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Alright – so, there was a hearing for HF 951 again today in the MN House of Reps’ education committee. We heard this legislation last year, it was added to the education omnibus bill but it failed in the conference committee. Chairs Chamberlain and Davnie were not able to come to an agreement on their overall education items and this bill became a casualty.

Rep. Richardson is presenting it again this year. All of the dflers voted for it and all of the Republicans voted against it. Don’t get too happy; this does not mean the democrats are for this. It is just a show. Let me tell you how.

1. It is the teacher who refers the child to be suspended.
2. It is the teacher who kicks the child from the classroom.
3. It is the teacher who complains about the child
4. It is the teacher who goes to the principal and the administrators to start with. Who supports the teachers and their unions – that is right the democrats. You see this is just to get black and brown votes; to pretend they care without caring to give us empty calories.

Then the republicans support the principals and the administrators while the democrats support the teachers and unions. Who supports the kids and families. No one. Yet, we all vote for these legislators who clearly do not give a flying hoot about our kids. They just give the same speech where the democrats say disparity this, racial this while supporting the very teachers who created this. Then the republicans live in la-la land and say – what racism in America? it can not be. They simply can’t see kids are getting kicked out of schools disproportionately because of their color and they have a disability. They always say – it is not happening in my neighborhood so it can not exist. And the dflers know it is happening because they create it and maintain it. The dflers are just more savvy with their words, are more charming and probably have more charisma.

My suggestion is this:

1. The black and brown legislators need to go to their leadership and tell them which bills are due or die this year. Tell them those legislations can not become casualties or decorations. They can not be used for negotiations. They need to pass – period. The democrats control two of the three government branches and should technically have the upper hand. I say let’s not let them play us again into voting for them while getting nothing back in return.
2. Pick maybe 5 to 10 bills in education, health, safety, employment, etc., and tell Walz and Hortman no deal if they don’t pass. You all need to have a backbone and stand up for your communities. You can not tell us it is the other side. That is not true.
3. For example, why can’t the dflers stand up to the teachers and their unions. They are the ones suspending us. Rep. Erickson does have a good point. If the teachers are trained in culturally responsive, are held accountable for their actions and all of the current rules are followed then discipline should decrease.

Here is my testimony. I must say I am not optimistic this year. The Senate did not even have a companion bill.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Education Policy Committee

Chair – Rep. Richardson

March 18, 2022

Re: HF 951 – dismissal of students from kindergarten to 3^rd grade prohibited

Dear Madam Chair and Members,

My name is Idil Abdull, and I am a Somali Autism Mom & Advocate.

Many thanks for the opportunity to testify again for this important legislation. As I thought about what I would say today, I have decided to do it differently. I am not going to tell you what happened to my son in the Bloomington Public School district because you already know it. I am not going to give you facts, data, and research because you know 2+2 is four.

Today, I want to appeal to your bottom line, to your wallet, and to your purses. I know you are thinking – what now? What the heck does this have to do with student dismissal. Let me line it up for you.

Imagine if you invested in Amazon, Google, Tesla, or Facebook when they first went public. If you knew back then what you know today, you all would have bought shares in these stocks. And you would be all reaping their benefits today. Investing in children today is tomorrow’s Amazon and Google.

If we keep children in school and educate them, they will pay the Medicare and social security benefits we will need tomorrow. Investing in kids today will only help and support you tomorrow when you need it.

Now, let me play you what the other side will say – what if a first-grader brings a weapon? If that is the case, then – Houston we have a problem bigger than discipline which this bill addresses if there is a serious safety threat to the student or others.

Some may say – well this is an unfunded mandate. Actually, school districts are funded to teach and educate children. In other words, keeping kids in school is funded and mandated. Please do not get distracted and focus on what is important. Keeping small children in the classroom is the biggest investment we can make today. Let us do it this year and carry it to the finish line.

I thank you as always

Idil Abdull – Somali Autism Mom & Advocate

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil

Alright – so, today I testified about HF 4112 which is about minorities giving advice to MN MDH and DHS about health racial disparities. Seriously, do you do know how many councils and advisory committees I have seen since I have been advocating for the past decade or so? more than I care to count. When we are at the leadership table then advice from a council is not needed because we are at the TABLE.

MN DHS and MDH create, maintain and enhance racial health disparities. They are the grandmother, father, and mother of health disparities. They never hire black & brown middle management, directors, managers, and supervisors. The few who work harder than most are forced to leave because they create a hostile and retaliation environment. Yet, the state legislators keep funding them. Why?

I appreciate what Rep. Vang is trying to do in this bill, but as someone who has been around the block and old enough to know how state health and human service agencies operate – I would not trust them with a 10-foot pole. I hope you write a bill to hold or suspend the funding they get when they discriminate and treat us differently. I hope you write a bill that makes them collect racial data on the number of providers they go after and how differently black and brown providers are treated at DHS vs how white providers are. I assure you there is a big difference. They are biased at best and racist at worst. MDH is even worse if you can believe it.

Here is my testimony – sooooo frustrating to deal with MDH and DHS.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Health Finance & Policy Committee

Chair: Rep. Liebling

March 14, 2022

            Re: HF 4112

Dear Madam Chair and Members,

Many thanks for the opportunity to testify and give you my two cents on this bill and about health equity and health disparities in Minnesota. I feel like I have seen a bill like this too many times during my advocacy of over 10 years now. Many legislators in this body and the senate have created and passed health equity councils before. There have been recommendations and reports. Nothing fruitful has been produced from them because we never get to the production part; always the advice and council portion.

Black, Brown & Native Americans in Minnesota are at the bottom of every pit in health, education, and in-between. We do not need council members to tell us what we already know, feel, and live with. What we need is for state legislators to graduate from more meaningless councils to hold both the health and human services agencies accountable for creating disparities.

You see as a black woman, I do not say in the morning – I will have a cup of coffee, a bowl of cereal, and disparities. Racial disparities are created by both MDH and DHS leadership.

Here is how and what you can do about it.

1. Ask MDH why there are almost or maybe none now directors and supervisors who are black and brown. Ask the current commissioner why she interviewed a Somali Mayo research doctor many times but never hired him. Does it also take that many interviews to hire Ph.D. white employees? My guess is no.
2. Just in autism, ask MDH even though they are in charge of and get funded to do assessments and assurance – why they never do it. They are supposed to do outreach to all communities and let families know about autism signs and what supports, and services are available. They do not which creates disparities.
3. Ask the current governor or any previous governor – how many black or brown DHS/MDH commissioners have been appointed? And please do not tell us there are no qualified ones. There are plenty who are more qualified. That creates disparities – the inability to give equal opportunities that whites in Minnesota enjoy.
4. Ask DHS why so many black and brown employees quit or were fired? Some have sued for discrimination and won. Ask them why the culture inside DHS is toxic for black and brown employees.
5. Ask DHS why they disproportionately close and shut down black/brown agencies while the white ones are nurtured, trained, and supported. It is all public data and facts, yet DHS keeps doing it with impunity. Did you know DHS does not keep racial data on the providers whose livelihood they destroy? Write a law that requires them to track and keep racial data.
6. Ask the current DHS administration why more employees of color have been retaliated against, fired, or have filed discrimination cases. See data below.

In 2017 – 7 complained of discrimination against DHS; 2018 – there were 22; 2019 there were 31 and in 2020 there were 23. Why so many? Ask DHS.

You see Madam Chair and Members; we do not need another group to tell us what we already know. We need you to hold these agencies accountable for creating and sustaining health disparities. The disparities that MDH/DHS creates and maintains should be connected to the funding they get from you.

7. Even the U of MN which is a state agency, ask them how many health researchers of color they produce and nurture? Yet they keep getting millions of dollars; why should they do better when there are no consequences for the disparities they create and enhance?

https://www.startribune.com/minn-dept-of-human-services-accused-of-toxic-environment-for-workers-of-color/572350262/

https://accesspress.org/racially-based-biases-alleged/

https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2020-06-04/george-floyds-death-exposes-the-minnesota-paradox

Racial disparities in Minnesota are the worst because those with the power allow it, continue it, and benefit from it. It even has a name Minnesota Paradox.

https://www.twincities.com/2021/05/01/samuel-myers-jr-fixing-the-minnesota-paradox/

Thanks as always

Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Advocate

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom and really frustrated advocate

Alright – so, Robbinsdale school district athletic students were insulted with racist and hurtful remarks by New Prague students and adults. Oh boy. I testified regarding a bill in the MN House that was about this (MSHSL). Essentially, the bill does nothing to rectify this; it basically keeps the same rules which is not ok. There needs to be more black and brown members on this board that is too vanilla for my taste. Additionally, both the high school principals and the school board associations staff and board lack diversity. So depressing. When we are not at the table, we are on the menu.

Minnesota House Education Policy Committee

Chair Rep. Ruth Richardson

March 7, 2022

Dear Madam Chair & Members,

Many thanks for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Idil Abdull; I am a Somali Autism Mom and Advocate who would like to retire from advocacy as soon as our children are protected from unions and lobbyists.

I want to tell you today that I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I am tired of constantly being told with facts and data that students who look like me are failing in publicly funded school districts, being suspended, being expelled, and being insulted.

I am tired of the adults who are in charge of these school districts having no accountability and consequences for their failures and hurtful policies. I am tired of state legislatures always playing politics with our children’s education and well-being. I am tired of legislatures we have elected to amend, change, add and delete education laws never do what is best for ALL kids.

I am tired of legislatures never taking away funds or disciplinary actions against school districts who keep failing our kids and cause long-term trauma and emotional pain for so many families including mine.

I ask you – why can’t you stand up for the students and hold these school districts accountable? Children are blank page and only repeat what they have heard from their environment, homes, and communities. It is the adults in their lives that need to be held accountable with tangible actions.

When will you finally do that?

House file #2246 asks to amend the board for the high school league is a promising idea. However, to have one parent represent all minorities is an insult and offensive. The sheer volume of minority students and families who have suffered and endured so much trauma caused by schools, particularly high schools should be taken into account. More minority parent representation is a must and necessary. I would also add one of the two secondary principals represent minorities. Currently, the current board for MASSP has no black or brown person. I think that is shameful.

MASSP Board: 10 white men and two white women.

https://massp.org/about-us/organizational-structure/

MASSP Executive Staff: 4 white men and 1 white woman.

https://massp.org/about-us/executive-committee/

Thanks

Idil Abdull

The above words do not represent any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Advocate

Alright – so, arguably Hennepin County is my least favorite county to advocate. They are rude, arrogant, racist, bias, walk on a high horse, and enormously powerful. They are the biggest county in Minnesota and have the most racial disparities in almost every category.

I feel tired just writing the above sentence. Not because I am old and would really like to retire from advocacy, but we have been down this road before a decade ago. I along with other Somali autism parents have advocated in Hennepin so many years ago with the help of previous MN House of Reps Speaker Margaret Kelliher, and Hennepin County Commissioners Jeff Johnson and Gail Dorfman. Back then the county hired minority social workers including Somalis, helped autism families, and even did a video on autism and our community.

Unfortunately, all of these went out of the window as there are new people in charge now and here, we go again. It is painfully tiring and frustrating to keep advocating about the same thing. Why are equality and equity so hard in this county and even in this state? I am simply baffled why so many in this county create and promote biases. Some do it consciously and some are unconscious.

There are all new commissioners now, some are even minorities. Yet, this county is still notoriously racist and has a huge gap between whites and minorities. A white autism family in Minnetonka and a black autism family in north Minneapolis who have similar situations are treated so differently. What makes this county even worse is they do it with impunity and unapologetically.

I am not even sure where to start now, but nothing energizes more than racism and over-rated government employees whose responsibility is to help autism families not do what they are supposed to do.

So, here we go again. Elections have consequences. Everyone who lives in this county has a commissioner who represents them. I say to anyone who feels they are not being treated equally or fairly to start there.

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom

Alright – so, I know the session ended months ago and I am just writing my take on it. The reason being it has been such a disappointing year for advocating discipline disparities in the Minnesota education system. Honestly, this is by far the most difficult issue I have ever had to advocate for. Education is the key to success and to living a life worth living. Education is knowledge and knowledge is power. Thus, the reason why this state has such high education disparities. Those with the power do not want to share it nor ever give up.  It does not matter if facts and data suggest children are failing in schools because they are being kicked from their education environment by teachers and administrators who are at best bias and at worst racist.

No one wants to hear they are racist, but those doing it do not want to stop it. I along with so many other parents, organizations, and even some legislators have testified endlessly to sadly no end.

Let’s dissect what happened and who did what and why.

Gov Walz (aka one hoax Minnesotans) put the kitchen sink in his education policy bill as he does every year. Let’s be clear this governor is by far the worst I have ever seen. He preaches sugar, but his policies are as salty as ocean water. The teacher’s unions were against anything good and the governor as usual backed them up and his useless policy proposals were deleted from the final omnibus education bill as they have been for the past several years. No surprise there.

The Senate controlled by Republicans had a new chair this year. Sen. Chamberlain whom I actually like and for the first time gave discipline disparities hearings. Sadly, that is all there were – hearings, where parents spoke about their experiences and we, were told thanks for sharing your story. If I hear one more legislator tell me – thanks for sharing your story, I am going to scream. Chamberlain wanted public funds to go to private schools which of course hell will freeze before the democrats vote for that. Chamberlain said if you want X then take my Y. Neither x nor y went anywhere and all policy parts were sadly taken out of the final bill.

The House controlled by Democrats as usual preached sugar, sugar, and more sugar. They had more hearings on education disparity issues, pretended to care, but when the rubber needed to meet the road sided with those blood-sucking teachers unions and threw the kids under the bus again. Rep. Davnie is the finance chair; ultimately he had the final say even though Richardson chaired the policy committee and Pinto the early childhood. In case, you are wondering why the house has three committees for work that the senate does in one committee then you must not know how dflers function. Lots of hoopla with nothing tangible for communities of color.

Education Minnesota headed by Denise S who rules with an iron fist mostly stayed behind the scenes but her words bled into every committee and every decision including the final ones. No surprise there.

Administrators and lobbyists – this year, they did not send their usual lobbyist, instead principals and others testified but the message was the same which was as cold as Minnesota ice.

In summary, telling our stories about discipline disparities has not worked. I am not sure if it will. Voting for legislators who look like us does not always work as well because when they get there – they become spineless and worthless. Unless you are one or two and those are picked on by the majority of that party.

So what now? I actually have no idea. I do know that insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. We have to come up with different strategies as current ones are not effective. I thank Education Allies team who were relentless in providing data and facts that no one can deny. I thank Solutions not Suspensions’ parents and advocates whose testimonies were inspiring and heartbreaking, sadly it was not enough to sway the legislators and/ or the leadership. If there was one suggestion that I can think of now would be next year is an election year for many of them including all of them in the house. I say we vote out the speaker (Melissa H) from Brooklyn Park. Getting a minority person isn’t always the better choice. We need someone with a spine and backbone to represent that city and all of our communities. Voting for the same people and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. I know she takes pictures with communities of color, but that is it. Her policies are as harsh as needles.

Finally, Minnesota is the only state in the country with a divided legislature. Having a one-party rule in both will not be better. Think about it. If the GOP is in power in both chambers, discipline disparities issues will not prevail. If the DFLers are in charge will be even worse because they will eliminate charter schools, protect the teachers, preach sugar, and practice salt.

As usual, the above words do not reflect any agency, candidate, or committee.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom

Alright – so, as I have mentioned many times the state of Minnesota has become and has been for generations a place that is very difficult for black and brown folks. I am not going to go over why and what we can do about it as I have already done in this blog many many times.

The good news is Dakota County attorney who has been there for decades stepped down from his post. I am no fan of him or any county’s justice system for that matter. Because he left during his tenure, the board commissioners have to select the next county attorney until the next election in a couple of years. Who applied? more of the same who have the same bias policies that created this racial disparity, to begin with.

Kathryn Keena served under Backstrom and if you can believe is worse than him. You see she has indifference attitude towards justice whereas Backstrom was rude and arrogant. She is the wrong person for this and I hope the board does not appoint her. Minnesota is at a crossroads and at a gut-wrenching moment in racial inequalities. If this state is to make any progress in this, people like Ms. Keena are all wrong. They are about the past, not the future.

Elizabeth Lamin – she is from Ramsey county attorney which is the only county that has a minority as the head. My bet is she is probably better than Ms. Keena for sure.

Tom Pugh – a democrat who is a retired judge. He may also be better than Ms. Keena.

Dakota county has a lot of diverse communities including a lot of autism families. As you can see no one looks like us on the board; not yet anyway.

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Advocate

Alright – so, the state of Minnesota has become the poster child for racial injustice and disparities of the country. Black and Brown folks in Minnesota are at the bottom of the pit in almost every category from education to health to employment to wealth to the justice system. Why, Why, and Why?

Three reasons:

1. We do not know and have not thus far learned how to use our votes to get what we need. What do we need? Better policies, to appoint people from our communities to be judges, commissioners, board members, etc. For example, Judge Peter Cahill was appointed by the Gov of Minnesota in 2007 then he won two elections which he probably did not even have anyone running against him. Judge Cahill was selected to oversee the trial of the century and will decide the sentencing time by the first black judge to be chief in Hennepin County. Guess who appointed him in 2006? No, not a liberal governor; Gov Pawlenty – the irony of this is interesting Who appointed him you ask? Well – I have written about how we need to run against judges in every category in Minnesota. Sadly, we never do. Imagine if this judge was someone who reflected us. How amazing would that have been.
2. To run for office – I mean by black and brown folks who have a backbone and not butt kissers. Sadly, majority (not all) black and brown legislators brownnose to whatever party they belong to. They forget who elected them and who they are supposed to represent. After black and brown legislators are in office, they need to write policies and laws that hold racists accountable, change and amend policies/laws that are hurting our communities, etc. This includes protecting not teachers’ unions who fail and kick our kids from their educational environments, voting no to giving twenty million dollars to a white life in Mpls while giving cents to black lives taken by Mpls police. This simply means representing your voters – period.
3. Sue everyone and anyone who discriminates against you even if you lose or think you will lose. The goal being make them uncomfortable as they have made you feel.
4. I do not honestly think if we do above three well with a laser-like focus we do not need the fourth one which is demonstrations. This is time-consuming and is basically begging someone else to give you the power you already have.

Think about this: What if the few black attorneys I can think of run to be judges or county district attorneys. For example, we (all Minnesotans) have heard of Nekima Levy; clearly, she is an eloquent speaker who has a legal sound mind. Imagine instead of marching in the streets of Hugo, MN, she ran the halls of Hennepin county by running against attorney Mike Freeman and defeating him.

Another example, imagine if black attorney Cedric Frazier instead of pandering to the teacher’s unions run to be a judge where he oversaw families suing schools for discrimination and disparities.

Imagine if Athena H (And I do not even like her) instead of saying useless words in a public safety committee in MN House of Reps run for a county attorney where she can make an actual difference instead of just talking. I blogged about this before, back then out of Minnesota’s 87 counties – there was one minority county attorney. Think about that. How insane is that? We cannot just march. We need to also become those that make the law, run agencies, run courtroom, etc., etc.

Alice Walker said, “The most common way for people to lose power is by thinking they don’t have any”. You see we assume we do not have the power to be judges, lawmakers, district, and county attorneys, etc., etc., etc. But we do. We should not always ask someone else to give us a seat at their table. We need to create our own tables, get our own chairs, and fill with diversity, equality, and fairness for all. That is the true American idealism and dream.

What makes America great is the idea that anyone from nothing can make it and be whatever their heart desires as long as their mind works towards that. I remember I once went on vacation to Paris, (no not Paris, Texas), France. And I remember being so excited to be the city of love and life. To my surprise, every French person, I have met wanted me to tell them about America and how great it is. There was a McDonald’s restaurant near our hotel, and it was always busy; I remember thinking why anyone would want to eat a big mac when there is French food everywhere. You see Mcdonald’s represented this great nation that promises justice, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to everyone.

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom and Advocate

Alright – so, Minnesota is arguably one of the racist states in the country. No, this not my opinion; it is a fact and based on data. While Minnesota has exceptional education and health care system; black and brown people are failing in schools and have one of the highest racial health disparities in the nation.

Minnesota Governor was being interviewed by Gayle King from CBS regarding yesterday’s verdict and he kept on preaching as though he was running for office. Walz stated Minnesota is a good place to live and raise a family except for black and brown people including education, health, homeownership, etc. At one point Gayle K told him “You are the governor, do something about it”. This coming from Gov Walz is ridiculous given he is the mother and father of systemic racism. Gov Walz has been here for years now and we are still struggling with disparities in every corner. Department of Human Services under him has discriminated against more black and brown employees than the past several governors combined. His health dept commissioner refused to hire a Somali Ph.D. public health professional from Mayo even though she wasted his time and interviewed him kazillion times. Note this is the health agency that hires clueless hillbilies as asst commissioners and/or in leadership positions. Under Gov Walz, teachers (protected by teacher’s union which he unapologetically supports) fail our kids while he helps the adults and screws with students.

The audacity of him preaching equality would be Jay Leno funny if it weren’t true. He needs to take a look at the mirror because he will see systemic racism. He needs to be a one-term governor. We (Black and Brown) folks need to stop voting for politicians like Walz who dismiss, disregard, and discriminate with impunity.

Something is rotten in Minnesota.

How did Minnesota become one of the most inequitable states?

Racial inequality in Minneapolis is among the worst in the nation. 

How Minneapolis, one of the most liberal cities struggles with racism.

Minnesota 2nd worst for inequalities for blacks in the nation. 

Minnesota among the worst in education gap.

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom

Dear MN DLF Chair Mr. Martin,

I guess you have finally displayed your true racist colors. I see the Minnesota DFL staff and board, and it could not be any more vanilla. An Alabama golf club in the 1950s had more diversity. The only person of color is your secretary. How lovely.

I still cannot understand why so many minorities do not see the MN DFL caucus’ true colors. It is not an accident for a state this liberal to have such a horrible and shameful racial disparity record. It is because of exactly how your staff and board are. Think about it. What is even sadder is that you always manage to find some minority person who is clueless and does not understand policy from poop. You use them as a token to get our votes then drop them faster than a hot potato.

Thus far, our people have not figured your bias and subliminally racist policies in your hiring, how you help minority legislators or lack thereof, how all these vanilla liberal politicians preach equity during elections then practice inequality after they win.

I know I keep hoping the next election we will get smarter; it just has not happened yet. I also know the other side could not sell a minority voter who was drowning a life jacket. You on the other hand can sell a minority person who is drowning – water.

Don’t get too comfortable though we will not be stupid forever.

Finally, think about how Gov Walz fooled all of us with his one Minn hoax crap. Then when the rubber needed to hit the road, see how many Somalis or even black/brown staff with any shred of power in his exclusive office. Think about how many Somalis have helped you win elections. Where are they now? Do they work for you? Do they work for one hoax MN gov? do they work in the MN House controlled by the DFL? Of course not.

This is soooooooo frustrating. I don’t know why our people fail to see you for who you really are; a closet racist who fools us with charisma and charm every election cycle.

Guess who was the last governor who did autism research? That is right Gov. Pawlenty. Yet children born in Minnesota to Somali parents have the highest autism rate in the country.

Examples of how subliminal MN DFLers are:

1. Asst Comm for Minn Dept of Education was a committee administrator (CA) in the MN DFL house of reps. I dare you to name a black/brown CA who is now in any state agency let alone an asst comm. Remember Abou Amara. He was arguably one of the smartest CA’s I have ever seen. How did MN DFLers reward him? You guessed it – no job or career advancement. This is one example of many black and brown folks who are highly articulate, intelligent, and educated but are never hired nor appreciated by the MN DFL party.
2. https://www.wbur.org/news/2019/03/30/ayanna-pressley-democrat-committee
3. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article240156358.html

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom

Alright – so, Education Minnesota which as I have said before is very powerful politically in this state has done it again. They crafted and led a bill that will reduce and get rid of one of the pathways many teachers of color enter in the classroom. Yes, they are charming, savvy, and even got someone who looks like us to do their dirty work. PELSB also supported this which surprised me. They have a fair amount of diverse folks there, but for some reason; they do not seem to get the gravity of this bill. Anytime the teacher licensure body and the teacher’s unions agree is never good for our kids. This is really sad. The principal’s lobbyists were against this bill, but not to hire or nurture teachers of color which make-up about 20% or so, but to support the 80% white teachers they normally hire.

I soooo wanna cry right now. Who is in the corner of the children and families?

Minnesota House of Representatives Education Policy Committee

Chair – Rep. Richardson

March 1, 2021

My son who has nonverbal autism was suspended by teacher Kelly Morris and principal Jaysen Anderson on Thursday, May 3rd, 5:18pm in 2018. The teacher neglected to give him his communication device, disrupted his routine then called the principal and security on my kid.

I never took him back. My son now goes to a charter school which has been simply wonderful. They understand he has a disability and does not comprehend suspension nor cause/effect. I will never forget that day.

       Re: HF 1376

Madam Chair and Members, many thanks for the opportunity to testify today. I too oppose this horrifying bill along with the many other testifiers. My reason is simply from the parent’s perspective. The teacher who suspended my child was licensed and followed all the “so-called” licensure pathways. Yet, she was not trained in teaching high school students, nor did she understand my son’s needs or our culture.

My son’s current charter schoolteacher did not follow this so-called licensure pathway and I would take Asha over Kelly any day in any school. You see – Madam Chair and members, Asha is a kind, caring and compassionate teacher who reflects my son, understands our culture and most of all sees my son’s potential.

I am heartbroken about this bill. I am mortified that it was written by a black man who should at the very minimum understand how hard it is for black and brown students to learn. To be an effective and amazing teacher does not require one size fits all pathway.

Let me put it in another way that you all can perhaps understand. All the legislatures in this committee are all house of representative, right? But your journey and pathway to this place at this moment have been different from one another. Some of you are attorneys, some are teachers, some are mental health professionals, and others got here from different areas. Imagine, if you were all required to take the same pathway to become a legislature. The majority of you would not be here.

Life is not one size fits all. We must enhance not restrict the pathway to finding knowledgeable and competent teachers who reflect our children. This bill will hurt our kids and ultimately our state.

Please reconsider and vote no on this bill.

As always, I thank you for your time. Idil – Somali Autism Mom

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom