Why Can't Chicago Shape Up its Public Schools? (Naperville: house, elementary schools)

[Dncr]

The title pretty much states it all, but why can't Chicago shape up its public schools? They're the only thing really standing in the way of the city taking off for good.

[hxcobd]

The only thing? Ever heard anything about Chicago taxes?

[Avengerfire]

This theme has come up time and time again in this forum. Money and resources will never solve the problem. The societies that many of these kids that attend CPS schools come from are very ill. Until the communities these kids come from clean themselves up and decide that they want to progress-most of the children that come from them will not progress or succeed.

[Craziaskowboi]

The problem is with the students and parents. Spending more money won't make any of them magically give a **** about education.

[Attrill]

Many schools HAVE cleaned themselves up. Unfortunately many (or most) parents in Chicago who value education moved their kids to private schools years ago (or moved themselves to the suburbs). CPS as a whole will be facing dismal test scores for decades to come just based on the demographics of students.

That said, if you look at schools on an individual basis there are many positive developments. Many Elementary schools have improved dramatically over the last 10-15 years (especially on the North and Northwest sides). High Schools are lagging, but if you have a smart kid and get lucky with the lotteries your kid can end up in one of the top high schools in the state. There is some progress in High Schools in general too. I did some tutoring at Roberto Clemente in the early 90's, and while it isn't a great school now, it is NOWHERE near as bad as it was 15-20 years ago.

Money IS needed at the worst schools. If you think a teacher is paid too much in Chicago take a look at what they can make in the suburbs - it is generally 1.25 to 2X as much. Why would any competent teacher take a job at DuSable when they could make much more working with easier students in Naperville? Thanks to NCLB they can actually get fired for working with difficult kids who will never improve their test scores until they have some basic needs met at home. It is basic Capitalism.

[ofcjim40]

Parents (or lack there of) not the schools.

[Drover]

Schools tend to reflect the moral health of the communities they serve, though for reasons Attrill mentions, mediocre CPS schools are often an amplified such reflection. But in either case, you fix the schools by improving the low moral health of the community. Until you do that you're just pissing into a gale.

[nycistheplace2]

The problems start at home.
Until you fix the root of the problem then you cant fix the schools.
Some kids go home to a crack house with a drugged up momma and no dad.
Most parents dont even care about there kids schooling.Neither do the teachers.
More money wont fix it.

[ParkerP]

Parents-Need to stop using the schools as a free babysitting service and actually get involved in their children's education.

Students-Need to actually want to be educated. Simple as that.

Teachers-They need to allow teachers to discipline students. If the teacher tells a child to stop disrupting class and sends them to the corner, they shouldn't have to worry about being cursed out by the parent later at the conference.

Schools-Need to put part of budget and support towards REAL guidance counselors that actually CARE. They just don't realize how a great counselor can influence decisions.

[ajolotl]

all true.

Of course, the teachers and admins have to be allowed to run the school with a zero tolerance policy for any behavior that disrupts the learning environment. Problem is, where would the expelled students go? This is the sense in which school cannot be separated from the larger social environment. If we were a DOD school overseas a troublemaker and their family would just get deported (this is how it works). I think the schools would clean up pretty quickly. Unfortunately, there is no analogy to deportation. Somehow, the community itself has to improve before the school does (beyond a certain point at least).

From my perspective (coming originally from a third world country), every poor child in chicago should kneel down and kiss the earth beneath them in celebration of their amazing fortune -- just regular poor folks coming from nowhere with first rate educational facilities paid for by public funds -- plumbing, relatively well paid teachers, janitors, heat, a/c, many very new, spiffy buildings, counselors, big grassy fields, swimming pools, educational materials. All essentially for free if you are poor. I've been to Simeon, King, Morgan Park, and Kenwood quite a few times and by the standards of what one actually needs they are a sight to behold. Nothing should keep everyone from going as far as their ability lets them. I don't see how money could be the issue.