Published the week of 5/8/05

If you listen, they will grab you.

There were both tears and laughter as youngsters from Minnesota's charter public schools read award-winning essays from the state capitol steps last week. Students' powerful stories help explain why the number of students enrolled in these innovative schools has jumped more than 70% over the last four years. These schools are changing lives.

Rochelle Holl, a student at El Colegio in Minneapolis, won first place in the high school division. Holl wrote, "Two years ago, I wouldn't have anticipated graduating from high school. I was failing classes, getting into a lot of fights with other students, and often skipped school. I was really melancholic, suicidal and anti-social. I was in all of the honors classes, yet I never really felt like I was pushed to my potential. Then I found out about El Colegio, (this) is a good school for me. I can be who I want, I can work at my pace and my level of learning. For the first time, I find myself wanting to get up and go to school. Finally, after the long quest. I found the rest of the pieces to the puzzle known as school years."

Liam Gibb, a fourth grader at St. Croix Prep in Stillwater, won the elementary division of the contest. Gibb wrote, in part, "This year I'm learning Latin, Spanish and French. I couldn't learn these languages at other schools. I have a private violin lesson, play with our school orchestra and learn about the language of music. All these things will help me grow in life."

Katie Bailey of the Lakes International charter in Forest Lake, explained, "my favorite thing about my school is that I get to learn Spanish...and Latino culture. For example, my class made piñatas as an art project. Mine was supposed to be a star, but I ran out of time and it turned out to be an ice cream cone."

Mai Chou Yang of Hope Academy won the middle school division. She recalled, "At my old school I was bullied and had no true friends. I was like a dog that followed people and did what they did. It was sad and I needed it to end...(Then she transferred to Hope Academy, where she found that) the teachers and students were all like happy family. Everybody is so honest to each other. This is what I've been looking for."

Meghan Laughlin of Metro Deaf tied for 2nd among middle school students. She wrote, "There has been a misconception that deaf people tend to be behind hearing people. I was so surprised that I was learning the same thing as my older hearing brother. MDS has many deaf teachers, and they did go to colleges and get degrees just as hearing teachers. I am deaf and proud of it!"

The writing contest was sponsored by the Center for School Change at the Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota, where I work. Award winning essays will be posted on our website - www.centerforschoolchange.org