Public Housing (Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Itasca: how much, neighborhood, good schools)

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by Humboldt1

I did have good influences growing up which taught me the importance of education and hard work.

That's all I really meant by my comment. My family didn't have any money, but I had those same values instilled in me from a very early age and they affected who I am today.

Sadly I know a lot of people out there don't have that, and I personally think it's unfair how we as a society often use the same measuring stick to judge them. People often tend to not think about the opportunities they have had, or they often assume everyone had those same opportunities.

[cobolt]

I know what you mean....we really scraped for a living growing up. When my ma couldn't pay the bills, she took on a second job, and then a cleaning job in the city on the weekends. We would take the bus into the city with her and help her. She never once thought about obtaining public assistance and she certainly didn't have any college behind her. I saw a strong work ethic, and through example, us kids flourished. We worked our way through college, etc. It doesn't take a village....it takes hard work and integrity and it starts at home.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by aragx6

That's all I really meant by my comment. My family didn't have any money, but I had those same values instilled in me from a very early age and they affected who I am today.

Sadly I know a lot of people out there don't have that, and I personally think it's unfair how we as a society often use the same measuring stick to judge them. People often tend to not think about the opportunities they have had, or they often assume everyone had those same opportunities.

Life isn't fair, and everyone IS judged by the same measuring stick in the meritocracy that is emerging in the workplace. Some people have more obstacles to overcome than others, but they still have to do it or they will stay at the bottom.

[GoCUBS1]

Maybe I'm idealistic but I truly believe public education is the answer.
Clean up the CPS (I posted about this B4) and maybe a year-round public boarding school for Chicago poor/troubled youth isn't a bad idea:

No small plan: Public boarding schools for Chicago -- chicagotribune.com

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Life isn't fair, and everyone IS judged by the same measuring stick in the meritocracy that is emerging in the workplace. Some people have more obstacles to overcome than others, but they still have to do it or they will stay at the bottom.

I absolutely agree. My only point was that there has to be some incentive for working hard. If you've never seen anyone get ahead, if you've never seen an example of success, it's unlikely you'll understand that with hard work comes opportunity.

If you've never seen anyone succeed you probably will figure you can't either, so why bother to try.

It's in everyone in America's best interests for us to help these people, they cost a lot of money for taxpayers, and ignoring the problem or cutting them off from services they need isn't going to fix anything.

[Humboldt1]

GoCUBS1,

I wish you were right and we could fix CPS. The best I feel we can do is continue with magnet programs which unfortunately leaves many other students stranded in lesser schools. Also, those who are able will continue to send their children to private schools.

This is why so many live in the city and once they have children move to the suburbs. I plan on moving to the suburbs or sending my children to private school when and if I have children in the future. I would only send my children to CPS thru a magnet school. Otherwise, I would not enroll my children in CPS.

This is why I am looking at River Forest/Oak Park to live. Good location and excellent schools.
I am living in Humboldt Park and making the financial sacrifices now so that I can afford to live in such an area in the future.

[aragx6]

The schools issue is such a catch 22. To get test scores up and attract a better cross section of people to CPS we first need active and involved parents who are willing to stay and send their kids to CPS. But at the same time those active parents won't stay until the test scores come up, so what do you do?

A lot of people want to be a warrior for public education, they don't want to give up and run off to the suburbs when they hit their first trimester, but at the end of the day they are parents first and warriors second. No one wants their kid to get a second-rate education, especially these days when without at least a bachelor's it's next to impossible to make a decent living.

[GoCUBS1]

Originally Posted by Humboldt1

GoCUBS1,

I wish you were right and we could fix CPS. The best I feel we can do is continue with magnet programs which unfortunately leaves many other students stranded in lesser schools. Also, those who are able will continue to send their children to private schools.

This is why so many live in the city and once they have children move to the suburbs. I plan on moving to the suburbs or sending my children to private school when and if I have children in the future. I would only send my children to CPS thru a magnet school. Otherwise, I would not enroll my children in CPS.

This is why I am looking at River Forest/Oak Park to live. Good location and excellent schools.
I am living in Humboldt Park and making the financial sacrifices now so that I can afford to live in such an area in the future.

Humboldt, we lived in the city and moved to the burbs only for the schools. I researched almost every public/magnet/private/charter school in the city and burbs (even considered the Chicago Virtual School). Anyway, the CPS has failed many and I support a year-round boarding school for the poor/troubled youth that may be attending those "lesser" schools. I would have never supported this 5 years ago (before I had kids and researched the schools). I wouldn't have wanted to pay for it. But our city's educational system and future is crumbling and it may be time for this extreme measure.

[GoCUBS1]

Originally Posted by aragx6

The schools issue is such a catch 22. To get test scores up and attract a better cross section of people to CPS we first need active and involved parents who are willing to stay and send their kids to CPS. But at the same time those active parents won't stay until the test scores come up, so what do you do?

A lot of people want to be a warrior for public education, they don't want to give up and run off to the suburbs when they hit their first trimester, but at the end of the day they are parents first and warriors second. No one wants their kid to get a second-rate education, especially these days when without at least a bachelor's it's next to impossible to make a decent living.

Exactly. I'm a warrior from afar. I won't subject my kids to a substandard education. I do want to be part of the solution though. That's why I pontificate on forums like this and have been a school volunteer for many years. I'm not a teacher (both my parents were though) but one of my life goals is to have a more profound impact on education.

BTW, we didn't have much money growing up either. My parents supported 3 kids on a school teacher's salary. The thing that we had though was a good public education. And that seems so much harder for kids to get today.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by aragx6

The schools issue is such a catch 22. To get test scores up and attract a better cross section of people to CPS we first need active and involved parents who are willing to stay and send their kids to CPS. But at the same time those active parents won't stay until the test scores come up, so what do you do?

A lot of people want to be a warrior for public education, they don't want to give up and run off to the suburbs when they hit their first trimester, but at the end of the day they are parents first and warriors second. No one wants their kid to get a second-rate education, especially these days when without at least a bachelor's it's next to impossible to make a decent living.

I hear you there. I'll be having my first child in a matter of weeks, and even the "good" public elementary schools in the CPS system leave a lot to be desired. I think it would be great if a bunch of middle-to-upper class families would stick it out in the public schools to help turn them around (like they did at Blaine and Nettlehorst), but I'm still not sure I want to "experiment" with my kid's education. I may send my child to CPS school early on, but defnitely want to get them out before fourth or fifth grade unless things turn around fast. I may go private, or move to an inner burb on public transit with good schools.