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Thumbs down

To the parent in Truman who took her concerns about her son being introduced to naked artwork straight to the School Board rather than discussing the subject with the teacher.

The upset parent asked that the board take disciplinary action against the instructor because the images of naked men and women made her child uncomfortable. The teacher explained to school officials that the works of art were in an art book in the classroom, not part of an assignment.

We are talking about photos of Michelangelo’s David, the famous nude statue of the biblical hero. The book also includes naked figures in the photos of the Sistine Chapel, also painted by Michelangelo.

No doubt that some fifth-graders might label such pieces as “the dirty pictures we saw at school.” But kids at ages 10 and 11, given the correct context, can understand that mankind has always found art as a vehicle for appreciating the human body.

Trying to twist that and claim children are being exposed to pornography is off the mark and immature, especially when the parent didn’t even bother to get the context from the teacher.

The board responded as it should and did not take any action on the matter.



A law to guard children’s safety

Thumbs up

To a new Minnesota law that requires more CPR training for teachers and staff in child care centers.

The law requires CPR training for child care teachers, assistant teachers and staff who transport children or take them on field trips.

The old law required at least one employee with such training to be present in a child care center.

Extending the training to all staff who are around children makes a lot of sense. Children at certain ages put things in their mouth all day, not just at meal and snack time, so the more staff that are trained to respond to an emergency, the better off the children are.

The law is named after a 4-year-old named Hannah Kozitza, who died last year after choking on a grape at a North Mankato day care.

The bill passed both legislative chambers unanimously as it should.



Gay marriage debate bound to get crazy

Thumbs down

To all the unnecessary, uncontrollable, over-the-top activist-inspired attention Minnesota is about to receive because of the proposed constitutional amendment to limit marriage in this state to opposite-sex couples.

Without going into whether the Republicans’ determination to bring the issue to voters is a good one, few of us will look forward to the heightened emotions sure to test Minnesotans’ patience before it’s all over.

Emotions are already getting a bit raw. On Thursday, crowds swelled at the Capitol to chime in on a House vote that hadn’t even taken place yet.

A statewide constitutional vote will bring in more activists from out-of-state bringing along with them more animosity and probably tons of negative advertising on both sides. We can only hope Minnesota doesn’t bring comparisons to Wisconsin during the height of the union worker wars.

 

Dakota Music Tour

Thumbs up

To the Mankato Symphony Orchestra teaming up with Native American musicians to present the “Dakota Music Tour,” which will perform Sunday in Mankato.

Brent Michael Davids composed the music that blends traditional Native American sounds with European classical. The music will be performed by the symphony, led by Kenneth Freed, and Native American performers including the Maza Kute Drummers.

A community chat will follow the performance.

The area — Mankato  in particular — is symbolic of the pain suffered by both sides, not just during Dakota-U.S. battles of 1862, but during the bloody past between whites and Indians in general.

Bringing an artistic element to the ongoing reconciliation efforts between Native Americans and southern Minnesotans is a positive move.