State’s Largest School District Remains Heated Over Teen Suicides
Earlier this year the Champlin-Dayton Press reported on a rash of teen suicides during the 2009-2010 school year in the Anoka-Hennipen school district, the state’s largest with over 40,000 students.
One of the leading causes of death amongst teenagers is suicide. The Centers for Disease control claims it is the third leading cause of death, behind accidents and homicide, of people age 15 to 24. The issue has hit close to home in the Anoka-Hennepin School District.
The district has been labeled a “suicide contagion,” by state health and education departments. Five student suicides this school year have officials seeking causes and cures. “We’ve never had anything like this before and I’ve talked to people that have been here over 30 years,” said Barry Scanlan, the district’s Teaching and Learning Specialist for Prevention. Scanlan has read the national statistics. “We’re not the only ones facing this, all schools are having tougher times,” Scanlan said. More….
Various sources cited bullying and GLBT or gay issues as underlying causes of some of the suicides. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights alleged that two teachers had harassed a student they thought was gay. Controversy followed with protests and appearances at school board by people supporting stronger anti-bullying efforts.
Apparently the controversy isn’t over.
The Parents Action League, an allegedly anti-gay group, organized in the district and launched a website which appears to have recently been taken down with an “site under construction” notice in its place. The position of the group had been that schools should strictly focus on academics but should also respect family values, teach abstinence, and promote a program that seeks to turn gay into straight.
On the other end of the spectrum, several individuals formed the Gay Equity Team that seeks to have a ‘welcoming and affirming for all regardless of sexual orientation”.
The school district policy is officially neutral. However, efforts have been made by the district and teachers unions toward training of teachers. School year 2010-2011 is about to begin. Hopefully “suicide contagion” will not revisit the Anoka-Hennipen School District or other Minnesota school districts for that matter. More…
A recent Star and Tribune article highlighted growing demands on food shelves in neighboring Dakota County. Nearly half of the family clients are new to food shelves. Why to increased demand and why so many new clients? Simply put, it is the result of rising unemployment where people simply can’t find work and find food budgets stressed especially by month end.
Now attention is focused on the possibility of a new football stadium. One issue m,any cite is that the regular season for football is just eight games. With the Vikings’ Metrodome lease expiring in 2011, the stadium debate will intensify. Expect a stadium financing bill’s introduction during the 2011 state legislative session. In the past, public sports facility investment has provoked spirited discussion, intense opposition and equally intense advocacy. One should expect no less this time because stadium construction proposals raise critical questions about public investment in state and local economic development strategies.
Hundreds of Indian dancers and singers from across the country will gather at the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community reservation this weekend for the annual wacipi (powwow). The event is open to the public.
Past DFL state convention goers found one Minnesotan seeking endorsement at state conventions for a spot on that year’s DFL ticket. This year it was the governor spot. Yes that man is and was Ole Savior. Most observers simply scratched their heads and rolled their eyes during Ole’s often rambling and sometimes strange speeches.  They say politics makes strange bedfellows.
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