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Little Village Boxing Gym Community Watch
During a winter when Chicago Public School students face gang violence and death on the streets, most recently at Crane and Gage Park High Schools, the people behind this gym are creating a real alternative.
The Letter Please? CPS Releases Academic Center Results
Well, the writing was on the wall, but the CPS Academic Center acceptance remains bittersweet. Perhaps, our child should be grateful for this lesson at a young age. Our sixth grader will make the transition from Decatur Classical to an Academic Center. The results arrived today.
Organizing youth against violence CMW
As we post a newstip on Kids Off The Block’s youth march and Spring Break Jam against violence this Saturday, word comes of the Little Village Youth Forum on “Gang Wars - Community Violence,” also this Saturday, March 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Little Village Lawndale High School, 3120 S. Kostner.
Students Choose to Opt Out of Releasing Personal Information to Recruiters
Chicago Public School juniors, Sarah Michaels* and Juan Sylva* took turns using each others' back to fill out a CPS law department form to "Opt Out" of having their names, address and telephone numbers released to military recruiters. "I am a patriot, but there are other ways to serve our country than by joining the Army or Marines,
Museum of Science and Industry Trip Marshfield
Well, the best part is we didn't lose anybody.
Obama’s Church Sponsoring African-Centered School
[ED: This link has been taken down at the request of Catalyst.]
New LSC numbers - some progress PURE
With the extended LSC candidate deadline of Monday, March 24th fast approaching, we've made some progress but still have a lot to do!
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Fri Mar 21, 2008 at 6:38 AM
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More disgusting stuff as Russo combs the racist right-wing press for new attacks on the nation's first real potential black president and on Afro-centered education. This piece of white-supremacist crap, posted by Russo without comment, taken alongside his right-to-life post the other day, replete with photos of mutilated fetuses, shows just where this guy is coming from. Shame on Catalyst for hosting this shameful blog.
Fri Mar 21, 2008 at 8:49 AM
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Knowing the typical coverage from World Net Daily, I'm actually surprised at how tame that article was. Even after reading the article that, undoubtedly, tries to get angry white folks to raise a fuss, I can't see how many would have much to complain about.
Aren't most of the Trinity members middle class and beyond? Are gang-banging parents going to send their kids there? I can't imagine that the kids will get any worse education their - in a place where funds will come pour down on them - than they would in any near north neighborhood school.
Aren't most of the Trinity members middle class and beyond? Are gang-banging parents going to send their kids there? I can't imagine that the kids will get any worse education their - in a place where funds will come pour down on them - than they would in any near north neighborhood school.
Fri Mar 21, 2008 at 9:42 AM
Addressing student violence
The Little Village Boxing Gym and the gang-violence forum this Saturday in that same neighborhood are admirable responses to the epidemic of killings and other senseless violence that affects kids in our schools. My question is, what can and should be done within the schools -- or in close partnership with community groups -- to create the protective culture that reduces violence before it starts?
I ask because even 100 cops can't stop a killing if the school and its students, teachers and staff aren't a community that can police itself. This was proven by the Crane High School shooting and beating and by many other incidents in and around schools.
Who's doing things that work? What are they doing? Who drives the process?
I ask because even 100 cops can't stop a killing if the school and its students, teachers and staff aren't a community that can police itself. This was proven by the Crane High School shooting and beating and by many other incidents in and around schools.
Who's doing things that work? What are they doing? Who drives the process?
Fri Mar 21, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Addressing student violence
The forum in Little Village offers some steps in the right direction: peer-to-peer prevention strategies, a survey of 700 youth about violence, and the perspectives of former gang members. Download a media alert/fact sheet here.
Fri Mar 21, 2008 at 11:00 AM
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From what I've seen, most schools in violent neighborhoods focus their efforts on keeping weapons out of schools and dealing with disciplinary issues inside the building to keep violence down (but not out altogether). I just heard this week that the principal of Richards High School has invited Catholic Charities Street Intervention to come and run group sessions for students inside the school. As I understand it, this is a first for Richards.
To its credit, a couple of years ago Chavez Elementary partnered with the Thousand Waves Martial Arts and Self-Defense Center to run a nine-week course on self-defense and conflict resolution for its students. But they only had a one-time grant, and were not able to continue the program.
The other day, some boys on my block were telling me how one of them had just won a fight. I asked, "Do you guys know how to solve problems without fighting?" A couple of them laughed at the question, but the one who had one the fight said, "No."
I asked him, "Would you like to learn how?" and he said yes.
I may be calling Thousand Waves and looking for a place to do some training in the near future.
To its credit, a couple of years ago Chavez Elementary partnered with the Thousand Waves Martial Arts and Self-Defense Center to run a nine-week course on self-defense and conflict resolution for its students. But they only had a one-time grant, and were not able to continue the program.
The other day, some boys on my block were telling me how one of them had just won a fight. I asked, "Do you guys know how to solve problems without fighting?" A couple of them laughed at the question, but the one who had one the fight said, "No."
I asked him, "Would you like to learn how?" and he said yes.
I may be calling Thousand Waves and looking for a place to do some training in the near future.
Fri Mar 21, 2008 at 11:03 AM
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On working with community groups--the Peace and Education Coalition was formed to do exactly what Worried Parent is asking about--creat proactive community peace work and build bridges between communities and schools so when conflict erupts, adults can get to the bottom of it.
But it is hard work, especially when most of the agencies involved are working with the most troubled kids. It's hard to do preventive work when there aren't many groups with the expertise and there's not much money to bring it in.
But it is hard work, especially when most of the agencies involved are working with the most troubled kids. It's hard to do preventive work when there aren't many groups with the expertise and there's not much money to bring it in.
Fri Mar 21, 2008 at 12:59 PM
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Trinity Church opening a public school. Hmmm! I'd like to see the revisionist history lessons at that school about 9-11, HIV Aids, blah, blah, blah. Good Lord, Help us all!
Fri Mar 21, 2008 at 2:21 PM
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What does your school teach now about 9-11, aids, etc..? I wonder what Russo's friends at http://www.district299.com/teach?
Fri Mar 21, 2008 at 3:52 PM
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"...I just heard this week that the principal of Richards High School has invited Catholic Charities Street Intervention to come and run group sessions for students inside the school. As I understand it, this is a first for Richards..."
Wrong. We were working with Richards in 2004 when I was serving as director of school security and safety for the CTU. It was cut off during the summer of 2004 when Marilyn Stewart took over. Security, safety and discipline have to be integrated, long-term, and consistent. You don't send a child who has just slashed another child with a homemade shank (such as I witnessed at Bowen High School more than ten years ago) -- causing 50 stitches's damage -- to a "peer jury." That makes a mockery of the justice system. And the true bad guys (and girls) laugh at the "Marks" who preach that stuff.
You have to have law enforcement, security, discipline, and counseling.
That's been going on at Richards for a long time. Just because every new year brings certain types of amnesia...
Wrong. We were working with Richards in 2004 when I was serving as director of school security and safety for the CTU. It was cut off during the summer of 2004 when Marilyn Stewart took over. Security, safety and discipline have to be integrated, long-term, and consistent. You don't send a child who has just slashed another child with a homemade shank (such as I witnessed at Bowen High School more than ten years ago) -- causing 50 stitches's damage -- to a "peer jury." That makes a mockery of the justice system. And the true bad guys (and girls) laugh at the "Marks" who preach that stuff.
You have to have law enforcement, security, discipline, and counseling.
That's been going on at Richards for a long time. Just because every new year brings certain types of amnesia...
Fri Mar 21, 2008 at 7:17 PM
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That Rogers Park Inconsistent blog entry about academic centers and SE high schools was one trippy musing. The air must be thin up there in Gifted Land.
Fri Mar 21, 2008 at 8:39 PM
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Thanks for the background, George. When I said the Catholic Charities work was a first, I meant that people who have been in the neighborhood a lot longer than I have say it is the first time Richards has permitted a group working with serious gang-related offenders out in the community to come inside the school. This is not about peer jury, by the way.
You are 100 percent right that it take consistent law enforcement, security, discipline and counseling all together. I can tell you for sure that the counseling piece at Richards, like at all neighborhood high schools, is inadequate to meet the need. That is something Catholic Charities hopes to improve, but that alone isn't enough and they know it, too.
I can also tell you that community residents say law enforcement in and around Richards has only recently improved--there's a reason 9th District Cmdr. Roy was not among the many replaced by Jody Weis--but he's only been here two or three years.
You are 100 percent right that it take consistent law enforcement, security, discipline and counseling all together. I can tell you for sure that the counseling piece at Richards, like at all neighborhood high schools, is inadequate to meet the need. That is something Catholic Charities hopes to improve, but that alone isn't enough and they know it, too.
I can also tell you that community residents say law enforcement in and around Richards has only recently improved--there's a reason 9th District Cmdr. Roy was not among the many replaced by Jody Weis--but he's only been here two or three years.
Fri Mar 21, 2008 at 11:03 PM
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Bernard writes:
"More disgusting stuff as Russo combs the racist right-wing press for new attacks on the nation's first real potential black president and on Afro-centered education."
I don't get this. First real potential black president? Obama is mixed race (white mother). He could be called white with equal justification or lack thereof. Does Bernard subscribe to the Jim Crow-type one-drop rule?
"More disgusting stuff as Russo combs the racist right-wing press for new attacks on the nation's first real potential black president and on Afro-centered education."
I don't get this. First real potential black president? Obama is mixed race (white mother). He could be called white with equal justification or lack thereof. Does Bernard subscribe to the Jim Crow-type one-drop rule?
Fri Mar 21, 2008 at 11:13 PM
Around The Blogs
Regardless, Obama is more white than Black, he doesn't act like the rest of the black folks, because he is not from the hood. So its not surprising alot of whites like Obama, he will take care of the whites as usual and give the brothers and sisters a little bit, not much to keep them happy.
That is why the white guys like Daley and his consultants David Axelrod for example are on Obama side, to easily control him, watch and you all will learn.
That is why the white guys like Daley and his consultants David Axelrod for example are on Obama side, to easily control him, watch and you all will learn.
Wed Mar 26, 2008 at 12:58 PM
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I keep hearing rumors that CPS is trying to enforce the residency policy. Anyone hear anything about this?
Wed Mar 26, 2008 at 1:02 PM
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According to my understanding if you were hired before November 26,1996 you are exempt.If you are in shortage areas you can apply for a 3 years waiver.
I heard they are going to be more strict regarding enforcement.
I heard they are going to be more strict regarding enforcement.
