Dixon destroyed Duluth’s confidence…

…in our public schools.

How do I know? I’ve been stewing over the incredibly low level of confidence in our schools revealed by the recent community survey. Duluthians have a lower regard for the performance of our public schools than All of America has in the Congress. That was not always the case. I was pretty sure that by the time I left the School Board there was about 75% satisfaction with our schools. I might have a survey or newspaper clipping in my attic but I don’t have the week it would take for me to find it.

But then I remembered Dr. Dixon’s sham survey to prove that all of Duluth wanted to dispense with a referendum on a school building plan. It was a monstrously big survey and I guessed it had a question that asked folks how good they felt our schools were. I was right and I had put the entire survey on the Let Duluth Vote website:

Here’s what Duluth told Dr. Dixon’s surveyors six years ago before the Red Plan and the theft of our referendum:

2. How would you rate the quality of education provided by the Duluth Public School District — excellent, good, only fair, or poor?

EXCELLENT………….12%
GOOD………………63%
ONLY FAIR………….17%
POOR……………….2%
DON’T KNOW/REFUSED…..6%

So, in 2006 75% of our citizens felt Duluth had “good” or “excellent” Schools. By 2008, two years into the Red Plan, only 26% of Duluthians reported we had “quality” public school education. Today it 21% who feel we have quality schools. I realize the questions have been asked differently but the only way my interpretation of the results fails is if we treat a “Good” school as not being a quality school. That makes very little sense.

75% to 21%. Thank you Dr. Dixon.

About the author

Harry is a ferociously good natured eccentric in Duluth Minnesota who detests traitors dressed up as Uncle Sam. You can find somewhat better edited writings of his at the Duluth Reader "contributors." page. The URL is:

https://duluthreader.com/contributors/h/84/284-harry-welty