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What Happened At The Protest The protest outside the Board meeting was just as lively as the proceedings inside, reports Ben Strauss:
Most dissenters didn’t
show up until the afternoon protest.
Marchers lined up against the
wall in the same hallway that the GEM press conference was held.
Police dressed in yellow and blue jackets waited against the other wall.
Teachers had CTU buttons pinned to their jackets and most picketers
held signs that included cutouts of Board member’s faces with the
caption, “Wanted for educational treason” and handmade proclamations like “Yo (heart) Peabody.”
Some were held by senior citizens
and other by elementary schoolers. One young student from Carpenter,
bundled in a red scarf that covered much of his face, held a sign that
read “Carpenter School students matter and count.”
At the appointed moment, the procession began picketing
the 100 block of South Clark, initially stretching from Adams to Marble.
Crowded into two single file lines, the gathering eventually grew until it stretched
almost to Monroe.
Chants ranged from “Save
our schools, don’t be fools” to “Ren 2010 has got to go.”
One of the protests’ sponsors,
Kenzo Shibata of CORE, said it was important to understand the protest
wasn’t about the new CEO of CPS.
“It doesn’t matter who
has that job,” he said. “We’re looking for an audience with
the mayor.”
Dock Walls, who ran for mayor
in 2006 and now is the director of the Committee for a Better Chicago,
said the difference was night and day between the February ‘08 protest
outside the Board and Wednesday’s.
“We’re maturing and becoming
more effective,” he said. “There are no more conflicting messages.”
In the January twilight, the line of protesters snaked
toward City Hall -- but not before making a pit
stop at the Chase Building, home of the Commercial Club. March
organizers said this was where Ren. 10 was hatched.
With ears
and noses reddening from the cold, police ushered the 500-700
protesters estimated to be there down Washington to the stone
colonnades of City Hall. Along the way, marchers walked past the
patriotic colors of the Barack Obama congratulations banners that hung
from lamp posts.
“Hey, hey. Ho, ho,”
they chanted. “Mayor Daley’s got to go.”
Strauss is a freelance writer and a regular contributor to District 299.
Photo credit: Kate Gardiner
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Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 10:27 AM
What Happened At The Protest
now there needs to be pressure put on our politicians.
next protest on your door step.
they are with us or against us.
next protest on your door step.
they are with us or against us.
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 3:26 PM
What Happened At The Protest
It's important for the public to know who's really behind Renaissance 2010. The Board of Education just rubber stamps decisions already made by the corporate bosses who fund and promote Renaissance 2010, but we shouldn't let anyone off the hook. This link
http://pureparents.org/index.php?blog/show/Whos_behind_Renaissance_2010
will get you to the lists posted on PURE's web site of the contact and business information for the CPS Board members and the members of the Renaissance Fund and the Civic Committee, whose "brainchild" this all is. They need to be exposed and held accountable for what they are doing to our children and our schools.
http://pureparents.org/index.php?blog/show/Whos_behind_Renaissance_2010
will get you to the lists posted on PURE's web site of the contact and business information for the CPS Board members and the members of the Renaissance Fund and the Civic Committee, whose "brainchild" this all is. They need to be exposed and held accountable for what they are doing to our children and our schools.
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 3:46 PM
What Happened At The Protest
From the looks of this crowd, I'll take the corporate bosses.
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 4:03 PM
What Happened At The Protest
The anti-julie has it right. I'm still studying Ren10, but the list of "corporate bosses" listed on PURE's web site doesn't worry me. What is it, a crime to support education if your successful? Can only the meek apply?
The other part of this that bugs me is the feeling that no school should ever be closed for any reason. There are several schools on the proposed list this year where the per pupil cost is over $20,000 a year. The CPS average is around $11,200. The parents of those schools say how great their schools are - small class sizes you know! Well, of course! I bet the south side schools could perform a bit better too with an extra $8000 per student per year. And, by the way, the top performing schools spend very close to the CPS average.
When the CTU and the anti Ren10 folks start being a little more realistic over school closings, I'll listen to them.
The other part of this that bugs me is the feeling that no school should ever be closed for any reason. There are several schools on the proposed list this year where the per pupil cost is over $20,000 a year. The CPS average is around $11,200. The parents of those schools say how great their schools are - small class sizes you know! Well, of course! I bet the south side schools could perform a bit better too with an extra $8000 per student per year. And, by the way, the top performing schools spend very close to the CPS average.
When the CTU and the anti Ren10 folks start being a little more realistic over school closings, I'll listen to them.
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 5:30 PM
What Happened At The Protest
"There are several schools on the proposed list this year where the per pupil cost is over $20,000 a year."
So what? Cost is a factor in closings?
Noble Street Charter spends $22,000 per student.
And they're expanding from 7 to 9 campuses next year.
Hm.
So what? Cost is a factor in closings?
Noble Street Charter spends $22,000 per student.
And they're expanding from 7 to 9 campuses next year.
Hm.
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 5:56 PM
What Happened At The Protest
The hyperbole in this debate (lsc lobbyists in darth vader suits and choice fanatics in corporate suits ) distracts us from the big idea here. Parents deserve - and pay for - good school options. Neighborhood. Charter. Contract. Whatever. The issue should be whether schools work. If new OR existing schools don't work, they should close. No school should be allowed to run if it persistently fails, or because it serves so few kids it siphons scarce resources from other over crowded schools - let alone because it has been there forever. Closing schools is never easy. But putting all schools on performance contracts, and making public to parents that that is the role for good government, along with giving parents fair warning the year before a school is closed, providing good alternatives whenever a school does close - is the right thing to do.
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 6:42 PM
What Happened At The Protest
Agree With Above,
Your comments fail to acknowledge that there are major differences between types of schools. A great many schools work because they are selective enrollment - primarily magnets and charters. It really doesn't take a rocket scientist to make those schools "work". Is it appropriate to invest so heavily in Ren10 selective enrollment schools when not all families have equal or equitable access to them? I say no. How about you?
Also, when discussing schools that work it is not appropriate or legitimate to compare selective enrollment schools to neighborhood schools.
For instance...
Noble Street Charter campuses:
a) spend $22,000 per year per student
b) select their enrollment (through a variety of techniques)
c) cap enrollment
d) are exempt from numerous state regulations
Neighborhood schools:
a) spend $11,000 per year per student
b) must enroll any child within their attendance boundary
c) can not cap enrollment
d) are mandated by law to educate all comers
That is not a fair nor a valid comparison and it is totally unreasonable to hold them to the same standards. Calling it a stacked deck would be putting it mildly, and politely.
The greatest strength of a truly public school system is, in a way, its greatest weakness - it must educate *everybody*. Nearly 70 Ren10 schools are simply exempt from that requirement and don't even attempt to fulfill it.
Not to mention that the "underperformance" of public schools is a massive failure of the Board of Education, CPS bureaucrats, and school administrators - not exclusively, or even mostly, teachers. Even more offensive is the Board's contradiction of its very mission - CPS intentionally ignores its charge to educate all students by investing in some students more than others. And that's not right.
All schools deserve equitable investment, both financial and otherwise, and all students deserve access to fully supported schools within their own neighborhoods.
Your comments fail to acknowledge that there are major differences between types of schools. A great many schools work because they are selective enrollment - primarily magnets and charters. It really doesn't take a rocket scientist to make those schools "work". Is it appropriate to invest so heavily in Ren10 selective enrollment schools when not all families have equal or equitable access to them? I say no. How about you?
Also, when discussing schools that work it is not appropriate or legitimate to compare selective enrollment schools to neighborhood schools.
For instance...
Noble Street Charter campuses:
a) spend $22,000 per year per student
b) select their enrollment (through a variety of techniques)
c) cap enrollment
d) are exempt from numerous state regulations
Neighborhood schools:
a) spend $11,000 per year per student
b) must enroll any child within their attendance boundary
c) can not cap enrollment
d) are mandated by law to educate all comers
That is not a fair nor a valid comparison and it is totally unreasonable to hold them to the same standards. Calling it a stacked deck would be putting it mildly, and politely.
The greatest strength of a truly public school system is, in a way, its greatest weakness - it must educate *everybody*. Nearly 70 Ren10 schools are simply exempt from that requirement and don't even attempt to fulfill it.
Not to mention that the "underperformance" of public schools is a massive failure of the Board of Education, CPS bureaucrats, and school administrators - not exclusively, or even mostly, teachers. Even more offensive is the Board's contradiction of its very mission - CPS intentionally ignores its charge to educate all students by investing in some students more than others. And that's not right.
All schools deserve equitable investment, both financial and otherwise, and all students deserve access to fully supported schools within their own neighborhoods.
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 10:01 PM
What Happened At The Protest
I want African American and Hispanic kids with low income parents to be stuck in bad schools while we as a huge district try one more initiative to fix their school. While we are trying to tweak the curriculum (IT WILL WORK THIS TIME!), we'll keep the kids in school for a nice short school day. Just over six hours of below average instruction should be just about right for kids who are multiple grade levels behind. We won't ask them to do much homework either. How about we make it so it is virtually impossible for the public to see how good their teachers are too. That way, there low-income parents won't figure out how low-quality their child's education is while we are trying to tweak one last thing. I KNOW IT WILL WORK THIS TIME!
The kids need to stay put. Their futures be damned! We will make their local school better! It doesn't matter if we've had decades to close the achievement gap. We are about to. Trust us! Just one more thing to tweak! We are SO close!
Ha!
Local District Schools,
You had your turn. We can't lose another generation of kids as a result of your low-quality education. It is time for increased accountability, increased transparency, and a MAJOR change in approach. You only get one chance to get the education of a child right.
The kids need to stay put. Their futures be damned! We will make their local school better! It doesn't matter if we've had decades to close the achievement gap. We are about to. Trust us! Just one more thing to tweak! We are SO close!
Ha!
Local District Schools,
You had your turn. We can't lose another generation of kids as a result of your low-quality education. It is time for increased accountability, increased transparency, and a MAJOR change in approach. You only get one chance to get the education of a child right.
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 10:16 PM
What Happened At The Protest
You should continue and remind everyone that you are only interested in providing an education for some students, not all. The real result of Ren10 is to deprive the 'riff-raff' of their right to a free and appropriate education. Select schools, select students - and damn all the rest.
Any neighborhood school given equitable investment of financial, safety, instructional, and extracurricular support (like Noble Charter's $22,000 per child - twice the district average) and given the opportunity to select its students like so many of these "new schools" would easily match or exceed what's happening in Ren10 buildings.
You are so completely and obviously misinformed about most neighborhood schools (perhaps intentionally?) that I couldn't decide whether your post even merited a response.
Any neighborhood school given equitable investment of financial, safety, instructional, and extracurricular support (like Noble Charter's $22,000 per child - twice the district average) and given the opportunity to select its students like so many of these "new schools" would easily match or exceed what's happening in Ren10 buildings.
You are so completely and obviously misinformed about most neighborhood schools (perhaps intentionally?) that I couldn't decide whether your post even merited a response.
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 10:16 PM
What Happened At The Protest
I don't think any real educator or functioning parent is aiming to lose another generation of low-income children. We want authentic accountability, honest transparency, viable outcomes for all students.
Maybe you don't see it, Trust, but your slam of the neighborhood schools includes the directive to junk a huge group of students who don't easily fit into SE and other "selective-ish" schools that are being put in our neighborhoods. I get your satire. But I don't think you're addressing the needs of ALL our city's children.
Maybe you don't see it, Trust, but your slam of the neighborhood schools includes the directive to junk a huge group of students who don't easily fit into SE and other "selective-ish" schools that are being put in our neighborhoods. I get your satire. But I don't think you're addressing the needs of ALL our city's children.
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 10:22 PM
What Happened At The Protest
I run a charter school. Our school day is longer and we pay teachers more than the union payscale. Last year we received $7,800/child from the district, state, and feds. We spent $10,000/child. Our school had to fundraise the difference. This year we have to fundraise about $500k because we want to offer our kids a solid education. Even when you include this additional $500k we are spending less per pupil than the district. This year we are spending about $10k/pupil again. We don't have gobs of $. We have to work hard to write grants and solicit individuals for donations. Our kids are in school 50% more than CPS but we actually spend less than the district's $11,300/pupil.
I'm not sure how you got those numbers for Noble Street. Did you count the facilities that they are paying for? If the numbers are accurate, they are not representitive of all charters. Most of us spend less than $11,300 AND do a longer day and year.
If the numbers are accurate, kudos to Noble for attracting the private donations. If you want to know how they do it, go visit a Noble school. You'll be impressed--they have a VERY high %age of SPED kids and they make great gains. (you might even make a donation. :))
I'm not sure how you got those numbers for Noble Street. Did you count the facilities that they are paying for? If the numbers are accurate, they are not representitive of all charters. Most of us spend less than $11,300 AND do a longer day and year.
If the numbers are accurate, kudos to Noble for attracting the private donations. If you want to know how they do it, go visit a Noble school. You'll be impressed--they have a VERY high %age of SPED kids and they make great gains. (you might even make a donation. :))
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 10:26 PM
What Happened At The Protest
When we recruit kids for our charter, we beat the bushes. All you need to do is finish the correct grade and live in the city. If there is creaming--it is ever so slight. It takes about 10 min to fill our our enrollment form and you need to come to two 45 min meetings.
You really can't write off charters and other new schools that easily. We are not selective enrollment. We are busting our tails to provide our kids with an education that will get them to and through college.
You really can't write off charters and other new schools that easily. We are not selective enrollment. We are busting our tails to provide our kids with an education that will get them to and through college.
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 10:49 PM
What Happened At The Protest
Your charter school sounds wonderful. However, many of the parents with the most needy children cannot -- or will not -- attend the two 45 minute meetings required for enrollment in a charter school.
Why not eliminate the required meetings? Why are they mandatory? Please provide ALL the children with the education they deserve.
Why not eliminate the required meetings? Why are they mandatory? Please provide ALL the children with the education they deserve.
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 11:15 PM
What Happened At The Protest
Charter Runner - Great to have your input!
If charters were not selective in their enrollment they would enroll entirely students from the neighborhood. But they don't. What percentage of students in charters come from the neighborhood in which the building resides? Hmm? And why don't charters enroll every single student from the neighborhood? Why not? What would be the harm in that?
The Noble Charter numbers come from their state report card - much of which is blank, of course.
It's stunning to me that people don't consider charters selective. Recruiting in its very nature is selective - you can't possibly reach everyone out there so you target your audience. That much, at least, makes sense. But what of the children in the neighborhood who don't apply to the charter or can't get it? Why are you denying them an opportunity at your charter? And, of course, there are many, many, many parents who can not or will not attend two 45 minute informational sessions. (You can't even get an application to Noble Street without first going to an information session - they won't e-mail you one, stick it in an envelope, or even pick it up in one of their schools. That's pretty damn selective.) Neighborhood schools and charters simply aren't on a level playing field.
While I'm completely opposed to funding the public service of education with private dollars, I am impressed with Nobles fundraising efforts - one of their schools is named for the CEOs of Exelon and ComEd, respectively. But if that's what the Board wants to do, then CPS should solicit such massive donations for neighborhood schools, too.
Which charter school pays above Union scale? Give us a name - it might attract teacher applications. Also, is that hourly or salary? And are you including health care benefits and pension contributions? Sick day accumulation, etc? And what is the average teaching experience at your charter? Noble's is 5 years. Most new teachers are just hitting their stride at the 5 year mark. Why aren't there more veteran teachers at charters? Or is that a result of charters not wanting veteran teachers? What happens to the current charter teachers when they become wily veterans? Will charters dump them for younger, cheaper labor?
If charters were not selective in their enrollment they would enroll entirely students from the neighborhood. But they don't. What percentage of students in charters come from the neighborhood in which the building resides? Hmm? And why don't charters enroll every single student from the neighborhood? Why not? What would be the harm in that?
The Noble Charter numbers come from their state report card - much of which is blank, of course.
It's stunning to me that people don't consider charters selective. Recruiting in its very nature is selective - you can't possibly reach everyone out there so you target your audience. That much, at least, makes sense. But what of the children in the neighborhood who don't apply to the charter or can't get it? Why are you denying them an opportunity at your charter? And, of course, there are many, many, many parents who can not or will not attend two 45 minute informational sessions. (You can't even get an application to Noble Street without first going to an information session - they won't e-mail you one, stick it in an envelope, or even pick it up in one of their schools. That's pretty damn selective.) Neighborhood schools and charters simply aren't on a level playing field.
While I'm completely opposed to funding the public service of education with private dollars, I am impressed with Nobles fundraising efforts - one of their schools is named for the CEOs of Exelon and ComEd, respectively. But if that's what the Board wants to do, then CPS should solicit such massive donations for neighborhood schools, too.
Which charter school pays above Union scale? Give us a name - it might attract teacher applications. Also, is that hourly or salary? And are you including health care benefits and pension contributions? Sick day accumulation, etc? And what is the average teaching experience at your charter? Noble's is 5 years. Most new teachers are just hitting their stride at the 5 year mark. Why aren't there more veteran teachers at charters? Or is that a result of charters not wanting veteran teachers? What happens to the current charter teachers when they become wily veterans? Will charters dump them for younger, cheaper labor?
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 11:22 PM
What Happened At The Protest
"Our school day is longer and we pay teachers more than the union payscale." Could you provide percentages of both? And please, when you're recalculating, add in the longer school year, the higher cost of benefits to teachers, what percentage of mandatory 9% CTPF your charter teachers pay. Then see if you can say "you pay teachers more."
Finally, please provide the average number of years' experience your teachers have and your teacher turnover rate.
Then we could be talking apples and apples ...
Your answer could be why 700+ supporters or PUBLIC education turned out to protest closures, etc. -- because they also support public school teachers.
Finally, please provide the average number of years' experience your teachers have and your teacher turnover rate.
Then we could be talking apples and apples ...
Your answer could be why 700+ supporters or PUBLIC education turned out to protest closures, etc. -- because they also support public school teachers.
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 11:23 PM
What Happened At The Protest
I have no interest in denying educational opportunities to children. But many of us do believe that ALL children deserve an equitable - and outstanding - education. CPS is failing miserably at providing that to all students, instead opting to provide it for only certain students, typically those with involved parents who invest in education. Ren10 only exacerbates the inequities. Are some students more worthy of an education than others? More deserving? Are we to give up on the struggling students who need the most support to make it through? How high or low should the bar be set for removing students from charter schools vs. neighborhood schools? We have to follow state law in that matter. Charters don't. That's a big deal. Should we just dispatch a generation of kids because they wore the wrong color belt to school and, instead of booting them back into the neighborhood schools, boot them from the system entirely?
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 11:55 PM
What Happened At The Protest
"the most needy children cannot -- or will not -- attend the two 45 minute meetings required for enrollment in a charter school."
Well, there's the problem. If a parent cannot or worse will not attend two meetings, then it is no wonder why their child is failing. That is what you call selective?????
Well, there's the problem. If a parent cannot or worse will not attend two meetings, then it is no wonder why their child is failing. That is what you call selective?????
Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 12:31 AM
What Happened At The Protest
selective is when the board takes well performing schools and throws everyone out.
come down to the hearings and witness the criminal conduct and destruction of the public school system. witness families pleading for schools to stay open even when they are exceeding most CPS schools in terms of scores and AYP.
yes selective:
they select to destroy our freedom to have a good education for our children.
they are corrupt government officials that work against the public they serve. they are corrupt for closing down local government facilities that serve specific populations (neighborhoods) without the consent of the constituents the facilities serve. the facilities are not private entities to be manipulated, schools are places were minors seek to be safe and educated in an environment that is familiar to them.
again come on down and watch the board employees, even sometimes snicker, when children and parents break down begging to keep their schools open.
come down to the hearings and witness the criminal conduct and destruction of the public school system. witness families pleading for schools to stay open even when they are exceeding most CPS schools in terms of scores and AYP.
yes selective:
they select to destroy our freedom to have a good education for our children.
they are corrupt government officials that work against the public they serve. they are corrupt for closing down local government facilities that serve specific populations (neighborhoods) without the consent of the constituents the facilities serve. the facilities are not private entities to be manipulated, schools are places were minors seek to be safe and educated in an environment that is familiar to them.
again come on down and watch the board employees, even sometimes snicker, when children and parents break down begging to keep their schools open.
Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 1:09 AM
What Happened At The Protest
None of you - charter proponents or opponents - would have anything to argue about if the necessary statistic and demographic data was available for ALL schools.
Most important: year to year individual student scores and gains.
If you could actually verify the various claims coming out of charters you could then reasonably determine what was causing the improvements and implement them at all schools, rather than keeping them secret.
Most important: year to year individual student scores and gains.
If you could actually verify the various claims coming out of charters you could then reasonably determine what was causing the improvements and implement them at all schools, rather than keeping them secret.
Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 2:08 AM
What Happened At The Protest
here are some more pics from the rally
Anti-REN2010 Rally Jan 09
( 24 images )
Anti-REN2010 Rally Jan 09
( 24 images )
Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 4:05 AM
What Happened At The Protest
It's nice to see the charter school touts still flicking boogers at the public schools behind the fig leaf of "anonymous."
Last night, not one charter school hero showed up to praise the charter schools in the face of the outpouring of support for real public schools at the hearings that lasted from 3:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.
South Chicago Elementary is targeted to be turned over to a charter school as soon as CPS can murder the school with these kangeroo court hearings. Just check the "Renaissance 2010" RFP map that was distributed last Spring when the Office of New Schools announced the "areas of need." That was the time and place the map was produced for this year's closings. Every "need" part of the city would then provide a site for a charter -- courtesy of these sham closings.
Peabody has been targeted by Noble Street charter for years. This year Peabody gets to go out of business, and within a month Noble Street will be in.
Last night, Alderman Burnett gave up trying to evade accountability for his own huge love affair with charter schools, especially when Marilyn Stewart joined in asking him specific questions. Burnett slandered the old Morse Elementary School when it was trying to survive as an underfunded community regular public school -- and Burnett helped CPS murder Morse three years ago.
Then Burnett posed and preened when CPS opened the "Polaris" charter school inside the Morse building in his ward (after putting more than $5 million in rehab -- probably $10 million total; they even built new sidewalks and curbs!) so that he could get his picture taken with all the "New Schools" people and the millionaires from the Civic Committee who bankroll outfits like Polaris (the former Tribune publisher gave "Polaris" a million dollar heads up to start, for example).
This year, Polaris still has fewer than 200 students, and I'd bet (if there were any real transparency) that Burnett would discover that half of the Polaris kids are from outside his ward.
But "Polaris" is not "underutilized" and Burnett is now supporting the destruction of Peabody and Carpenter so that the gentrification and charterization of the 27 Ward, courtesy of the millionaires at the "Renaissance Schools Fund" and the developers that contribute so generously to the political career of Walter Burnett, Jr.
But back to reality.
I can't wait for the first day here that one person from a charter school blogs in his own name, with some facts, in a heated discussion like this.
That would be as surprising as the day that the charter manipulators show up at one of the "closing" hearings and proclaim that they've already clouted to take over the schools that are being destroyed as we speak.
Fat chance. Cowards need to hide behind the skirts of Blognominity. I almost admire guys like Walter Burnett for at least coming out in public. The guys who run Noble Street Charter Schools and are gunning to get the Peabody building as soon as CPS murders Peabody will stay away from these hearings and the Board meetings, just as they stayed away from the Gladstone hearings last year when they were behind the scenes at the murder of Gladstone.
Last night, not one charter school hero showed up to praise the charter schools in the face of the outpouring of support for real public schools at the hearings that lasted from 3:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.
South Chicago Elementary is targeted to be turned over to a charter school as soon as CPS can murder the school with these kangeroo court hearings. Just check the "Renaissance 2010" RFP map that was distributed last Spring when the Office of New Schools announced the "areas of need." That was the time and place the map was produced for this year's closings. Every "need" part of the city would then provide a site for a charter -- courtesy of these sham closings.
Peabody has been targeted by Noble Street charter for years. This year Peabody gets to go out of business, and within a month Noble Street will be in.
Last night, Alderman Burnett gave up trying to evade accountability for his own huge love affair with charter schools, especially when Marilyn Stewart joined in asking him specific questions. Burnett slandered the old Morse Elementary School when it was trying to survive as an underfunded community regular public school -- and Burnett helped CPS murder Morse three years ago.
Then Burnett posed and preened when CPS opened the "Polaris" charter school inside the Morse building in his ward (after putting more than $5 million in rehab -- probably $10 million total; they even built new sidewalks and curbs!) so that he could get his picture taken with all the "New Schools" people and the millionaires from the Civic Committee who bankroll outfits like Polaris (the former Tribune publisher gave "Polaris" a million dollar heads up to start, for example).
This year, Polaris still has fewer than 200 students, and I'd bet (if there were any real transparency) that Burnett would discover that half of the Polaris kids are from outside his ward.
But "Polaris" is not "underutilized" and Burnett is now supporting the destruction of Peabody and Carpenter so that the gentrification and charterization of the 27 Ward, courtesy of the millionaires at the "Renaissance Schools Fund" and the developers that contribute so generously to the political career of Walter Burnett, Jr.
But back to reality.
I can't wait for the first day here that one person from a charter school blogs in his own name, with some facts, in a heated discussion like this.
That would be as surprising as the day that the charter manipulators show up at one of the "closing" hearings and proclaim that they've already clouted to take over the schools that are being destroyed as we speak.
Fat chance. Cowards need to hide behind the skirts of Blognominity. I almost admire guys like Walter Burnett for at least coming out in public. The guys who run Noble Street Charter Schools and are gunning to get the Peabody building as soon as CPS murders Peabody will stay away from these hearings and the Board meetings, just as they stayed away from the Gladstone hearings last year when they were behind the scenes at the murder of Gladstone.
Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 6:38 AM
What Happened At The Protest
The protest is about making transparent the plantation politics that King Daley has adopted during his reign and has taken to another level. King Daley is about tearing down public education. While some may feign surprise by Huberman's selection by King Daley, it is obvious that Huberman's is his only choice to carry out the destruction of neighborhood schools. Our schools of education in classes about policy , have taught for some time that the Daley and the Chicago Commerce Club have been about cutting certified teachers, closing neighborhood schools and opening "cheaper" charter schools in their place. This has been going on for years now. Again, no surprise. King Daley didn't even have to go through the "show" of doing a national search for Duncan's replacement, instead getting a flunky to carry out his orders. As George has pointed out, while charter schools are praised and touted for small classes and extended instructional days, CPS calls underfunded neighborhood schools with small classrooms underutilized and should be closed. The whole process is a FRAUD! Though with the rough economic times, even charter school operators are worried how they will stay in business in a depression and how long will their teachers go along with no job protection recourse for all their work. Two KIPP school staffs have joined the teacher union. hmmmmmm
Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 7:00 AM
What Happened At The Protest
The achievement numbers matter when comparing schools. Check out the comparisons (AND THE TRANSPARACY) at http://www.ren2010.cps.k12.il.us/docs/2006-2007_Performance_Report.pdf
I think that the creaming is extemely slight. You going after slight creaming, is allowing you to not really take a good, hard look at what is not working in public ed.
BTW, I wish I had an attendance boundary for my charter. Instead I need to walk the neighborhoods talking up our school.
I think that the creaming is extemely slight. You going after slight creaming, is allowing you to not really take a good, hard look at what is not working in public ed.
BTW, I wish I had an attendance boundary for my charter. Instead I need to walk the neighborhoods talking up our school.
Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 7:44 AM
What Happened At The Protest
"Sugar no cream" and "no wonder"'s take on education is exactly the difference between strong teaching at a public neighborhood school and the corporate bottom line teaching that occurs at most Charter Schools.
We gladly accept any student. We don't mock or attack their parents, and we don't say, "No wonder that kid is screwed up, it's not my job to parent the kids!"
We parent the kids everyday. The simple fact is that it is not economical in the short term to educate ELL students, Special Education students, poor students with non-traditional families, and students who have experienced social and emotional trauma.
I believe it is economical in the long run, but that's not really the main point. It is the right thing to do. It is why most of us became teacher in the first place.
One of my mentors scolded me when I focused on how much progress one of students had made in the class, "So what? You've helped _________san, but she would have learned a lot of English if you threw a textbook under the door and came back in 5 hours! Can you reach the 'unreachable' students?"
The problem is not that the students are hard to educate. The students are wonderful. The problem is a Board that doesn't care about the kids who are most difficult to educate, and opportunists who are unwilling to take on students who might mess up their numbers.
The problem is that they not only select students, but they have created a segregated schooling system where we lack the resources to support the students.
I challenge any charter school, selective enrollment, administrator, board member or business leader to come teach a quarter in a double period algebra class with 62 students and insufficient desks.
I hope you will be able to demonstrate superior teaching.
In the meantime, we will fight for educational opportunities for all children--not just those whose parents are strongly involved.
We gladly accept any student. We don't mock or attack their parents, and we don't say, "No wonder that kid is screwed up, it's not my job to parent the kids!"
We parent the kids everyday. The simple fact is that it is not economical in the short term to educate ELL students, Special Education students, poor students with non-traditional families, and students who have experienced social and emotional trauma.
I believe it is economical in the long run, but that's not really the main point. It is the right thing to do. It is why most of us became teacher in the first place.
One of my mentors scolded me when I focused on how much progress one of students had made in the class, "So what? You've helped _________san, but she would have learned a lot of English if you threw a textbook under the door and came back in 5 hours! Can you reach the 'unreachable' students?"
The problem is not that the students are hard to educate. The students are wonderful. The problem is a Board that doesn't care about the kids who are most difficult to educate, and opportunists who are unwilling to take on students who might mess up their numbers.
The problem is that they not only select students, but they have created a segregated schooling system where we lack the resources to support the students.
I challenge any charter school, selective enrollment, administrator, board member or business leader to come teach a quarter in a double period algebra class with 62 students and insufficient desks.
I hope you will be able to demonstrate superior teaching.
In the meantime, we will fight for educational opportunities for all children--not just those whose parents are strongly involved.
Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 7:59 AM
What Happened At The Protest
Isn't that the root of the problem though? That students without adequate family support are not likely to achieve well? Even if they have the best teachers? Even if funding were to massively increase? So how do you convince the taxpayers that it is necessary to increase school spending if scores aren't going to improve as a result?
I think Daley's strategy is to increase student choice so that CPS can try to attract and retain students that do have involved families. Right now, a good many middle-class and even lower middle-class (if they can get a scholarship) families of all ethnic groups go to private schools or families move once school ages hit. If he can attract enough educationally oriented families back into the CPS, the scores for all of CPS should go up naturally.
I think Daley's strategy is to increase student choice so that CPS can try to attract and retain students that do have involved families. Right now, a good many middle-class and even lower middle-class (if they can get a scholarship) families of all ethnic groups go to private schools or families move once school ages hit. If he can attract enough educationally oriented families back into the CPS, the scores for all of CPS should go up naturally.
Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 8:30 AM
What Happened At The Protest
Re: only slight creaming
Really? Your student body consists of only students whose parents apply to send their children to your building (after attending two conference sessions)? Do you think all parents are out there researching and searching like that for a school to send their children to? Where do you think the rest of the children go whose parents are not doing that? Do you really think that makes little to no difference?
Of course there are clearly things that work at charter schools, but are those things exclusive to charters and privatized public schools? They could be equitably implemented in neighborhood schools (that reach all children instead of only some) if CPS and the Board of Ed decided that it was a good investment to do so. But they don't.
Sure achievement numbers matter - but ultimately only in relation to the progress that students in each building make over their time there. Meeting or exceeding grade level standards is not an effective arbiter of student achievement. Cohort growth is.
Do you really think your scores would be the same if 70% of your students' parents didn't come to parent conferences and report card pickups, didn't see to it that their children get to school on time fully prepared, didn't especially value education for any number of reasons, didn't assist their children with homework, etc? I'm not trying to pin the success of students on their parents - teachers make a huge difference - but as Xian mentioned above the reality of a charter classroom and charter student body is simply very different than that of a neighborhood school. And for that reason alone they should not be compared.
Students in my school make more progress over their 4 years here than a) any charter, b) any other neighborhood school, and c) all but 5 of the most elite magnet schools. This despite the fact that we have 3500 students in a building that holds 2200. But CPS still wants to privatize our school, mandate curricula, etc. What kind of sense does that make? How does that further the needs of our student body?
How many charters or Ren10 schools have science labs with 55 students? Electives with 100 students? Math students sitting on the floor for lack of desks? Classes taught in the same an auditorium that also holds in-school suspension, serves as the gathering area for students arriving to school, and holds other classes as well? A student body on three shifts because of the overcrowding, with four shifts coming next year? Lunch periods starting at 9:30 in the morning? Lunch periods starting at 2:10 pm? Consistent winter temperatures indoors in the high 50s to low 60s? Summer temperatures in the mid-100s? An auditorium that is literally crumbling and held together with chicken wire?
There simply is no equity in the system and that leaves massive numbers of children and families behind.
Really? Your student body consists of only students whose parents apply to send their children to your building (after attending two conference sessions)? Do you think all parents are out there researching and searching like that for a school to send their children to? Where do you think the rest of the children go whose parents are not doing that? Do you really think that makes little to no difference?
Of course there are clearly things that work at charter schools, but are those things exclusive to charters and privatized public schools? They could be equitably implemented in neighborhood schools (that reach all children instead of only some) if CPS and the Board of Ed decided that it was a good investment to do so. But they don't.
Sure achievement numbers matter - but ultimately only in relation to the progress that students in each building make over their time there. Meeting or exceeding grade level standards is not an effective arbiter of student achievement. Cohort growth is.
Do you really think your scores would be the same if 70% of your students' parents didn't come to parent conferences and report card pickups, didn't see to it that their children get to school on time fully prepared, didn't especially value education for any number of reasons, didn't assist their children with homework, etc? I'm not trying to pin the success of students on their parents - teachers make a huge difference - but as Xian mentioned above the reality of a charter classroom and charter student body is simply very different than that of a neighborhood school. And for that reason alone they should not be compared.
Students in my school make more progress over their 4 years here than a) any charter, b) any other neighborhood school, and c) all but 5 of the most elite magnet schools. This despite the fact that we have 3500 students in a building that holds 2200. But CPS still wants to privatize our school, mandate curricula, etc. What kind of sense does that make? How does that further the needs of our student body?
How many charters or Ren10 schools have science labs with 55 students? Electives with 100 students? Math students sitting on the floor for lack of desks? Classes taught in the same an auditorium that also holds in-school suspension, serves as the gathering area for students arriving to school, and holds other classes as well? A student body on three shifts because of the overcrowding, with four shifts coming next year? Lunch periods starting at 9:30 in the morning? Lunch periods starting at 2:10 pm? Consistent winter temperatures indoors in the high 50s to low 60s? Summer temperatures in the mid-100s? An auditorium that is literally crumbling and held together with chicken wire?
There simply is no equity in the system and that leaves massive numbers of children and families behind.
Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 1:03 PM
The linked-to report is a joke
I read the Office of New Schools 06/07 performance report - THIS is your evidence?
Scores for a particular grade don't mean anything.
Period. Please explain to me why you think they do - as I see it, they measure nothing more than a snapshot and give no indication of population/demographic changes or improvements caused by learning.
By that standard it is impossible for a rich school to be labeled bad (why? think about it).
And the "transparency" is a joke. You get a high/medium/low rating - fantastic! Now what does that tell me?
That report is 168 pages of data - little of it relevant - and none of it valid enough to show that charters do a better job educating students than traditional public schools. Start comparing individual student gains and we'd have a discussion, but if your benchmark for "good data" is that piece of propaganda I think you'll need to spend some time thinking about statistics.
(Oh, and let's please not forget how much more there is to a school than test scores. K, thx, bye)
Scores for a particular grade don't mean anything.
Period. Please explain to me why you think they do - as I see it, they measure nothing more than a snapshot and give no indication of population/demographic changes or improvements caused by learning.
By that standard it is impossible for a rich school to be labeled bad (why? think about it).
And the "transparency" is a joke. You get a high/medium/low rating - fantastic! Now what does that tell me?
That report is 168 pages of data - little of it relevant - and none of it valid enough to show that charters do a better job educating students than traditional public schools. Start comparing individual student gains and we'd have a discussion, but if your benchmark for "good data" is that piece of propaganda I think you'll need to spend some time thinking about statistics.
(Oh, and let's please not forget how much more there is to a school than test scores. K, thx, bye)
Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 8:19 PM
What Happened At The Protest
"How many charters or Ren10 schools have science labs with 55 students? Electives with 100 students? Math students sitting on the floor for lack of desks? Classes taught in the same an auditorium that also holds in-school suspension, serves as the gathering area for students arriving to school, and holds other classes as well? A student body on three shifts because of the overcrowding, with four shifts coming next year? Lunch periods starting at 9:30 in the morning? Lunch periods starting at 2:10 pm? Consistent winter temperatures indoors in the high 50s to low 60s? Summer temperatures in the mid-100s? An auditorium that is literally crumbling and held together with chicken wire?"
These students should start using their high tech gadgets to record this stuff and share it with the general public. Maybe they'll grow up to be education reporters.
These students should start using their high tech gadgets to record this stuff and share it with the general public. Maybe they'll grow up to be education reporters.
Sat Jan 31, 2009 at 2:53 AM
What Happened At The Protest
Charter data in Chicago are neither transparent nor reliable. The commitment of CPS (via the Office of New Schools) to promoting charter schools (including CPS lobbying with charters for the expansion of charters in Chicago) simply adds to the unreliability. The academic data are only part of the problem, however.
Additionally, while CPS salary and other financial data are transparent, the charter schools deliberately avoid making those data public. Charter financial data (in the form of the position files, both current and historical, for example) have to be public before anyone can make comparisons. Simply to repeat, as Tribune does, that charters "get the same" dollars as Chicago's public schools is simply not true. The subsidies from corporate America to the Chicago charters are, at this time, enormous. From the Ford dollars going into Powerhouse to the missionary society ladies heading down (under the aegis of their non-profits) from Winnetka and Kenilworth to the West Side, these are resources that schools like Julian do not have.
I sometimes tire reading all of the anonymous posts defending or extolling Chicago charters here, but so be it. It will be easier to have a rational discussion here, however, if we were able to locate (a) charter budget detail, detailed to the level it's available for Chicago's true public schools and (b) audited charter performance information.
Otherwise, we're going to continue being told that Aspira Mirta Ramirez was the top scoring Chicago "public" high school in math and science, as was claimed three years ago.
Or we're subjected to the amalgamation of data for the CISC schools so that the poor performance of several of their "campuses" is masked because of the relatively higher performance of a handful of them.
Additionally, while CPS salary and other financial data are transparent, the charter schools deliberately avoid making those data public. Charter financial data (in the form of the position files, both current and historical, for example) have to be public before anyone can make comparisons. Simply to repeat, as Tribune does, that charters "get the same" dollars as Chicago's public schools is simply not true. The subsidies from corporate America to the Chicago charters are, at this time, enormous. From the Ford dollars going into Powerhouse to the missionary society ladies heading down (under the aegis of their non-profits) from Winnetka and Kenilworth to the West Side, these are resources that schools like Julian do not have.
I sometimes tire reading all of the anonymous posts defending or extolling Chicago charters here, but so be it. It will be easier to have a rational discussion here, however, if we were able to locate (a) charter budget detail, detailed to the level it's available for Chicago's true public schools and (b) audited charter performance information.
Otherwise, we're going to continue being told that Aspira Mirta Ramirez was the top scoring Chicago "public" high school in math and science, as was claimed three years ago.
Or we're subjected to the amalgamation of data for the CISC schools so that the poor performance of several of their "campuses" is masked because of the relatively higher performance of a handful of them.
Sat Jan 31, 2009 at 9:52 AM
What Happened At The Protest
I'll take Substance over the Trib, Suntimes, WBEZ and Catalyst any day. Substance is closer to the watchdog journalism the public needs than what's being created by the lapdogs working the city/education beats in the mainstream media.
Sat Jan 31, 2009 at 11:55 AM
What Happened At The Protest
More pics from the protest here..
-Kate Gardiner
-Kate Gardiner
Sat Jan 31, 2009 at 8:48 PM
What Happened At The Protest
If you go to the new site cps.edu and where it says put in a name of a school, type CICS and data for all of the different campuses pops up. CPS has 3 years of ISAT scores by campus for the last 3 years.
Sat Jan 31, 2009 at 8:51 PM
What Happened At The Protest
If you missed the protest, check out some footage of the afternoon!
Stop Ren 2010 January 28th Protest
Stop Ren 2010 January 28th Protest
