MEA: A break for the students, time to learn for the teachers
By Jodelle GreinerMARSHALL - It's a long-standing tradition in Minnesota: the kids get off school the third Thursday and Friday in October for what is known simply as "MEA Weekend."
The weekend is named for the state Education Minnesota, formerly the Minnesota Education Association, conference.
Kids at Marshall Middle School are looking forward to the four-day weekend starting Thursday and realized why they were getting it.
"Happy there's no school and looking forward to the long weekend," said Brad Atkinson.
He, Laura Mitlyng, Sam Marshall and Eden Deutz all had plans to hang out with friends, play sports or just relax. In Eden's words, "No school, no homework."
All four were aware the two-day break was an opportunity for their teachers to go to the conference in the Twin Cities.
"Teachers can go to the Cities and do workshops," Laura Mitlyng said. "They have a decision if they want to go up to the Cities or stay home."
"They'll probably have to work," said Sam Marshall.
"Teachers have to be punished for giving us homework," said Eden with an almost straight face. "They'll go to meetings all day and have fun."
Actually, she's right.
This year's teachers' conference is set Oct. 16-17 in the Twin Cities. The general conference will be Thursday and the specialty workshops are set for Friday.
"It's always been a time in Minnesota for professional development and training," said Jackie Baumgard with Education Minnesota, adding that teachers can take what they learn and use it in the classrooms.
One local teacher has done just that.
Debi Pack teaches first grade at Park Side Elementary and has gone to the MEA convention the past several years.
"Not only are the sessions meaningful, but being able to network with teachers across the state is very helpful," Pack said. "It is fun to hear how other teachers across the state teach and what they do in their rooms to make learning fun. Through these sessions I have learned how to write grants, be a better reading teacher, become more knowledgeable in the areas of writing and writing strategies, special education law, teachers' rights, and finding ways to develop innovative ideas in the classroom, just to name a few."
The teachers can also visit different vendors and museums at the convention, said Baumgard. Ron Clark will be the main keynote speaker this year.
Baumgard didn't know how many attend the annual convention, but said, "It's packed every year."
And it's not just for teachers.
"Lots of colleges send busloads of future teachers," Baumgard said. "A lot of homeschoolers come to pick up curriculums."
Even those who realize the weekend is set aside for the teachers' conference may not know how it all got started. The origin of MEA weekend, according to the book, "MEA 137 Years Proud," published in 1999, focuses on the teachers.
"In August of 1861," the book reads on page 3, "John Ogden, principal of the First State Normal School at Winona, placed an advertisement in newspapers throughout Minnesota, 'It is proposed to hold a teachers' convention for the state of Minnesota, at Rochester, Olmstead County, on the 27th of the present month.'"
The book goes on to say, in the more elaborate language of the time, the teachers wanted their own organization that would look out for their best interests, just like other professions had. Thus was born the first Minnesota State Teachers Association meeting.
"MEA 137 Years Proud" continued: "State Superintendent of Public Instruction and newly elected President Benjamin F. Crary later reported, 'The Minnesota State Teachers Association will give form to the feeling and opinions of teachers, hereafter, and will be an efficient auxiliary in executing the will of the legislature.'"
In 1876, the organization changed its name to Minnesota Education Association, according to the book. Some of the facts have been lost in the annals of time, like when the convention moved from Rochester and when it moved to October, but the name "MEA Weekend" stuck.
It may have stuck a little too well, says Baumgard.
"MEA hasn't existed for 10 years," she said.
In September 1998, MEA merged with the Minnesota Federation of Teachers to form Education Minnesota, but to the general public, it will probably always be "MEA Weekend."
Army blocks soldier from bringing puppy back
WASHINGTON (AP) - More than 10,000 people have signed an online petition urging the Army to let an Iraqi puppy come home with a Minnesota soldier, who fears that ''Ratchet'' could be killed if left behind.
''I just want my puppy home,'' Sgt. Gwen Beberg of Minneapolis wrote to her mother in an e-mail Sunday from Iraq, soon after she was separated from the dog following a transfer. ''I miss my dog horribly.'' Beberg, 28, is scheduled to return to the U.S. next month.
Ratchet's defenders are ratcheting up their efforts to save him. On Monday, the program coordinator for Operation Baghdad Pups, which is run by Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International, left for a trip to the Middle East to try to get the puppy to the U.S. And last week, Beberg's congressman, Democrat Keith Ellison, wrote to the Army urging it to review the case.
Beberg and another soldier rescued the puppy from a burning pile of trash back in May.
|
longjammer
|
|
|---|---|
|
10-14-08 2:59 PM
|
If "Education Minnesota" cared about students, they'd have their convention during summer break when classes aren't in session.
|
|
volemt
|
|
|
10-14-08 2:34 PM
|
I want to know who "wronged" TommyA because he certainly is an A-hole with a lot of negative things to say about everything! You seem very down about life in general and seem to need more positive things to occupy your time.
|
|
TommyA
|
|
|
10-14-08 1:20 PM
|
Give me a break. MEA means a LONG weekend for everyone, including teachers. I've worked in the Minneapolis area and i KNOW that teachers are not going to their sessions, everyone sicked out - I've never seen the malls more packed in my life! Its also ironic that MEA means hunting season for several as well. Stop kidding yourself if you think these teachers are seminar bound.....
|