In Alpha News' upcoming investigative series podcast, "Trapped Chaos in Minnesota Schools," we delve into the concerning decline of quality education in the state of Minnesota. Through extensive research and interviews with educators, students, and parents, we uncover the root causes of this decline and explore potential solutions to improve the state of education.

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Harding High School’s 15-year-old stabbing victim was a visible sign of the decay in Minnesota public schools.

Devin Scott, who was stabbed to death in the St. Paul high school this year, was a troubled student being passed from school to school.

“A generation ago, a kid like Devin Scott would never have been in school. He would have been expelled before he ever got to Harding High. So how did he end up there?”

Alpha News journalist Sheila Qualls asked that question on the first episode of her podcast, “Trapped!: Chaos in the Classroom.”

In this limited podcast series, Qualls talks to parents, students, cops, administrators, and teachers to examine the problems in Minnesota's public education system.

In this first episode, she looks at the high stakes of setting low expectations for students.

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In schools across the state and nation, expectations have plummeted. Students are no longer disciplined, and their disrespectful and violent behavior is not addressed, leading to lower performance across the board.

The main culprit is restorative justice, says Sheila Qualls.

In episode two of “Trapped!: Chaos in the Classroom,” Alpha News journalist Sheila Qualls talks with teachers, parents, and school board members about the damage restorative justice is doing to kids.

Concerned about what's happening in your child's school? Sent a tip to: tips@alphanews.org

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Public education in Minnesota is broken. Schools are sacrificing not only safety for social justice, but also education, Sheila Qualls explains in this episode of “Trapped!: Chaos in the Classroom.”

In episode three, Qualls walks listeners through the ideological agenda of public school teachers and administrators in Minnesota.

Note: Alpha News reached out to the Little Falls, Minnetonka, Prior Lake-Savage, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan, and South Washington County school districts for comment. Little Falls did not respond. Prior Lake-Savage did not respond. Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan asked for more information and then did not respond.

Minnetonka said pronouns are not changed in its student management system without parental consent but did not comment on teachers being encouraged to refer to students by their preferred pronouns in class. The district said it views "parents as partners."

South Washington County Schools referred Alpha News to district policies. The district told Alpha News that it always does its “best to work and engage with our parents and families.”

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Social-emotional learning has become more important than teaching kids to read and write. The name suggests it's about teaching kids kindness and how to manage emotions, which sounds good. But how many parents know what it really is?

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We started the podcast to give parents a look inside public education in Minnesota. We told you what's happening. In the last episode, we're going to tell you ways you can advocate for your kid, and if you decide public schools are not a good fit for your family, I'll talk about the alternatives as well.

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The first episode in season two of the audio podcast focuses on Anoka-Hennepin Schools, the largest school district in the state. Teachers gave Alpha News a behind the scenes look into what's happening in the district. They said social justice has become more important than teaching students literacy and numeracy skills.

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Support this podcast with a 100% tax-deductible donation - https://alphanews.revv.co/trappedmn

New teachers are being trained to believe parents have no place in their kids' education, according to a former Mounds View Public Schools teacher.

Alpha News looks behind closed doors in Mounds View Public Schools on season two of the podcast "Trapped!: Chaos in the Classroom."

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Support this podcast with a 100% tax-deductible donation - https://alphanews.revv.co/trappedmn