud Times touting the candidacy of DFL candidate, Joanne Dorsher. The theme of each has been to positively explain who Joanne is and what she is about. While some will claim that these editorials are little more than platitude laden fluff pieces, they fail to see the experience angle being laid out by each of these successive editorials. Dorsher has been in the trenches trying to improve the educational opportunities of our children and volunteering to further that education beyond the walls of the school building.
From the August 12th letter:
Joanne has shown that she cares for the quality of life in our community. Our children have benefited from her years of service on the St. Cloud school board and as a volunteer in our schools. Joanne has supported the St. Cloud Public Library. She is a member of the St. Cloud Friends of the Library and volunteers in the bookstore.
From the August 13th letter:
She has shown herself to be an enthusiastic and responsible leader serving our community. Before she was elected to the St. Cloud school board, she spent many hours tutoring public school students in reading and math and leading academic extracurricular programs. She also volunteered with the Adult Basic Education program, especially helping English language learners.
From the August 17th letter:
From the time she arrived in Central Minnesota 18 years ago, Joanne has been a community builder who does her homework and works behind the scenes to get things done.Not only has she served in elected office on the St. Cloud school board, Joanne has also served in numerous other civic positions, including on the board of G.R.E.A.T. Theater, as a Girl Scout leader and a member of the NAACP and Interfaith Alliance. She works quietly and effectively to build relationships and accomplish goals.
This is an extremely impressive resume when you consider that much of the work at the Capitol is centered around education and children. It is quite easy for people to dictate from afar what and how we should be teaching our children and it is a common problem affecting both Republican and Democratic politicians. However, the experience and real life solutions come when you have actually stood in front of a large group of children and tried to get them all moving in the same direction and at the same pace. That is the experience of Joanne Dorsher.
When you compare that to her "Just Say NO" to education and everything else opponent who has spent nary a moment in a classroom, it is absolutely clear who people should be supporting come this November. Couple that with his connections to organizations bent on destroying public education and his shameful lack of support for anything advocated by Education Minnesota there is little choice for those concerned about the educational opportunities of our kids.
When you compare that to her "Just Say NO" to education and everything else opponent who has spent nary a moment in a classroom, it is absolutely clear who people should be supporting come this November. Couple that with his connections to organizations bent on destroying public education and his shameful lack of support for anything advocated by Education Minnesota there is little choice for those concerned about the educational opportunities of our kids.
5 responses to "Joanne Dorsher: LTE Onslaught..."
Those are all nice qualities but they don't answer some important questions.
1) Which tax increases would Ms. Dorscher support to eliminate the budget deficit?
2) Would Ms. Dorscher vote to raise taxes when we have a budget surplus?
3) Would Ms. Dorscher vote for, or propose, a pro-growth tax system? If yes, would that reformed system include lower marginal tax rates? If not, why not?
4) Does Ms. Dorscher believe that there's any wasteful spending in any of the education budgets? If yes, can she name specifics? If not, why doesn't she think there's wasteful spending?
While the editorials give Ms. Dorscher a leg up in the 'loves puppies & hugs children' vote, serious people want substantive answers about the most important questions facing state government. Thus far, Ms. Dorscher hasn't given us any. (BTW, I visited her campaign website. It's as helpful as the LTE's.)
When you compare that to her "Just Say NO" to education and everything else opponent who has spent nary a moment in a classroom, it is absolutely clear who people should be supporting come this November.
I hate bursting your bubble but Rep. Gottwalt's wife is a teacher for 742.
Furthermore, Rep. Gottwalt frequently visits classrooms to get an idea about what is & isn't happening & what should be happening.
Rep. Gottwalt has a number of contacts who are teachers who tell him that they're frustrated with the Union's way of handling issues.
BTW, did I mention that Rep. Gottwalt served on the Education Finance Division?
Considering your unsubstantiated cheapshot at Rep. Gottwalt, I'd hope that you'd have the decency to apologize, though I'm not holding my breath on that.
Well I am glad you have the sense not to hold your breath.
Gottwalt has little knowledge on how best to educate children. I can guarantee you that it is NOT an increase in bubble tests.
With all due respect, did you realize that Rep. Gottwalt likes the accountability principle of NCLB but that he detests 'teaching to the test'?
I'm betting that you didn't because your animosity is blinding you to finding out the facts.
Partisanship is fine. Blind partisanship is foolish.
Update to January 2013: Two months after winning the 2012 election, Rep Gottwalt resigns, costing the State a special election. Nice going there. Says lobbying job takes too much time for him to be a representative.
State Rep. Gottwalt Resigns after Taking Lobbying Job | KSTP TV - Minneapolis and St. Paul - http://j.mp/13vZLyu