Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
"One person was critically wounded in a shooting and a second was beaten with a golf club as Crane Tech Prep Community School was letting out on Chicago s West Side on Friday afternoon, officials said (1 wounded, 1 beaten near Crane Tech Prep) Paramedics responded around 3 p.m. to the 2300 block of West Jackson Boulevard and found one young person shot near the school, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford. Chicago Public Schools spokesman Malon Edwards said the beating victim was apparently beaten with a golf club near the school."
Digg
Del.icio.us
Fri Mar 7, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
I take my child to school at Suder Montessori which is close to Crane High School. I pass by Crane eveyrday at least twice a day. There is police servalaince in the morning and afternoon.
Street cameras on all surrounding corners. I have read stories about what goes on inside but it really must be worse then we all think. Something has got to give at this school, it is literally a time bomb ticking!
Street cameras on all surrounding corners. I have read stories about what goes on inside but it really must be worse then we all think. Something has got to give at this school, it is literally a time bomb ticking!
Fri Mar 7, 2008 at 7:37 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Need to email this gentleman in the union.
Safety & Security
Rick Perrotte
rickperrotte@ctulocal1.com
He makes close to $150K per year and his job is to protect the safety of the union members at schools.
If kids are victims how safe is the staff.
I wonder if The boys are out taking pictuires of this event instead of using union equipment and salaries to spy on other union memebrs.
Do your job protect the members of these schools!
Then maybe the kids will be safe too!
NOW!
Safety & Security
Rick Perrotte
rickperrotte@ctulocal1.com
He makes close to $150K per year and his job is to protect the safety of the union members at schools.
If kids are victims how safe is the staff.
I wonder if The boys are out taking pictuires of this event instead of using union equipment and salaries to spy on other union memebrs.
Do your job protect the members of these schools!
Then maybe the kids will be safe too!
NOW!
Fri Mar 7, 2008 at 9:57 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
No one has been questioning how CPS Security is falling down on the job. Where are the leaders there? Why have they not been incresing services inside and around other troubled schools instead of letting metal detectors break down? Why have they cut back on staff, but let the head hancho in adminstration get a big SUV to drive around in, instead of a Taurus like the rest of the peons?
Fri Mar 7, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Nearly $150 K a year? Wow! What does he actually do, and how does he protect union members? Just wondering...didn't know someone had a job for that.
Sat Mar 8, 2008 at 5:46 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
A child is dead. Save your comments for something else. You poor fools.
Sat Mar 8, 2008 at 7:06 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
It is exactly that a child is dead and there are people responsible for his death. Those that are paid to develop implement and protect teachers and students have failed this young man.
Why is it that no one is held accountable when children die in public places? Guns are not the problem it is the adults who are stealing money from the tax payers and not protecting the citizens of our city.
Instead of directing your anger at me or others that deal with violence on a daily basis and try to help young people survive. You need to attack the infrastructure and system that allows our youth to be terrorized.
No one goes against those responsible because you are afraid of the consequences.
Retaliation against your comfortable lifestyle.
I have nothing to fear. I am at piece with my God.
I have no problem telling the truth and fighting those that harm our society and hurt our children.
Anything less is criminal.
Am I always right? NO.
But at least I know at the end of the day i have tried to make a difference.
I will tell you. That I personally have saved a few young people for death just by what I do and say everyday in the classroom and halls of Hyde park Academy.
Do not tell me a child is dead and to shut up.
It is time to speak out and change the system that promotes the execution of young black men in the city of Chicago.
Accountability and Action are the only answers!
Why is it that no one is held accountable when children die in public places? Guns are not the problem it is the adults who are stealing money from the tax payers and not protecting the citizens of our city.
Instead of directing your anger at me or others that deal with violence on a daily basis and try to help young people survive. You need to attack the infrastructure and system that allows our youth to be terrorized.
No one goes against those responsible because you are afraid of the consequences.
Retaliation against your comfortable lifestyle.
I have nothing to fear. I am at piece with my God.
I have no problem telling the truth and fighting those that harm our society and hurt our children.
Anything less is criminal.
Am I always right? NO.
But at least I know at the end of the day i have tried to make a difference.
I will tell you. That I personally have saved a few young people for death just by what I do and say everyday in the classroom and halls of Hyde park Academy.
Do not tell me a child is dead and to shut up.
It is time to speak out and change the system that promotes the execution of young black men in the city of Chicago.
Accountability and Action are the only answers!
Sat Mar 8, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Both sides
Guns, clubs, knives, fists, swords, or nine-irons what matter the weapon.
One human being killed another human being over a hat. Life has become so cheap
It is forfeit over a piece of haberdashery. I bet nobody on this blog is really
surprised. We see this kind of behavior every day, abet without the fatal
consequences. We are part of a unique group that know the horrible
Antics some of our youth engage in today. Do not expect society as a whole
To believe, let alone understand. Or try to help. We are alone so my advice
Is to watch your own ass don’t try t be a hero and turn turtle. It was just another day in the hood. God help my cynical reation.
Guns, clubs, knives, fists, swords, or nine-irons what matter the weapon.
One human being killed another human being over a hat. Life has become so cheap
It is forfeit over a piece of haberdashery. I bet nobody on this blog is really
surprised. We see this kind of behavior every day, abet without the fatal
consequences. We are part of a unique group that know the horrible
Antics some of our youth engage in today. Do not expect society as a whole
To believe, let alone understand. Or try to help. We are alone so my advice
Is to watch your own ass don’t try t be a hero and turn turtle. It was just another day in the hood. God help my cynical reation.
Sat Mar 8, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Yea, this whole story makes me question if I want to send my sons to a public highschool. They both attend two great CPS schools right now. They are only in kindergarten and third grade and it's a long way off. I wonder if the selective enrollment/magnet highschools have this problem. If they do, I may end up sending them to a catholic highschool.
Sat Mar 8, 2008 at 9:33 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
I got four kids. Second grade, first grade, and two more in going next. They go to general enrollment schools. What I see everyday I do not know what to do with my kids when they are ready for high and even college from what I see on the news on a daily basis now.
worried parent
worried parent
Sat Mar 8, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
At our elementary school, our disciplinarian is having a hard time finding time to input detentions and suspensions into the new computer system CPS adopted this year. As a result, our discipline has gone to crap. I wonder if this could in any way be linked to the number of CPS students killed this year? If there is less discipline this year because a new computer system is holding up cases, couldn't the lack of discipline encourage and eventually lead to larger problems, like murder? Remember, for many of these students the only discipline they receive is at school, so if we can't handle it, minor problems might boil over into major problems.
Sat Mar 8, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Get involved with the anti-gun movement!
Sat Mar 8, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
In my classroom I have a student who just got out of jail for armed robbery. Armed robbery! It kind of makes me cautionary when I speak to him, and I'm glad it is not my child in this classroom. I think that students who are convicted with felonies should not be allowed to attend regular schools, but need to go to alternative schools where their needs are met. Schools would be a lot safer for all!
Sat Mar 8, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Sean,
It sounds like your disciplinarian is just a whiner. Impact has been around for several years and was up at least as long as last year for inputting misconduct reports. Your disciplinarian could do like ours did last year and simply not enter them unless a kid gets removed from school for it (and then have CPS claim a "miracle" in the drop in violence at the school).
I actually appreciate Impact for misconduct reports because it then automatically feeds onto progress reports to show parents how many minor to major problems their kids are having (especially for those parents who are often unreachable). It also helps a receiving school know what to expect from a student transferring in when it takes weeks or months to get a paper file transferred in for a student.
It sounds like your disciplinarian is just a whiner. Impact has been around for several years and was up at least as long as last year for inputting misconduct reports. Your disciplinarian could do like ours did last year and simply not enter them unless a kid gets removed from school for it (and then have CPS claim a "miracle" in the drop in violence at the school).
I actually appreciate Impact for misconduct reports because it then automatically feeds onto progress reports to show parents how many minor to major problems their kids are having (especially for those parents who are often unreachable). It also helps a receiving school know what to expect from a student transferring in when it takes weeks or months to get a paper file transferred in for a student.
Sat Mar 8, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
The problem is the breakdown of the BLACK family. Today 70% of black kids are born illegitimate. They have no father-figures, no nuclear family, nobody to tell them what's right vs. wrong but the television.
The black family's (and black teen's) statistics today are WORSE then they were before the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Anything else but an acknowledgment of this root of the problem is just semantics. Treat the underlying problem, not the symptoms, which is all that Arne Duncan's job description is.
The black family's (and black teen's) statistics today are WORSE then they were before the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Anything else but an acknowledgment of this root of the problem is just semantics. Treat the underlying problem, not the symptoms, which is all that Arne Duncan's job description is.
Sat Mar 8, 2008 at 11:57 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Jenny,
Please with the loose analysis and play on words and numbers. And please don’t sand bag this group into some hopeless and desperate and pitiful category.
Further, your comments are reckless and perilous. Also, what does Mr. Duncan have to do with the successes and failures of African-Americans anyway?
I’m told you were born illegitimate. Please explain yourself. Where is your daddy? Who is your Daddy? (n-1. Minus one because I'm sure not your Daddy!)
It is apparent you don’t know right from wrong by your selection of words. I embolden you to find your Daddy, fast! Or was it Mommy that drop you , perhaps figuratively and literally, as a baby?
Please with the loose analysis and play on words and numbers. And please don’t sand bag this group into some hopeless and desperate and pitiful category.
Further, your comments are reckless and perilous. Also, what does Mr. Duncan have to do with the successes and failures of African-Americans anyway?
I’m told you were born illegitimate. Please explain yourself. Where is your daddy? Who is your Daddy? (n-1. Minus one because I'm sure not your Daddy!)
It is apparent you don’t know right from wrong by your selection of words. I embolden you to find your Daddy, fast! Or was it Mommy that drop you , perhaps figuratively and literally, as a baby?
Sun Mar 9, 2008 at 4:37 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Most of the discussion here leaves out the fact that this was a gang fight, along with the additional fact that the victim was apparently a gang member.
Which gangs were involved? Why aren't CPS and CTU working together for everyone's sake to ban the gangs who have their members operating in and around the schools (elementary schools and high schools, but not more than 100 of them out of the total of 600 public schools) and to help staff, parents, and students organize against the gangs?
The first step comes in admitting you have a gang problem in Chicago, and that it's most acute in and around about half of the city's general high schools at this point in history. But to admit these two realities would be to simultaneously admit that Mayor Daley has been in power (State's Attorney and Mayor) for more than 20 years while Chicago's problems with the drug gangs has gotten worse, not better. Official corruption? You bet. And it starts at the very top in the 5th Floor at City Hall, where the doctrine is to cover up crime rather than solve it.
The problem then expanded as the security in the schools is neglected, from the classrooms all the way through the buildings. At this point, Arne Duncan and Rufus Williams have just finished shredding two high schools (four, if you count Orr as three) and four elementary schools, all of which had major gang problems. Is any principal really going to admit the school has a gang problem, when the first two high schools closed by Arne Duncan (Austin and Calumet) were closed on the pretext of "dening violence" after the union tried to work with CPS to solve the gang problems within those schools (Vice Lords and 4 Corners primarily at Austin; Black Stones at Calumet).
Every time Arne Duncan or Mayor Daley tried to grab a headline with some sanctimonious babble about how terrible gangs and guns are, someone should be there to ask them why they have gone after the schools that blew the whistle on the gang and violence problems earlier?
That child at Crane didn't deserve to die. But he wasn't an innocent, either. Someone might have begun dealing with the gang problems when he was much younger. Instead it was cover up, all the way and in all directions.
Why isn't there any link here to the story, less than give months ago, about the fact that Crane had a major brawl inside the building and the principal had the police arrest 48 or 49 students -- inside the building. A first question would be, how many of those students were suspended after those arrests? A second: How many of those who were arrested were actually prosecuted in court?
Versus how many simply walked because the school did not follow through on those arrests -- either with suspensions (because CPS wants to cover up the number of Group V and Group VI suspensions) or various criminal penatlies resulting from their courts dates.
Crane's problems during the 2007-2008 school year didn't begin inside Crane, and they certainly didn't begin at 3:00 p.m. on March 7, 2008.
Which gangs were involved? Why aren't CPS and CTU working together for everyone's sake to ban the gangs who have their members operating in and around the schools (elementary schools and high schools, but not more than 100 of them out of the total of 600 public schools) and to help staff, parents, and students organize against the gangs?
The first step comes in admitting you have a gang problem in Chicago, and that it's most acute in and around about half of the city's general high schools at this point in history. But to admit these two realities would be to simultaneously admit that Mayor Daley has been in power (State's Attorney and Mayor) for more than 20 years while Chicago's problems with the drug gangs has gotten worse, not better. Official corruption? You bet. And it starts at the very top in the 5th Floor at City Hall, where the doctrine is to cover up crime rather than solve it.
The problem then expanded as the security in the schools is neglected, from the classrooms all the way through the buildings. At this point, Arne Duncan and Rufus Williams have just finished shredding two high schools (four, if you count Orr as three) and four elementary schools, all of which had major gang problems. Is any principal really going to admit the school has a gang problem, when the first two high schools closed by Arne Duncan (Austin and Calumet) were closed on the pretext of "dening violence" after the union tried to work with CPS to solve the gang problems within those schools (Vice Lords and 4 Corners primarily at Austin; Black Stones at Calumet).
Every time Arne Duncan or Mayor Daley tried to grab a headline with some sanctimonious babble about how terrible gangs and guns are, someone should be there to ask them why they have gone after the schools that blew the whistle on the gang and violence problems earlier?
That child at Crane didn't deserve to die. But he wasn't an innocent, either. Someone might have begun dealing with the gang problems when he was much younger. Instead it was cover up, all the way and in all directions.
Why isn't there any link here to the story, less than give months ago, about the fact that Crane had a major brawl inside the building and the principal had the police arrest 48 or 49 students -- inside the building. A first question would be, how many of those students were suspended after those arrests? A second: How many of those who were arrested were actually prosecuted in court?
Versus how many simply walked because the school did not follow through on those arrests -- either with suspensions (because CPS wants to cover up the number of Group V and Group VI suspensions) or various criminal penatlies resulting from their courts dates.
Crane's problems during the 2007-2008 school year didn't begin inside Crane, and they certainly didn't begin at 3:00 p.m. on March 7, 2008.
Sun Mar 9, 2008 at 8:43 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Gangs
I think everyone who reads this knew it was gang related. In fact if the description
Of the hat is correct that was a gang symbol itself.
I think everyone who reads this knew it was gang related. In fact if the description
Of the hat is correct that was a gang symbol itself.
Sun Mar 9, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
My disciplinarian claims he has to enter each case into three different systems. Is this true? Or do they only have to enter it into IMPACT?
Sun Mar 9, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Your comments are very racist. This issue is more about poverty than it is about black families. May I remind you that the Virginia Tech, Columbine and NIU shooters were white and if memory serves me correctly, they were from two parent households. The type of thing that happened at Crane happens all across this country everyday and is more prevalent in large, urban settings. The race of a shooter has nothing to do with this issue. It is one's circumstances in life that determines future action. There are plenty of black youth whose family is headed by a female who don't do on to shoot others. Please do not turn this into a race thing.
Sun Mar 9, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
What Jenny said is not a racist comment. Read Bill Cosby's book COME ON PEOPLE. Black people have to fess up to the fact that inner city black youth are in a lot of trouble. For every Dillon Kliebold there many many more black youth that are career criminals, that would take your life in a minute. Go hang out in front of Crane at 3:00pm if you dont believe me.
Sun Mar 9, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
This is not just a black issue. Inner city black, latino and WHITE youth all contribute to this problem. As I said in my previous post, this issue is more about poverty and easy access to illegal weapons. Also, Bill Cosby IS NOT the spokesperson for the black race and he doesn't speak for me. All races of parents need to parent their children not just black people!
Sun Mar 9, 2008 at 3:54 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
I am really offended by Jenny's comment. This is not a black issue. Every child that is a product of a broken black family, is not involved in crap like this. The school I teach at student body is 100% black. We don't have gang problems. The students live in a two parent home or a single parent home. I totally agree with 12:52pm comment. Guess what? I am a product of a single parent home. I have a bachelors and two master's degrees. What went wrong with me? My family situation did not make me go out and join a gang, bash heads, or shoot anyone. It is the parents. My mother went to school and worked a full-time job while growing up. I turned out find. I guess Jenny should blame that on the break down of the black family. Maybe I should of been on welfare, lived in the projects, and 7 kids by 7 different baby daddys. Jenny, you don't have a clue.
Sun Mar 9, 2008 at 6:26 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Sean - All discipline incidents should be entered in IMPACT. In addition, if they are category 4 or higher an incident report needs to be entered in ORACLE. No idea what third system your disciplinarian might be referring to.
Sun Mar 9, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
In the neighborhood I live in a broken home is a normal home, it is the only thing these young adults know. They would not know how to act outside there community because they have isolated themselves so much from the rest of the world. This has been going on for a long time. These mothers with 6 or 8 children are young and have never carried a job, ever. The mom who's son was killed at Crane was relatively young and she has even younger children.The other day the news was talking about a black grandmother who escaped a fire with her grandaughter. The Grandmother was 30 years old. There is something terribly wrong with that. I know it goes on with Latino families and white families but they have more support from their families because it is not a generational thing and they are not isolated. this just keeps going on and on in black families. This cannot be denied. I live between to public housing projects and the stuff I see would blow your mind.
Most young black teen mothers do not have a good foundation at home. The home has been off balance for a long time. It is a norm to have a baby as a teen with a " baby's daddy" if he chooses to stick around. It is a norm to have a relative in Jail. It is just crazy!
The 18 year old that was gunned down at Crane was already a career criminal. Look at his rap sheet. This is a good kid?
Most young black teen mothers do not have a good foundation at home. The home has been off balance for a long time. It is a norm to have a baby as a teen with a " baby's daddy" if he chooses to stick around. It is a norm to have a relative in Jail. It is just crazy!
The 18 year old that was gunned down at Crane was already a career criminal. Look at his rap sheet. This is a good kid?
Sun Mar 9, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
The problem with your statement as I have previously posted is that you are generalizing!!! I am black. I am married. There are no baby's daddy's in my family. All teen white mother's don't have support. I have worked with teen mothers before. Many of the white teen mothers do not have support from their mothers. Some black teen parents did have support. I don't have a problem with what you are saying but you are generalizing your statements about black people. As I have said before, there is a problem with POVERTY. Blacks, Latinos and WHITES in poverty MAY (because it is not always the case) face the same situations and CHOOSE to make bad decisions. There are many children of ALL races from two parent household that also make bad decisions. Please stay away from these generalizations about black people. You are letting your racist attitudes show through your posts on this blog!!!
Sun Mar 9, 2008 at 9:34 PM
Response to Jenny/Crane Tech Violence
Ms. Jenny you hit the problem right on target - the solutions to the problem especially to the growing problem of emotionally sick black children, lies with the family.
I am a black woman and I dare anyone to accuse me of racism!
One thug is dead, another wounded and another or maybe more are going to jail.
Instead of fighting with each other over these children who couldn't care less about anyone else but themselves, we should agree that PARENTS are and have failed these children. JENNY IS RIGHT ON!
We should pray for parents all over this country to better their parenting skills.
There are several wonderful persons and organizations on hand to help parents better their parenting skills and in turn help parents nurture and raise healthy loving children!
I am a black woman and I dare anyone to accuse me of racism!
One thug is dead, another wounded and another or maybe more are going to jail.
Instead of fighting with each other over these children who couldn't care less about anyone else but themselves, we should agree that PARENTS are and have failed these children. JENNY IS RIGHT ON!
We should pray for parents all over this country to better their parenting skills.
There are several wonderful persons and organizations on hand to help parents better their parenting skills and in turn help parents nurture and raise healthy loving children!
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 12:31 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
To Margaret's mom:
Your comment, "I am a black woman and I dare anyone to accuse me of racism!," is best described as Dumb!
Your entire argument is best described as Dumber!
So in some respect you are not a racist but a dumb fool (sorry for the redundancy)
Your comment, "I am a black woman and I dare anyone to accuse me of racism!," is best described as Dumb!
Your entire argument is best described as Dumber!
So in some respect you are not a racist but a dumb fool (sorry for the redundancy)
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 7:26 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
to the women addressing me, psmom.
Did you grow up in a housing project or in the ghetto? If you did you are one of the luck ones who had a mom that cared and worked!
You can call me a racist, I don't care. That is an easy way for you to get out your frustration.
Spike Lee got it right in the movie School Daze when all of the alarm clocks went off at the school and Lawrence Fishburn stood in the middle of the campus yelling is heart out to his fellow class mates,
"WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKE UP"
Did you grow up in a housing project or in the ghetto? If you did you are one of the luck ones who had a mom that cared and worked!
You can call me a racist, I don't care. That is an easy way for you to get out your frustration.
Spike Lee got it right in the movie School Daze when all of the alarm clocks went off at the school and Lawrence Fishburn stood in the middle of the campus yelling is heart out to his fellow class mates,
"WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKE UP"
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 7:29 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Will someone here please identify the gangs that were involved. I don't mind the sociology or pop psychology, but in Chicago most of the dead young people (not all; most) get dead from gang murders, not randomly. What gangs are active at Crane High School and what is CPS doing about that identifiable problem?
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 7:49 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
I am black, from a two parent household and NO I didn't grow up in a housing project. Housing projects are not just for black people. I grew up in a house. You are still missing my point. Stop the generalizing about black people. Margeret's mom--all I'll say to you is what have you done to help all races of inner city youth who not only struggle with poverty, but with gangs as George stated. This is not just a black issue, it is an issue we face with all races of children and teens throughout this country who are caught up in the cycle of poverty and despair not to mention crime (due to gangs) all over the USA!
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 8:09 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
To the teacher who doesn't have a gang problem at your high school...wake up.
Gangs are a problem for every high school in chicago, it makes no difference where, what race the students are, or how nice things seem on the surface. Every child in the city has to deal with this situation. You don't see the gang problem in your school--but every kid there knows about it. they know about what goes on in their neighborhood.
It's the "it can't happen here" attitude that will perpetuate the problem.
Gangs are a problem for every high school in chicago, it makes no difference where, what race the students are, or how nice things seem on the surface. Every child in the city has to deal with this situation. You don't see the gang problem in your school--but every kid there knows about it. they know about what goes on in their neighborhood.
It's the "it can't happen here" attitude that will perpetuate the problem.
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 9:26 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Family break down hurts kids at all levels of income. I've taught in wealthy areas where parental neglect has caused a lot of problems with children. However, in the wealthier area, there is more access to modern technology -- psychiatrists, psychologists, medication. Both these kids were criminals. The 18 year old didn't deserve to die, though, for his crimes. But, should he have been attending a neighborhood school? Probably not.
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
What is all this focus on the family stuff? We all KNOW there are problems with families, black, white, brown, etc. Everyone has problems, not just blacks, and not just blacks that are poor and living in the projects. Heck, there are middle class professional people on my block-policemen, teachers, firemen, nurses, doctors, executive managers-who have kids roaming the streets all day long with nothing to do, nowhere to go. Some of them are in gangs, too.
We have several problems in this society: our violent culture, the way we allow corporate media and big corporations to tell us how to eat, dress, act, and think, and the fact that we continue to elect folks who do not have our best interests in mind at all. Do you understand why rich folks all clamor to "buy" their way into office? They are trying to promote themselves and get THEIR families set up in jobs. Meanwhile, our jobs are going elsewhere, downsized into $10/ hour jobs, or simply being eliminated. 63,000 jobs GONE last month alone. And, those are the ones they're telling us about. To some, education is meaningless. What's it gonna get you? A job at Burger King for $7/ hour? Yep, that'll do it. I'll run right out now and live on that. GEEZ! No wonder kids are pissed. It's society, people. Stop blaming ONE group of folks!!
We have several problems in this society: our violent culture, the way we allow corporate media and big corporations to tell us how to eat, dress, act, and think, and the fact that we continue to elect folks who do not have our best interests in mind at all. Do you understand why rich folks all clamor to "buy" their way into office? They are trying to promote themselves and get THEIR families set up in jobs. Meanwhile, our jobs are going elsewhere, downsized into $10/ hour jobs, or simply being eliminated. 63,000 jobs GONE last month alone. And, those are the ones they're telling us about. To some, education is meaningless. What's it gonna get you? A job at Burger King for $7/ hour? Yep, that'll do it. I'll run right out now and live on that. GEEZ! No wonder kids are pissed. It's society, people. Stop blaming ONE group of folks!!
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
This is a pure SOCIOECONOMIC/NEGLECT issue. Let me ask everyone 4 simple questions:
1. Why didn't this event happen at Young which is less than 1 and half miles down the street? Is there a Gang issue there?
2. What is the difference between Norwood Park, Sutherland, Canty, Lincoln, Bell, and even Drake Elementary, compared to Wentworth, Lewis, Dodge, Yale, and Ryerson Elementary?
3. Why is there high turnover(teacher positions) at Crane?
4. What is the core Special Needs population BD, LD, EMH, TMH?
People we all mean well, but until we(everyone, CPS, Chicago, Cook County, etc...) deal with Poverty and Neglect this will happen. CPS is using Band-Aid approaches. Ren 10 schools do not exist in Chatham, Lincoln Park, Beverly, Lake View, Norwood Park, Pill Hill or Edgebrook. You know why, solid communities that believe in solid school. Forget the labels, Magnet, Classical, Gifted or Fine Arts, that's irrevelent when it comes to a good education. When the community, school and yes, even church works together it is a beautiful thing!
1. Why didn't this event happen at Young which is less than 1 and half miles down the street? Is there a Gang issue there?
2. What is the difference between Norwood Park, Sutherland, Canty, Lincoln, Bell, and even Drake Elementary, compared to Wentworth, Lewis, Dodge, Yale, and Ryerson Elementary?
3. Why is there high turnover(teacher positions) at Crane?
4. What is the core Special Needs population BD, LD, EMH, TMH?
People we all mean well, but until we(everyone, CPS, Chicago, Cook County, etc...) deal with Poverty and Neglect this will happen. CPS is using Band-Aid approaches. Ren 10 schools do not exist in Chatham, Lincoln Park, Beverly, Lake View, Norwood Park, Pill Hill or Edgebrook. You know why, solid communities that believe in solid school. Forget the labels, Magnet, Classical, Gifted or Fine Arts, that's irrevelent when it comes to a good education. When the community, school and yes, even church works together it is a beautiful thing!
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
I agree, 10:17. Been told that Morgan Park High School has a gang problem, too. The neglect of special education in CPS is criminal. The OSS folks who do not address these students' needs are the new "career criminals."
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Oh, those schools in those "solid communities" do NEGLECT special education. One of the case managers is famous for her neglect and has harmed many students by her neglect.
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
There is truth to most of the statements here on some level. What I believe is missing is the idea that while there are definitely systemwide failures, there are greater community failures. You cannot call on public official to save society from all our ills. We are all society and we need to make small changes in our own communities each day. If your calling is to work with children or families at Crane - bless you and do your best. If you are a parent - tend to your children become active in your school and community - reach out. If you are a teacher - teach your students to the best of your ability. If you are a community member - reach out. It is only by building stronger communities at all levels that we will overcome societal strife.
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
It's not really about Special Education is much as it's about community. Special Education only comes into effect if, and only if, the population is out of control because services are not being met (SOCIAL WORK and COUNSELING).
Again, address the community FIRST. I watched the board meeting Saturday and the Board (Rufus and company) never address the issues of the communities in the turnaround of schools, Englewood and the Westside.
Sherman and Harvard are not the answers and better yet will any of you send your kids there? I wouldn't regardless of what ASUL is doing.
Please everyone, cry out to your aldermen, State Reps, and State Senators. Make a difference political. If not, here comes, Ren 10!
Someone made a point, the reason CPS is trying to go year-round is because 'we' are doing a horrible job with our children. If we can not take care of them in the summer, provide supplemental programs, or give them strong discipline then CPS will but only on their terms!
WAKE UP!
Again, address the community FIRST. I watched the board meeting Saturday and the Board (Rufus and company) never address the issues of the communities in the turnaround of schools, Englewood and the Westside.
Sherman and Harvard are not the answers and better yet will any of you send your kids there? I wouldn't regardless of what ASUL is doing.
Please everyone, cry out to your aldermen, State Reps, and State Senators. Make a difference political. If not, here comes, Ren 10!
Someone made a point, the reason CPS is trying to go year-round is because 'we' are doing a horrible job with our children. If we can not take care of them in the summer, provide supplemental programs, or give them strong discipline then CPS will but only on their terms!
WAKE UP!
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
All concerned people, there are gangs at all Chicago Public Schools. Talk to to the students and they will tell you. The only question is are they a problem and if so, how big of a problem!!! Everyone must join together to fight them!
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
It now seems like the assailant at Crane was "New Breed" which was last time anyone looked a branch of the Vice Lords. Now the question is what was the affiliation of the deceased, if any. CPS has the responsibility to know this stuff. When Arne Duncan and Michael Scott decided to close Austin and Calumet high schools (supposedly for one year; actually the plan was transparent from the beginning) we (the Chicago Teachers Union and parents from several receiving schools, both north side and south side) warned that there would be a spillover impact on receiving schools across the north and west sides (for Austin) and South Side (for Calumet). I helped organize the testimony on that subject on June 12, 2004, as Director of School Security and Safety for the Chicago Teachers Union. At both hearings, I was the lead speaker against the closings, warning that the increase in violence would come directly from the fact that CPS would be forcing kids of one affiliation into schools that had mostly kids of another affiliation.
In each hearing, I spoke first and was followed by parents, LSC members and students who said the same thing. The problem that would arise was obvious. Both Austin and Calumet had minority gang factions (Austin: Four Corners; a couple of oddball branches of the Vice Lord; Calumet, Black P. Stones) while most of the city (at least in the African American community) was Disciples.
The impact since then has been precisely as predicted. And the blame has to rest squarely on the shoulders of Arne Duncan, Michael Scott, and their master Richard M. Daley. Daley's insistence that schools be closed under "Renaissance 2010" had already created chaos (and gang problems) for elementary teachers and students across the "Mid South" when the closings began as part of gentrification in 2002. Jitu Brown of KOCO (Kenwood Oakland Community Organization) has repeatedly noted these issues, beginning in 2001, 2002 (when the Mickey Cobras had created a war in Dearborn Homes as a result of their begin evicted from the four CHA projects at the "Hole" (54th and State) all the way over to Price and Mollison elementary schools.
It's too bad that none of the parents of the children who've been beaten or died because of these specific acts every sued CPS -- and Michael Scott, Rufus Williams, Arne Duncan, and Richard M. Daley -- because of this increase in the gang violence. The evidence would at least show that they were on notice that these things were the predictable results, not some accidental by-product of Renaissance 2010 and the rest of this nonsense.
And remember, in the real world, we're talking about specific real gangs that have specific rivalries and deadly feuds. Disciples and Black Stones; Latin Kings and Latin Dragons; Gaylords and SCRs. These are not abstractions, but real deadly gangs whose actions can make something as simple as the purchase of a watermelon (at the corner of Armitage and Central Park last spring) a fatal decision.
To the person who asked that rhetorical question earlier about Whitney Young. Learn a little history.
Part of Whitney Young's Class of 2007 graduation in June 2007 was a moment of silence and memorial for Chris Pineda, a Whitney Young senior who was murdered for dating the wrong South Chicago girl a few months before he would have graduated. I was one of the parents at that graduation when Dr. Kenner gave the diploma, cap and gown, and other stuff to the family of Chris Pineda. Because Chicago has allowed the drug gangs to metasticize across the city (for more than 20 years, while Richard M. Daley was either State's Attorney or Mayor) these problems are worse than ever and more gruesome in their consequences. (Read the report on how Chris Pineda died before you start passing around rhetorical arguments about the magnet schools versus the generals).
Arne Duncan and his masters are more to blame for this than the "decline of the black family" or any other silly talking point. Until Chicago assigns real causes and effects to real problems, these tragedies will continue, and continue, and continue...
In each hearing, I spoke first and was followed by parents, LSC members and students who said the same thing. The problem that would arise was obvious. Both Austin and Calumet had minority gang factions (Austin: Four Corners; a couple of oddball branches of the Vice Lord; Calumet, Black P. Stones) while most of the city (at least in the African American community) was Disciples.
The impact since then has been precisely as predicted. And the blame has to rest squarely on the shoulders of Arne Duncan, Michael Scott, and their master Richard M. Daley. Daley's insistence that schools be closed under "Renaissance 2010" had already created chaos (and gang problems) for elementary teachers and students across the "Mid South" when the closings began as part of gentrification in 2002. Jitu Brown of KOCO (Kenwood Oakland Community Organization) has repeatedly noted these issues, beginning in 2001, 2002 (when the Mickey Cobras had created a war in Dearborn Homes as a result of their begin evicted from the four CHA projects at the "Hole" (54th and State) all the way over to Price and Mollison elementary schools.
It's too bad that none of the parents of the children who've been beaten or died because of these specific acts every sued CPS -- and Michael Scott, Rufus Williams, Arne Duncan, and Richard M. Daley -- because of this increase in the gang violence. The evidence would at least show that they were on notice that these things were the predictable results, not some accidental by-product of Renaissance 2010 and the rest of this nonsense.
And remember, in the real world, we're talking about specific real gangs that have specific rivalries and deadly feuds. Disciples and Black Stones; Latin Kings and Latin Dragons; Gaylords and SCRs. These are not abstractions, but real deadly gangs whose actions can make something as simple as the purchase of a watermelon (at the corner of Armitage and Central Park last spring) a fatal decision.
To the person who asked that rhetorical question earlier about Whitney Young. Learn a little history.
Part of Whitney Young's Class of 2007 graduation in June 2007 was a moment of silence and memorial for Chris Pineda, a Whitney Young senior who was murdered for dating the wrong South Chicago girl a few months before he would have graduated. I was one of the parents at that graduation when Dr. Kenner gave the diploma, cap and gown, and other stuff to the family of Chris Pineda. Because Chicago has allowed the drug gangs to metasticize across the city (for more than 20 years, while Richard M. Daley was either State's Attorney or Mayor) these problems are worse than ever and more gruesome in their consequences. (Read the report on how Chris Pineda died before you start passing around rhetorical arguments about the magnet schools versus the generals).
Arne Duncan and his masters are more to blame for this than the "decline of the black family" or any other silly talking point. Until Chicago assigns real causes and effects to real problems, these tragedies will continue, and continue, and continue...
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
George you are absolutely wrong about the Young situation. Yes, there may be some gang members at Young, but without a doubt, there will never be a 'CRANE ISSUE' at Young. Politics will make sure of that.
'New Breeds' are not Vice Lords, be clear of that.
And George understand this, your arguement as good as it maybe does not hold any weight at Bell Elementary, at Payton High School, at Jones College Prep, at Neil Elementary, at Sutherland, etc...
Let's deal with a core issue "COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION." The communities must change first. The Drug Game runs Gangs! Poverty runs gangs.
George you are extremely knowledgable, but let's change the communities, oh yeah that's happening already and most my people, black people are getting sent to Elgin, Harvey, Robbins, South Holland, Maywood, Calument City, etc...
'New Breeds' are not Vice Lords, be clear of that.
And George understand this, your arguement as good as it maybe does not hold any weight at Bell Elementary, at Payton High School, at Jones College Prep, at Neil Elementary, at Sutherland, etc...
Let's deal with a core issue "COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION." The communities must change first. The Drug Game runs Gangs! Poverty runs gangs.
George you are extremely knowledgable, but let's change the communities, oh yeah that's happening already and most my people, black people are getting sent to Elgin, Harvey, Robbins, South Holland, Maywood, Calument City, etc...
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Quick blaming Arne Duncan and look at the problems on the surface. Arne has nothing to do with West 79th Street, K-Town, MoTown, etc... He has nothing to do with all the problems in the Black Community!
He is following orders, that's it. What most of us do at work daily!
He is following orders, that's it. What most of us do at work daily!
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
New Breeds/ Black Gangsters and their leader was George Davis, AKA "Don" Boonie Black.
Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 5:45 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Regarding question by I'm a Teacher/Parent on special education composition of Crane.
First off I do not know whether the victim Ruben Ivy or the alleged murder DeVonte Smith were students with identified disabilities. But at the end of the last school year Crane had 186 students with disabilities in attendance out of a total enrollment of 1,293 or 14.4 percent.
Statistically speaking 14.4% is actually less than the CPS high school average for students with disabilities which last year was 15.25%. About 66% of Crane’s special education population was students with learning disabilities numbering 123 students. However, these LD students were more disabled than the average CPS LD student.
Let me explain what I mean by that last statement. Crane LD students have a very high percentage of them placed in separate classes for the full day; in fact Crane has twice as many LD students in separate class for the full day as does the average CPS school.
In my past capacity as a monitor in Corey H I visited Crane; it was a school with many problems. But it was obvious to me that many students labeled LD also had numerous other co-existing psychological and ADHD issues. So let us simply say there are LD students and then there are far more disabled LD students and Crane had a good number of these students.
Crane has about 9% of its special education population listed as EBD, the majority of these students last year were self contained for the vast majority of the school day. The school has a very large cognitive disabilities program; about 17% of Crane’s special education students had primary cognitive disabilities in 2007. This is far higher than the average for all CPS schools which is only about 9%.
Lastly, I have some real reservations about the District Attorney charging a 15 year old as an adult in a murder case. I am not sure charging 15 year olds as adults has any deterrent effect on other young gang members who may be thinking about shooting other students. On the other hand it is hard to accept that a killer can walk once they are adults if they are not charged as an adult. It would be nice to think that the juvenile justice system could help a 15 year old as messed up as DeVonte Smith appears to be, but based on my experience with having worked with young people with disabilities in the Illinois juvenile justice system that is not likely.
Rod Estvan
First off I do not know whether the victim Ruben Ivy or the alleged murder DeVonte Smith were students with identified disabilities. But at the end of the last school year Crane had 186 students with disabilities in attendance out of a total enrollment of 1,293 or 14.4 percent.
Statistically speaking 14.4% is actually less than the CPS high school average for students with disabilities which last year was 15.25%. About 66% of Crane’s special education population was students with learning disabilities numbering 123 students. However, these LD students were more disabled than the average CPS LD student.
Let me explain what I mean by that last statement. Crane LD students have a very high percentage of them placed in separate classes for the full day; in fact Crane has twice as many LD students in separate class for the full day as does the average CPS school.
In my past capacity as a monitor in Corey H I visited Crane; it was a school with many problems. But it was obvious to me that many students labeled LD also had numerous other co-existing psychological and ADHD issues. So let us simply say there are LD students and then there are far more disabled LD students and Crane had a good number of these students.
Crane has about 9% of its special education population listed as EBD, the majority of these students last year were self contained for the vast majority of the school day. The school has a very large cognitive disabilities program; about 17% of Crane’s special education students had primary cognitive disabilities in 2007. This is far higher than the average for all CPS schools which is only about 9%.
Lastly, I have some real reservations about the District Attorney charging a 15 year old as an adult in a murder case. I am not sure charging 15 year olds as adults has any deterrent effect on other young gang members who may be thinking about shooting other students. On the other hand it is hard to accept that a killer can walk once they are adults if they are not charged as an adult. It would be nice to think that the juvenile justice system could help a 15 year old as messed up as DeVonte Smith appears to be, but based on my experience with having worked with young people with disabilities in the Illinois juvenile justice system that is not likely.
Rod Estvan
Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 5:19 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
"...George you are extremely knowledgable, but let's change the communities, oh yeah that's happening already and most my people, black people are getting sent to Elgin, Harvey, Robbins, South Holland, Maywood, Calument City, etc..." (teacher/parent)
Thanks for the correction on New Breeds.
What I've been saying for the past several years is that the Daley administration has been sabotaging the general high schools, that it's possible to itemize the various parts of that sabotage, and that it's time to point the finger of accountability in the direction it belongs. When kids are dying, all those memorial services presided over by hypocrites should be shouted down.
For now, let's focus on the African American community and the black gangs. (Not forgetting that there are a large number of others).
OK. The gang problem is concentrated in the general high schools, because that is where everything gets distilled.
Here is how: Anywhere from four to eight elementary schools wind up sending their "worst" kids into the general high school. Then the selective enrollment schools and the charters dump their sludge (or "garbage", I've heard both terms used) at various times during the school year.
The way it's done has not changed. A few weeks ago, I was sharing with David Pickens about one example, from Kenwood back in the day when Mr. Pickens and his family went to Kenwood. The incident of dumping (Kenwood to Bowen) took place more than 12 years ago, and the Black P. Stone in question was named Steve Wilbourn. He came into Bowen proclaiming all that "All's Well" stuff, and we had to pull him over and explain things. He actually worked out. Once he realized the Bowen rules from those days (no nothing inside the building), it was OK. But the Kenwood administration would never even answer our phone calls about how we got the young man. He just showed up on our doorstep one morning, decked out in red and green, etc. We found out the story behind the story of that "transfer" from the cops, not from our colleagues in Hyde Park.
So the young man began an academic career at Bowen, where he did fairly well. (Very bright, as many such are). Trouble was he was in deep. Pretty soon, he had "South C" (87th and Colfax). Pretty soon after that, he was no longer a student, although he'd come by to talk. Pretty soon after that, he was shot dead (official report, a "fight at a party" around 88th and Marquette; unofficial: Vice Lords versus Moes).
Now I liked the kid, and had many of our "three boxes in your future" conversations with him. Apparently, the Pickens family (when younger) knew him, too.
Now back to the point. RIP Steve was one among dozens I can still name, going back more than 20 years.
The general high schools catch it all, from the dumping to the position cuts. But since we've gotten Arne's version of corporate "school reform" insult to injury to indignity have all been heaped on. And 40 general high schools are ducking daily, waiting for the next incoming. The sheer hypocrisy of it is telling. I sat through the hearings last month (missed the Orrs, but caught up; was there for Harper; have been at Calumet, Collins, Englewood, and Austin; last night was Senn still trying to swim in a hurricane).
Gang security is just one of about two dozen identifiable problems that could be solved if Chicago really had any commitment at all to its general high schools. But the plug was pulled by "standards and accountability" at the dawn of this century. So everyone is just waiting for the next attack, either from inside (Clemente, where Arne's buddy seems determined to implode the place with his patronage and other nutsy schemes, not limited to the dysfunctional security and discipline systems he has in place) to Julian, CVS, Wells, Schurz and others (sabotaged by Arne last October from the outside with those position closings).
New Breeds. 4CH. CVL. BGD. LKN. GDN. GLN. LDN. LCN...
Concentrate them in a few high schools, scapegoat the teachers (and even the principals), continue promoting the charters and magnets at the expense of the others, and watch the results. It's a very sick game.
Of course, now it's also being played city and suburb. Those Section Eight vouchers that couldn't be cashed within Chicago's city limits, and somehow all wound up in a handful of suburbs you named.
When Mr. Pickens said I was peddling "conspiracy theories" I corrected him. This is the normal functioning of the system in the first decade of the 21st Century. A similar system, exploiting the ancestors of many of the same people, was in place in Alabama in around 1840 or so. I know where I would have stood (and with whom) back then, because I know where to stand for justice now. Unravelling all the lies takes time, now just as it did then. But eventually we can describe much of it (never all) from Calumet City to Maywood, and of course in the halls of the "Austin Entrepreneurship Academy" and even the third floor of AUSL at Austin and Roscoe within the past eight weeks.
And of course all of the official corruption that comes from multi million dollar drug gangs is done by marks like Arenda Troutman and some mopes south of the Rio Grande -- never by high ranking public officials or corporate heavyweights in miracle world class cities like Chicago.
Now tell me another fairy tale.
Arne Duncan's sabotaging the Crane High Schools of Chicago and has been since he took office. There is hell to pay in the next 12 weeks. But it's time accountability's finger pointed in the direction of the problem, and not at all the victims of the system.
Thanks for the correction on New Breeds.
What I've been saying for the past several years is that the Daley administration has been sabotaging the general high schools, that it's possible to itemize the various parts of that sabotage, and that it's time to point the finger of accountability in the direction it belongs. When kids are dying, all those memorial services presided over by hypocrites should be shouted down.
For now, let's focus on the African American community and the black gangs. (Not forgetting that there are a large number of others).
OK. The gang problem is concentrated in the general high schools, because that is where everything gets distilled.
Here is how: Anywhere from four to eight elementary schools wind up sending their "worst" kids into the general high school. Then the selective enrollment schools and the charters dump their sludge (or "garbage", I've heard both terms used) at various times during the school year.
The way it's done has not changed. A few weeks ago, I was sharing with David Pickens about one example, from Kenwood back in the day when Mr. Pickens and his family went to Kenwood. The incident of dumping (Kenwood to Bowen) took place more than 12 years ago, and the Black P. Stone in question was named Steve Wilbourn. He came into Bowen proclaiming all that "All's Well" stuff, and we had to pull him over and explain things. He actually worked out. Once he realized the Bowen rules from those days (no nothing inside the building), it was OK. But the Kenwood administration would never even answer our phone calls about how we got the young man. He just showed up on our doorstep one morning, decked out in red and green, etc. We found out the story behind the story of that "transfer" from the cops, not from our colleagues in Hyde Park.
So the young man began an academic career at Bowen, where he did fairly well. (Very bright, as many such are). Trouble was he was in deep. Pretty soon, he had "South C" (87th and Colfax). Pretty soon after that, he was no longer a student, although he'd come by to talk. Pretty soon after that, he was shot dead (official report, a "fight at a party" around 88th and Marquette; unofficial: Vice Lords versus Moes).
Now I liked the kid, and had many of our "three boxes in your future" conversations with him. Apparently, the Pickens family (when younger) knew him, too.
Now back to the point. RIP Steve was one among dozens I can still name, going back more than 20 years.
The general high schools catch it all, from the dumping to the position cuts. But since we've gotten Arne's version of corporate "school reform" insult to injury to indignity have all been heaped on. And 40 general high schools are ducking daily, waiting for the next incoming. The sheer hypocrisy of it is telling. I sat through the hearings last month (missed the Orrs, but caught up; was there for Harper; have been at Calumet, Collins, Englewood, and Austin; last night was Senn still trying to swim in a hurricane).
Gang security is just one of about two dozen identifiable problems that could be solved if Chicago really had any commitment at all to its general high schools. But the plug was pulled by "standards and accountability" at the dawn of this century. So everyone is just waiting for the next attack, either from inside (Clemente, where Arne's buddy seems determined to implode the place with his patronage and other nutsy schemes, not limited to the dysfunctional security and discipline systems he has in place) to Julian, CVS, Wells, Schurz and others (sabotaged by Arne last October from the outside with those position closings).
New Breeds. 4CH. CVL. BGD. LKN. GDN. GLN. LDN. LCN...
Concentrate them in a few high schools, scapegoat the teachers (and even the principals), continue promoting the charters and magnets at the expense of the others, and watch the results. It's a very sick game.
Of course, now it's also being played city and suburb. Those Section Eight vouchers that couldn't be cashed within Chicago's city limits, and somehow all wound up in a handful of suburbs you named.
When Mr. Pickens said I was peddling "conspiracy theories" I corrected him. This is the normal functioning of the system in the first decade of the 21st Century. A similar system, exploiting the ancestors of many of the same people, was in place in Alabama in around 1840 or so. I know where I would have stood (and with whom) back then, because I know where to stand for justice now. Unravelling all the lies takes time, now just as it did then. But eventually we can describe much of it (never all) from Calumet City to Maywood, and of course in the halls of the "Austin Entrepreneurship Academy" and even the third floor of AUSL at Austin and Roscoe within the past eight weeks.
And of course all of the official corruption that comes from multi million dollar drug gangs is done by marks like Arenda Troutman and some mopes south of the Rio Grande -- never by high ranking public officials or corporate heavyweights in miracle world class cities like Chicago.
Now tell me another fairy tale.
Arne Duncan's sabotaging the Crane High Schools of Chicago and has been since he took office. There is hell to pay in the next 12 weeks. But it's time accountability's finger pointed in the direction of the problem, and not at all the victims of the system.
Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 11:10 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Okay people, I may babble a little but it's so much to say, please bare with me.
Let's be truthful here. Many of you all are just trying to blow off a little steam and it almost worked. It made for rather interesting reading though. Allow me to give you a few facts that I get to see everyday. To announce in the very middle of the school year that you are getting rid of an entire campus staff and bringing in staff/teachers that are not even certified-Oh, my goodness-talk about set up!
You think the news has a lot to say about our students now. Wait until the new staff enters the building {even though they have been secretly coming in and out for months now} and these sweet hearts really get lose. No one took to mind that when you bring "fresh teachers" into a old setting with the same students, gang problem, gay rivalry, horrible neighborhood - where the parents are even worse than the student-MY MY MY-Wait and see then. This school was set up to be closed 2 years ago!
Get ready Mayor Daley, Rufus and Arnie! The shit is going to hit the fan. These young grown kids are already setting up how they plan to kick ass and take names later to break these AUSL or whomever these teachers are into the building.
Know this you have 3 schools within a school AASTA, EXCEL and MOSE VINES. They are all full of hell. AASTA has two very young leaders that's taking care of business and getting the job done seeing that they were just brought in the building in November. What was that all about-a bunch of mess, Yes! Excel-hahahaha, they are secretive with all the wrong doings in their building. They have more fights than any other school in the area and keep it under the covers for sure. Teachers being jumped by students and teachers practicing illegal habits whereas the students are too afraid to tell. Students being told they'll be kicked out if things get out-They have a staff that's afarid of the leadership over them and they are treated like garbage. They also have many scerets that they never want to get out to the public-NEVER! Then you have M.V. WHERE THIS PRINCIPAL IS PUT DOWN DAY IN AND DAY OUT BY HER COUNCIL AND many of the staff members from one of the other schools.
You can stand in the halls and listen to students threaten staff and students and nothing is done with a true follow through. These adult kids are being thrown to the wolves and no one gives a dam. I can name 35...no 43 teachers that are there just to collect a paycheck and don't give a dam if a kid turns in a assignment, shows up for class or kicks another kids butt right there in their faces.
Students having relations with security and the staff being aware of it for years now. I have been there for 5 years now and you better believe that everytime I have reported this to administration, nothing has been done. I have been tagged as a busy body that's in everybody's business.
This school needed a turn-a-round but, not like this.
What you get is how you set it up. We have parents coming into the school fighting other students with their kids and nothing being done because security and staff members are either family of or sleeping with or live next door to-well, what's next? B.S. HUH-No, just the facts.
Speaking of the facts. My nephew is a student at Crane and I have a niece at Clemente and both school are hell bound for sure. The staff won't tell and the separation of the staff at Clemente is just horrible. I've heard of being for your people but to actually say that the black in the school keep up the mess is the problem is completely out of hand.
I have witnessed hispanic students bring weapons into the school because they are having a rivalry with the black students and the sceurity allowing the weapon to pass by. I have sat in the room and heard the school clerk and others say horrible things about the black students like it was okay and would continue in spanish when they notice that I was sitting in the corner.
Want to know the facts about what's going on in a school? ASK A STUDENT STANDING IN THE STORE BY THE SCHOOL. They want to tell. They want the word to get out. As for Orr-Mr. Duncan, Rufus and all others involved in this 2010 change up-oops, I mean fix up...you need to check out what you have done already because we can only smell the dookie right now-next year we all just maybe eating it!
Okay, I know I'm rambling on but it's so much to say and so much that I just want to put out here but, I'll be back to really settle down and write it all like it should. Because when you can't talk to the heads in charge, why not tell it like this. Arnie has never been in a classroomas a teacher but has been entrusted to make life moving decisions on these children as if he actually knows what he's doing-----
CAN YOU SAY TEST DUMMY? That's what exactly what these kids in the "HOOD" have become-Look at this, then let's run them all to the suburbs to screw up their system.
This is a joke of the worst kind and the parents will not catch on to it because they are too busy trying to be their kids and kids friends, friend!
That's right about that Spike Lee Movie---
WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAAAKKKKEEEEE UUUUUPPPPPPP!
Let's be truthful here. Many of you all are just trying to blow off a little steam and it almost worked. It made for rather interesting reading though. Allow me to give you a few facts that I get to see everyday. To announce in the very middle of the school year that you are getting rid of an entire campus staff and bringing in staff/teachers that are not even certified-Oh, my goodness-talk about set up!
You think the news has a lot to say about our students now. Wait until the new staff enters the building {even though they have been secretly coming in and out for months now} and these sweet hearts really get lose. No one took to mind that when you bring "fresh teachers" into a old setting with the same students, gang problem, gay rivalry, horrible neighborhood - where the parents are even worse than the student-MY MY MY-Wait and see then. This school was set up to be closed 2 years ago!
Get ready Mayor Daley, Rufus and Arnie! The shit is going to hit the fan. These young grown kids are already setting up how they plan to kick ass and take names later to break these AUSL or whomever these teachers are into the building.
Know this you have 3 schools within a school AASTA, EXCEL and MOSE VINES. They are all full of hell. AASTA has two very young leaders that's taking care of business and getting the job done seeing that they were just brought in the building in November. What was that all about-a bunch of mess, Yes! Excel-hahahaha, they are secretive with all the wrong doings in their building. They have more fights than any other school in the area and keep it under the covers for sure. Teachers being jumped by students and teachers practicing illegal habits whereas the students are too afraid to tell. Students being told they'll be kicked out if things get out-They have a staff that's afarid of the leadership over them and they are treated like garbage. They also have many scerets that they never want to get out to the public-NEVER! Then you have M.V. WHERE THIS PRINCIPAL IS PUT DOWN DAY IN AND DAY OUT BY HER COUNCIL AND many of the staff members from one of the other schools.
You can stand in the halls and listen to students threaten staff and students and nothing is done with a true follow through. These adult kids are being thrown to the wolves and no one gives a dam. I can name 35...no 43 teachers that are there just to collect a paycheck and don't give a dam if a kid turns in a assignment, shows up for class or kicks another kids butt right there in their faces.
Students having relations with security and the staff being aware of it for years now. I have been there for 5 years now and you better believe that everytime I have reported this to administration, nothing has been done. I have been tagged as a busy body that's in everybody's business.
This school needed a turn-a-round but, not like this.
What you get is how you set it up. We have parents coming into the school fighting other students with their kids and nothing being done because security and staff members are either family of or sleeping with or live next door to-well, what's next? B.S. HUH-No, just the facts.
Speaking of the facts. My nephew is a student at Crane and I have a niece at Clemente and both school are hell bound for sure. The staff won't tell and the separation of the staff at Clemente is just horrible. I've heard of being for your people but to actually say that the black in the school keep up the mess is the problem is completely out of hand.
I have witnessed hispanic students bring weapons into the school because they are having a rivalry with the black students and the sceurity allowing the weapon to pass by. I have sat in the room and heard the school clerk and others say horrible things about the black students like it was okay and would continue in spanish when they notice that I was sitting in the corner.
Want to know the facts about what's going on in a school? ASK A STUDENT STANDING IN THE STORE BY THE SCHOOL. They want to tell. They want the word to get out. As for Orr-Mr. Duncan, Rufus and all others involved in this 2010 change up-oops, I mean fix up...you need to check out what you have done already because we can only smell the dookie right now-next year we all just maybe eating it!
Okay, I know I'm rambling on but it's so much to say and so much that I just want to put out here but, I'll be back to really settle down and write it all like it should. Because when you can't talk to the heads in charge, why not tell it like this. Arnie has never been in a classroomas a teacher but has been entrusted to make life moving decisions on these children as if he actually knows what he's doing-----
CAN YOU SAY TEST DUMMY? That's what exactly what these kids in the "HOOD" have become-Look at this, then let's run them all to the suburbs to screw up their system.
This is a joke of the worst kind and the parents will not catch on to it because they are too busy trying to be their kids and kids friends, friend!
That's right about that Spike Lee Movie---
WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAAAKKKKEEEEE UUUUUPPPPPPP!
Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 1:05 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
The sabotage continues this week, while they eyes of the city are focused on Crane.
How many high school teachers have been told this week they are being fired? A dozen at Washington? Two dozen at Bogan? More than 200 citywide (possibly more)? Does anyone believe that when the general high schools reopen on the 24th, Arne Duncan will be in any of them without a double bodyguard?
And how many elementary schools were facing the kinds of problems that hit Taylor Friday, when all the media obsessions were focused on Crane? What's going to happen when there are shootings and other mayhem at three, four, or five different schools at the same time? Will Television "News" do an omnibus report (like a Board of Education vote), or maybe take camera phone shots from You Tube?
Yesterday's police state at Crane was typical Chicago, and, of course, typically the wrong response. The problem is outside the school, with the drug gangs in the disrupted communities. The combination of the destruction of the CHA housing projects and the destruction of public schools (both, trademarked "Daley") has added to a problem that was already massive.
So naturally, the Official Truth blames the teachers. Teachers are apparently the only people in this town who aren't armed to fight back when they're being bullied, so Arne, Rufus, and Daley get away with it -- over and over and over and over...
How many high school teachers have been told this week they are being fired? A dozen at Washington? Two dozen at Bogan? More than 200 citywide (possibly more)? Does anyone believe that when the general high schools reopen on the 24th, Arne Duncan will be in any of them without a double bodyguard?
And how many elementary schools were facing the kinds of problems that hit Taylor Friday, when all the media obsessions were focused on Crane? What's going to happen when there are shootings and other mayhem at three, four, or five different schools at the same time? Will Television "News" do an omnibus report (like a Board of Education vote), or maybe take camera phone shots from You Tube?
Yesterday's police state at Crane was typical Chicago, and, of course, typically the wrong response. The problem is outside the school, with the drug gangs in the disrupted communities. The combination of the destruction of the CHA housing projects and the destruction of public schools (both, trademarked "Daley") has added to a problem that was already massive.
So naturally, the Official Truth blames the teachers. Teachers are apparently the only people in this town who aren't armed to fight back when they're being bullied, so Arne, Rufus, and Daley get away with it -- over and over and over and over...
Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 8:21 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
I think this increase in violence, 18 shootings in one school year, is a symptom of deeper issues, most of them already mentioned by other comments: gangs and gang recruitment, parental noninvolvement, cheapness of life, etc. I attend my CAPS meetings as a representative of the library, and see many of these students in my library. They are often under even less pressure to behave properly because they know we don't know their names. We don't mess around, and call 911, work closely with CPD. My understanding, from beat officers and other community leaders, is that parents are often taken aside and informed of teen and preteen behavior. Denial, anger at the messenger, a shrug of the shoulder. This is probably the same reaction to caring and concerned teachers and school officials. Perhaps parent accountability is the route to go at this point. Make it tough and make it stick. How did these teens and preteens get to be so out of control? We all have to be parents, not buddies, to our students. I have my daughter in a catholic high school and pay large fees to avoid security issues at CPS, a move that goes against my inclination. My neighborhood school just cannot deliver on both academics and safety for my teen.
Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 8:57 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Does anyone know the names of the schools who will get the new and extra police protection, they are talking about on the news provided by these additional 50 officers?
Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
To answer your question Retired Principal....they were all at Crane yesterday. It was too phony.
Toni.... you are correct in what you're saying and the Arnie's and Rufus' of the system are completely in denial and they want to see what's going to happen when making these big changes than to deal with what has already happened.
These kids are being tested because the majority of the parents are not parenting and the system can't handle the situations that keep coming forth like it did at Crane.
So for the Bogans, Harpers, Crane's, Orr's, Clemente's, Taft's and all the other high school here in Chicago....sit back and put on the steel helmets and let the people at 125 Clark street keep pulling the switch to see what works best until we kill up each other.
That police presense that we all got to see yesterday at Crane was typical and everyone knows it. They're all out there walking in the middle of the street blocking off blocks like they are doing something big when Crane still had several fights to happen on the inside.
I have watch security be friends with students with all the jokes, ordering food for students and hand shakes that they do that it funny when they pretend to do what they were actually hired to do. Secure the place.....NOT!
The CHA Housing was a set also. Come on people....the projects were set up for families to move in, live there for for 2 to 3 years, save money and be ready to put down a good down payment on a home.....LOL...That didn't happen! Instead, the next 6 generations got apartments and it became the new save haven for unwed, broke down as daddies and mommies to live for dirt cheap and be able to buy the very best and most expensive clothing MADISON STREET TOPS AND BOTTOMS has to offer them on check day....That's the 1st and the 3 rd or whenever their last named rolled around for them to get the welfare earnings....Yea earnings because so many actually thing that the government owe them something.
Okay I got a little off tract for a moment but, you get where I'm coming from because it's obvious and seen all the time inside the school building. Parents have no controll because they are friends with their children and their children's friends. Parents are accepting money from their drug dealing kids and allowing their daughters to sleep with a boyfriend in their homes, bring more babies in every year knowing that their cash benifit amouny will go up and they can sell them off for cash......Dam, our community has got it going on.
We can wear the very best clothing, our 3 and 4 years olds can sing all the rap songs on key as if they had written them themselves and the parents throw birthday parties for their children and charge to get in, sell drinks and this is all with babies and teenagers.
Now, let's get real people.
The problem in the schhool start at home. Mommy and Daddy? Who is this? They only come to the schools after their child has been involved in a altercation and they will not show up grade pick-up, parent/teacher conferences, unless it has something to do with the IEP...THAT WILL DETERMINE IF THAT CHILD CAN CONTINUE TO GET THE CHECK ON THE 1ST OR THE 3RD OF THE MONTH.
Too crazy right.
But, the fact remains that the breakdown of the projects was and had to happen because IT HAD BECOME A HELL HOLE, yes a HELL HOLE for danger to our very own people. You couldn't even get the police to go in the building to assist in a crisis.
The schools:
This is mess that confronts us everyday in the "HOOD" and everyone that lives here knows it. It's no secret that the kids do what they want, the parents back them in their wrong doins, the police do what they want to whom they want and when things like this happen at a school you get the same reactions...I can't believe this happened! Yea right, this is happening everyday and it's just not being reported like it should.
You put an entire school in uniform to keep the gang violence and you put the Black Ganster Disciple colors, P-Stone colors, Vice-Lord colors and New Breed colors and expect students to be safe. GET REAL!
SCHHOL UNIFORNS....were suppose to keep the drama down from students making fun of students that couldn't afford the name brand clothing and hundred dollar gym shoes. But, it was really to help uniform the students to look the same and to keep control of problems that arised.
Now, here at these "Uniform Schools" you have more drama that expected and as for Whitney Young where I have a cousin who attands classes there....It's all swept under the rug just like many school do. The dice playing for money in the lunch room and the serious threats that students make are kept under control to make sure that the system doesn't get it on record. They know what they are doing over there and if you ask the right student, you will get a mouth full. So act as if they have no real "GHETTO ISSUES" over there at Young. Hello!
I'll say it again....TEST DUMMIES? YES!
Toni.... you are correct in what you're saying and the Arnie's and Rufus' of the system are completely in denial and they want to see what's going to happen when making these big changes than to deal with what has already happened.
These kids are being tested because the majority of the parents are not parenting and the system can't handle the situations that keep coming forth like it did at Crane.
So for the Bogans, Harpers, Crane's, Orr's, Clemente's, Taft's and all the other high school here in Chicago....sit back and put on the steel helmets and let the people at 125 Clark street keep pulling the switch to see what works best until we kill up each other.
That police presense that we all got to see yesterday at Crane was typical and everyone knows it. They're all out there walking in the middle of the street blocking off blocks like they are doing something big when Crane still had several fights to happen on the inside.
I have watch security be friends with students with all the jokes, ordering food for students and hand shakes that they do that it funny when they pretend to do what they were actually hired to do. Secure the place.....NOT!
The CHA Housing was a set also. Come on people....the projects were set up for families to move in, live there for for 2 to 3 years, save money and be ready to put down a good down payment on a home.....LOL...That didn't happen! Instead, the next 6 generations got apartments and it became the new save haven for unwed, broke down as daddies and mommies to live for dirt cheap and be able to buy the very best and most expensive clothing MADISON STREET TOPS AND BOTTOMS has to offer them on check day....That's the 1st and the 3 rd or whenever their last named rolled around for them to get the welfare earnings....Yea earnings because so many actually thing that the government owe them something.
Okay I got a little off tract for a moment but, you get where I'm coming from because it's obvious and seen all the time inside the school building. Parents have no controll because they are friends with their children and their children's friends. Parents are accepting money from their drug dealing kids and allowing their daughters to sleep with a boyfriend in their homes, bring more babies in every year knowing that their cash benifit amouny will go up and they can sell them off for cash......Dam, our community has got it going on.
We can wear the very best clothing, our 3 and 4 years olds can sing all the rap songs on key as if they had written them themselves and the parents throw birthday parties for their children and charge to get in, sell drinks and this is all with babies and teenagers.
Now, let's get real people.
The problem in the schhool start at home. Mommy and Daddy? Who is this? They only come to the schools after their child has been involved in a altercation and they will not show up grade pick-up, parent/teacher conferences, unless it has something to do with the IEP...THAT WILL DETERMINE IF THAT CHILD CAN CONTINUE TO GET THE CHECK ON THE 1ST OR THE 3RD OF THE MONTH.
Too crazy right.
But, the fact remains that the breakdown of the projects was and had to happen because IT HAD BECOME A HELL HOLE, yes a HELL HOLE for danger to our very own people. You couldn't even get the police to go in the building to assist in a crisis.
The schools:
This is mess that confronts us everyday in the "HOOD" and everyone that lives here knows it. It's no secret that the kids do what they want, the parents back them in their wrong doins, the police do what they want to whom they want and when things like this happen at a school you get the same reactions...I can't believe this happened! Yea right, this is happening everyday and it's just not being reported like it should.
You put an entire school in uniform to keep the gang violence and you put the Black Ganster Disciple colors, P-Stone colors, Vice-Lord colors and New Breed colors and expect students to be safe. GET REAL!
SCHHOL UNIFORNS....were suppose to keep the drama down from students making fun of students that couldn't afford the name brand clothing and hundred dollar gym shoes. But, it was really to help uniform the students to look the same and to keep control of problems that arised.
Now, here at these "Uniform Schools" you have more drama that expected and as for Whitney Young where I have a cousin who attands classes there....It's all swept under the rug just like many school do. The dice playing for money in the lunch room and the serious threats that students make are kept under control to make sure that the system doesn't get it on record. They know what they are doing over there and if you ask the right student, you will get a mouth full. So act as if they have no real "GHETTO ISSUES" over there at Young. Hello!
I'll say it again....TEST DUMMIES? YES!
Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
The problems facing the Crane community began before the conception of these students. Lack of planning and lack of self-control are the major problems in all poverty-stricken areas. It follows these students all the days of their lives. Everyone's lack of planning ruins opportunity. Who's your Daddy and what kind of Daddy is he going to be, are the first missed questions.
The real men in the black community need to stop marching and start being responsible role models even if they don't understand why it has to be them. Stop having babies without thought. Stay together for the sake of the children. Or don't have children. Girls, this means you too.
I realize self-control can't be purchased but it can be learned.
The real men in the black community need to stop marching and start being responsible role models even if they don't understand why it has to be them. Stop having babies without thought. Stay together for the sake of the children. Or don't have children. Girls, this means you too.
I realize self-control can't be purchased but it can be learned.
Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 1:26 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Thanks, 11:10. Would like to hear from students too. Keep speaking out about what you see and know.
Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 1:35 PM
Beaten By A Golf Club At Crane HS
Another issue that needs to be address is the lack of parenting or NO PARENTS AT ALL!
This is why CPS is taking some serious actions that at the end of the day are BAND-AID approaches. Track E in the low performing, high poverty stricken areas. Many feel that if you can not raise your child then we will. Year round schools has less to do with achievement and more to do with kid being off the streets.
CPD can not stop gangs, communities do. Take a serious look at Lincoln Park around the Armitage/Sheffield/Halsted area. 12 years ago it did not look like that. The gangs were everywhere. Look at Cabrini Green now, a year ago it did not look like it looks now.
Good community=Good school
The suburbs are the suburbs because of strong community representation. No magnet school, no gifted learning centers, no selective enrollment.
Just look at Sandburg, Stevenson, HF, etc...
This is why CPS is taking some serious actions that at the end of the day are BAND-AID approaches. Track E in the low performing, high poverty stricken areas. Many feel that if you can not raise your child then we will. Year round schools has less to do with achievement and more to do with kid being off the streets.
CPD can not stop gangs, communities do. Take a serious look at Lincoln Park around the Armitage/Sheffield/Halsted area. 12 years ago it did not look like that. The gangs were everywhere. Look at Cabrini Green now, a year ago it did not look like it looks now.
Good community=Good school
The suburbs are the suburbs because of strong community representation. No magnet school, no gifted learning centers, no selective enrollment.
Just look at Sandburg, Stevenson, HF, etc...
