Minnesota once had one of the best education systems in America. However, test scores in recent years indicate the state has been headed in the wrong direction. Thankfully, some advocates have a plan to help Minnesota schools get back to basics and common sense.
Cristine Trooien, executive director of Minnesota Partnership for Achievement, joined Liz Collin on her podcast. She’s been an advocate for better public education and student achievement for quite some time, including as the founder of the Minnesota Parents Alliance.
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Trooien explained, “I think just generally, we can agree that we have an education system that is in crisis on a number of levels for a number of reasons … I think my biggest concern is that we can’t allow distracting PR stunts about whatever the political issue is at the moment to really prevent us from unifying around the common-ground issues, which is making sure that students are getting what they need out of the system, which is a quality education.”
“I think all of these things are symptoms of a bigger problem. It’s really poor leadership and it’s also adult passivity. There are a lot of adults that are really not getting involved in the way that they need to get involved to make sure that our schools are being run well,” Trooien explained.
“The problem is also the same problem that has allowed fraud on an epic scale in Minnesota, and it’s a lack of oversight. We’ve taken our eyes off the ball in education, largely in Minnesota. And maybe it’s because we all thought we had great schools, because at one point we did, but it’s time to re-engage,” she added.
An action plan for parents, legislators, and taxpayers
Looking back, Trooien said, “The last several years have been a runaway train of poor decisions at the state level, certainly, and things that have really harmed our kids and really hindered our educators’ ability to maintain control in their classrooms and other just vital components of making sure that our schools run well.”
Trooien also encouraged a focus on what she calls “the four Ts” — test scores, taxes, teachers, and time spent.
“Think about the tax dollars … It’s an average of $16,000 per student in Minnesota and in districts like St. Paul it’s like $25,000 a student. Are you getting value for that?” she explained.
Trooien also pointed out how teachers are a critical component: “Do you talk to your kids’ teacher? Do you know what they’re teaching? A lot of teachers do not share the politics of their union. And so it’s very challenging to figure out, are we talking about good teachers that are there to help kids learn? Are we talking about activists? So trying to get a handle on who your kids’ teachers are and what their priorities are, it’s so important.”
In highlighting a new action plan, Trooien said, “There is an opportunity this session for legislators to provide some relief and restoration to our schools … we need to rewind the clock, let’s get things back on track, let’s kind of wipe the slate clean of all of these really harmful pieces of legislation that have made it so impossible for our districts to really focus on achievement.”
Warning: ‘I don’t think we’ve seen anything yet’
When Collin asked about the kind of changes that may come about with “Ethnic Studies” requirements, Trooien warned, “I’m sad to say that I don’t think we’ve seen anything yet.”
“I think that when I look at things like the Ethnic Studies requirements that are looming, I think it’s going to completely transform the way that our education system looks and sounds in the classroom,” Trooien said.
“It’s going to transform the way that kids view each other and the world. I think that these are things that were embedded in legislation that the average parent actually just doesn’t know about,” she added.
Trooien also talked about how the requirements may affect students: “What’s really upsetting is it’s going to teach kids to judge themselves and their peers as kind of members of groups and sort of judge, you know, their relative group power rather than developing friendships and trust and openness with their friends first.”
“So it’s noxious for the hearts and minds of our young people. It’s hostile to the shared values that we have as Americans and Minnesotans and I think it’s one of the most vile things to come out of this legislature. And it can be changed. It could be repealed this session,” Trooien said.
“This is something that can be done, but it really requires a groundswell of people to speak with legislators and tell them how important these things are,” she added. “There is nothing that has happened under the Walz administration that can’t be undone and repaired, but we need our legislators to get very busy and very focused doing that.”
Liz Collin
Liz Collin is a multi-Emmy-Award-winning investigative reporter, news anchor, and producer who cares about Minnesota. She is the producer of The Fall of Minneapolis and Minnesota v We the People documentary films, and author of the Amazon best-selling book, They’re Lying: The Media, the Left, and The Death of George Floyd. Her work has prompted important state laws. Yet perhaps most of all, Liz has been giving a voice to the truth—and helping others tell their stories—for more than 20 years.
Dr. JC Chaix
Dr. JC Chaix is an editor, educator, and an expert in media studies. He wrote and directed the Alpha News documentary "The Fall of Minneapolis" and "Minnesota v We the People."
