Oct 24, 2019

Reflections on MPS Board of Education Corruption and Superintendent Ed Graff’s Academic Inadequacy As Revealed in March 2019

My abiding question regarding the Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education at this point, with the advanced draft of my book, Understanding the Minneapolis Public Schools:  Current Condition, Future Prospect, complete and ready for circulation, is what mix of corruption, denial, and ignorance describes the members of the board.  As noted in my article on the Committee of the Whole Meeting of Tuesday, 22 October, District 1 (Northeast Minneapolis) board member Jenny Arneson revealed terrible ignorance in her comments on courses pertinent to United States history;  and At-Large member Kim Ellison demonstrated similar cluelessness regarding alternative schools as models for the Minneapolis Public Schools.     


 


So ignorance abides and, given the strong ties that each member of this board has to the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, this unfortunate assemblage of representatives definitely is also in denial, especially as to the terrible quality of teaching in the district.


 


But the MPS Board of Education is also corrupt:


 


Chair Nelson Inz and most other members of the board do anything they can to prevent meaningful discussion.  The protocol that Inz reads before every phase of the monthly meeting given for Public Comment was crafted by former At-large member Rebecca Gagnon (ousted in the election of November 2018) and Superintendent Ed Graff to prevent my telling the abominable facts concerning the performance and stances of numerous Davis Center (MPS central offices, 1250 West Broadway) officials and board members.  Given my venues for expression of opinion provided by my new book, my blog, my television show, my academic journal, and my many public appearances and circulation in the community, this pitiful attempt to impede my message can never work.


 


But at the March meeting, Chair Inz and Assistant Chair Kim Caprini did everything they could to make the protocol prevail.  At greatest stake that evening was a board vote on a new contract for Graff, so that this was a logical topic of concern for anyone speaking at Public Comments.  But the wording of the protocol prohibits mentioning of individual names, reference to specific job positions, or issues related to employees;  further, the interpretation given to this wording is broadly applied in an attempt to block any criticism of people who are not doing their jobs.  Impeding such truth-telling was the purpose of Gagnon and Graff in devising this shabby piece of ill-written verbiage.


 


Thus, as I began in my Public Comments to recount Ed Graff’s lack of substantive academic credentials with specific reference to his online masters of educational administration degree received from the low-tier University of Southern Mississippi, Caprini leaned over to Inz and advocated citing my comments as delving into employee relations.  I just smiled, referred to my blog coverage of the issue, noted the corruption of Caprini and Inz, and then made my essential recommendation that Graff not be given another contract. 


 


My point was made.


 


People could read the full text of my comments on my blog.


 


There is nothing, given my multiple venues, that this dissembling and corrupt board can ever do to prevent my message from going forth. 


 


Other speakers that evening were more impeded than I by Inz’s attempt to protect Graff from candid opposition;  yet these other speakers, too, did clearly state their opposition to anther contract being tendered to Graff.


 


KerryJo Felder was absent that evening;  the vote went 8-0 in favor of granting Graff a new contract.  In voting this way and in their many other moves revealing their dishonesty, denial, and ignorance, this board is positioned to take a tumble, along with the many Davis Center offenders at the Minneapolis Public Schools.  And, though Graff is now a few months into his new position, he will also depart the Davis Center under the tremendous pressure that will be mounted for his removal in the course of the next few months.


 


For the benefit of my readers I now present the insubstantial nature of the master’s degree that Graff maneuvered to obtain in the online University of Southern Mississippi program.  Readers should also scroll on down to the abstract of the similarly flimsy dissertation that new Department of Teaching and Learning Executive Director Aimee Fearing wrote for her insubstantial and low-status doctorate from Hamline University, one of the three major degree mills for teachers and education administrators in the Twin Cities.


 


Now, regarding the Graff degree,  


 


perpend  >>>>>


 


Overview







The Master of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision prepares graduates for P-12 school leadership. The program is a fully online cohort model, with new cohorts beginning each fall semester.  Each cohort can accommodate only a limited number of students; therefore, prospective students are encouraged to apply as early as possible.


Students enrolled in this program will be required to complete an administrative internship over three semesters, beginning in the second semester of the program. As part of the internship experience, students will be required to identify a primary and a secondary mentor (Principal or Assistant Principal) who will agree to supervise the student during the internship and evaluate the student's performance at its conclusion.


This program of study meets Mississippi's state standards for advanced licensure. Students who intend to seek licensure in another state should verify that this program of study meets the desired state's licensure requirements. For assistance with out-of-state licensure questions, please complete the Professional Licensure Form.


Admission Requirements







In addition to the requirements detailed in Admission Requirements and Procedures , applicants must meet the following requirements and submit the following documents:


  1. Official GRE scores or other acceptable standardized graduate-level exam scores
  2. Statement of Purpose - In a letter or essay format, describe your professional experiences and goals and how obtaining this degree will help you to realize those goals.
  3. CV/Résumé
  4. Copy of current educator license (with at least three years of teaching experience) 
  5. Three Letters of Recommendation


This program admits new students each fall term. Members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.


Program Requirements and Academic Policies







See General Degree Requirements  and General Academic Information .


Course Requirements (34 hours)








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