January 20, 1998
Beth (Barton) Shuman
*** ***** *****
Garden Valley, ID 83622
Doug Berg
Mini-School Program
Minnetonka Highschool
5621 County Rd 101
Minnetonka, MN 55345
Hello Mr. Berg,
I wanted to drop a note and thank you and your Mini-school students for continuing to provide me with the Com-minication newspaper. I have enjoyed keeping up with the activities and writings of your program. It really exemplifies the progressive and active learning style which Mini-school stands for.
I am a SWAS alumni from way back in the early 70’s. I used to dislike admitting that I am so ancient as to graduate back then yet I find that my experience has helped my own children through their high school years. My son is twenty years old, a diesel mechanic in the US Army, and a graduate of Idaho’s first alternative high school. My daughter is currently enrolled in the same high school and will graduate next year.
Idaho is lightyears behind Minnesota in relation to modern progressive education alternatives. I have been an advocate here for kids with learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, and other difficulties in learning from traditional curriculums. It has not been an easy task as this is a very conservative and underfunded state. I feel however that the fight for equal opportunity to learn and be successful is finally paying off and alternative schools are beginning to pop up in many rural communities and cities.
I intend to pass your newsletter on to the English department at our alternative high school. Hopefully, they will not only enjoy the writings and recounts of adventures but they will also incorporate this type of publication into their program as well. After 28 years of success with your program only those who refuse to see will remain mired in antiquated education.
So, after all this rambling again my thanks for your perseverance and for keeping me in touch! By the way, please give Ben Shultenover my regards. He put up with lots of guff from my classmates (no, not me!) and its great to see he still gets to influence yet another generation!
Sincerely yours,
