Some Somali parents worry that their students are losing their culture in Minneapolis schools. Others share a common parental complaint–not enough homework..

That’s one take-away from Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson’sQ-A session with Somali parents Thursday night at Brian Coyle Community Center in Cedar-Riverside. It’s one of a series of “soup with the Supe” she’s holding with Hmong, Latino and Somali constituencies.

The district has almost 2,200 students from Somali-speaking households, making Somali the second-most widely spoken foreign language for district students after Spanish, ranking ahead of Hmong. The top five schools for Somali enrollment are Lyndale, Anne Sullivan, Pillsbury, Seward and Heritage.

Fatumo Webi, whose children attend Whittier school, sounded much like many Minneapolis parents when she urged Johnson that they be assigned more homework, complaining that there’s too much social time in school. Johnson recommended nightly reading for students, something that parents can play a role in.

Johnson said she believes in a small amount of homework, maybe 10 minutes a night, for first graders, escalating it as they age. “We let children off the hook, and they get used to not putting out the effort,” she said.  Then when they hit college or work, and don’t have the experience of pressing through snags, these students often can’t cope.

Johnson also faced persistent questions about integrating Somali language and culture into some district programs from parents who want more of that amidst fears that their children will lose their heritage. Those attending also want more Somali-speaking teachers. Johnson admitted that the ranks of those native speakers have taken a hit as the district has shrunk because they are more junior and subject to layoffs.

After the Q-A, the crowd of maybe 100 people broke for a meal served by district staff, featuring sambusas – the stuffed triangular pastries that are classic Somali fare.

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Star Tribune

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