Chicago State Senator James Meeks (D-Chicago) has proposed a rather radical action to protest the underfunding of Chicago’s inner city schools.Chicago Students Plan First-Day Boycott
Chicago State Senator James Meeks (D-Chicago) has proposed a rather radical action to protest the underfunding of Chicago’s inner city schools.Meeks has issued a call for all school kids in Chicago’s poorest districts to boycott the first day at their assigned school and instead head to resource rich predominately white schools and attempt to register there.
Meeks plan has supporters and detractors. …
It’s no secret that schools in predominately poor urban and rural communities just do not provide the educational opportunities to be had in solidly middle class or affluent communities. But what to do about it? Republicans and others favor various forms of “school choice” or voucher programs where children stuck in a lousy school would have the option to move to one with stronger academic options.
Others simply want state and federal government to allocate more dollars to improving under-performing schools. ‘No Child Left Behind’ is an example of a recent government initiative meant to insure that all students have some basic, uniform standard of achievement.
From the Chicago Tribune:
Nearly 50 ministers on Monday embraced plans for students to boycott at least the first day of Chicago Public Schools classes, a move aimed at ramping up pressure on state officials to address widespread inequities in education funding.
The church leaders from the city’s West and South Sides pledged their support as lawmakers return to Springfield on Tuesday to meet in a special session Gov. Rod Blagojevich called to consider the funding issue that has vexed lawmakers for decades.
The ministers said they would urge their congregations and communities to participate in the first-day boycott Sept. 2 and attempt to enroll Chicago students in New Trier Township High School District in north suburban Winnetka.
“We refuse to continue to allow the State of Illinois to orphan our educational system,” said Rev. Albert Tyson of St. Stephen AME Church.
Frankly, I do not accept that you can increase education funding by encouraging students to skip school.
“It’s counterproductive to urge kids not to attend school,” Gov. Blagojevich said at a separate event. “If a child misses a day of school, that child will miss an opportunity to learn. I think children should take advantage of every possible day they can to go to school.”
Further, he said, Chicago Public Schools would lose some state money if students skip because average daily attendance helps determine each school district’s overall funding.
New Trier District 203 Supt. Linda Yonke, bracing for Meeks’ attempt to enroll 1,000 students, labeled the ministers’ move a “political action” she hopes won’t be disruptive.
If this is not an example of Social Studies in action, I don’t know what is! If a teacher is not able to make a connection between this student centered event and various theories, laws and philosophies taught in Social Studies, then they are not a very effective teacher. Now on one hand we talk about how this current generation of students is this and they are that. But then we are afraid to have them participate in a volunatry peaceful protest. A protest that benefts them and their education. This is a perfect example of getting kids to buy into the type of education that they are receiving that will prepare them for the future.
If you read my post about Mayors + Superintendents and look at that youtube channel that the episode that I posted originated from you will find the CEO of Chicago Public Schools. A CEO that just told a U.S. committee of politicians that his school district was on the rise. But we know that it all comes down to money! I wonder why our politicians in Washington D.C. are not pushing for more money to fund education instead of slashing the education budget. Oh, I forgot they want to privatize education. I guess they didn’t get the newsflash from Edison Schools that privatization of public schools doesn’t necessarily work!
Give Chicago the money needed to improve their schools, reinstate the physical education, music, art, afterschool programs and psychological and Social Work staff needed to help students in these schools and enforce the NCLB standards and watch the students soar!
