Thanks to Rev. Meeks’ call for a Sept. 4th school boycott, the inequities in Chicago and state school funding are getting lots of media play ( here and here) and hopefully forcing legislators off the dime. Last week, the Urban League filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against the State of Illinois and the Illinois State Board of Education, claiming the defendants violated students’ civil rights by providing unequal funding to schools based on race, particularly black and Latino students. Unfortunately, schools CEO Arne Duncan refuses to get behind Meeks’ efforts, arguing that this is a "job for adults" and that kids “shouldn’t be used” in the struggle for school funding. Problem is, the adults—the governor,the legislature, the mayor, and Duncan--are sitting on their hands. Now that some adults are finally acting, Duncan has come out against the Urban League’s lawsuit. He tells the Chicago Reporter:
“By definition, lawsuits pit side against side. We should all be on the same side when the issue is properly funding the education of 2 million children throughout our state.”
Kumbaya.
"We have to fight the
ReplyDeletefunding battle. But let's let adults fight that battle. Let's not use
our children in that battle."
Funny, but I don't remember Arne Duncan having this sentiment this
spring, when he used our students as a backdrop for his funding spectacle at
Soldier Field for the "Shout Out for Schools".
I agree with Bosan:
"The kids don't really understand why they're being held out of school.
It's not reaching the kids on their level. It's just kind of using them
as pawns."
Though she is talking about the Meeks' protest, she could just as easily
have been talking about Duncan's.
Why not lay out the issues, then let the students research and come to
decisions as to what actions they should take? Why not have a real
social studies lesson?
quotes from:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-trotter-boycott-01-sep01,0,5585762.story