School Board Campaign Update: I Listen to You, You Listen to Me... All Good!

Thanks to everyone who's taking the time to offer thoughts, gripes, and even the occasional crazy idea on education policy. A couple of the school ideas I've heard yet came on a non-education post, my Saturday commentary on organic farming. The popular and prolific Anonymous commented as follows:

Since you're running for school board, what are your feelings about expanding the FFA program to include raising some organic crops maybe north of the parking lot on land the district owns. Some district also have their students build a new home each year, then auction it off each spring. Are those ideas you feel might have merit? [Anon., 2008.03.31 19:38 CDT]

With creative ideas like that, Anonymous should have taken out a petition! Seriously, those ideas are great, and if our teachers can fit such projects into their curriculum, I'd love to see building and gardening programs like that. Suggestions, anyone? Volunteers?

Don't forget, you've got a chance to come give me an earful in person tonight, 7 to 9, Madison Public Library. I won't be speechifying, just asking and answering questions and discussing your concerns about education here in Madison.

We also have the public forum tomorrow night at the MHS lunchroom (no food-fights, please!). I chatted with Tammy Jo last night, and she agreed: we're not expecting much of a debate, since we're all pretty similar on the issues. But it will be a good chance for the four candidates and all of you voters to get together for a lively and intelligent conversation about education, one of the most important things our tax dollars pay for.

And for those of you with 32 seconds to spare, check my audio post on why I'm running for the school board. The 2010 Initiative is fine, but I'm looking at 2024 (and 2048, and 2072...)!