what Makes Chicago Public Schools Bad (Atlanta, Time: lawyers, preschool, living)

[IntlFalls56649]

I know I'm late to this discussion but I have kept up with what's going on down in Chicago with the schools, and personally I feel that until they get rid of Karen Lewis, nothing is going to change. She is a nasty, divisive, ignorant woman who works overtime to promote her own agenda and bulldozes past anyone who disagrees with her. She insults people of color who truly do experience racism by claiming that any policy people don't agree with of hers is somehow racism on their part. I'm sick and tired of this. I'm a gay individual, but I have never - and will never - claim that people are homophobic or anti-gay just because I am unhappy that people don't agree with my ideas. What this kind of thinking does is make those who truly are racist even MORE so, because they know you are baiting them. Lewis lives for this kind of stuff, and in doing so, divides people even more. At this point in Chicago, she is the last person who should be saying anything on behalf of CPS.

And another thing: the 3rd grade kid who was speaking like some kind of reverend on that CNN's 'Chicagoland' show. He doesn't even know what he's talking about. What a coincidence his mother has something to do with the teacher's union. I find it shameless when parents use and coach their own kids to do their dirty work in order to score cuteness points or 'this could be the next leader!' comments. That had nothing to do with closing schools, safe passage, or anything like that. That was about her own personal financial security and nothing else. You and your children are the ones who can change your neighborhoods by working with authorities and monitoring what's going on - gangs are bad in Chicago - no argument from me - but to roll over and say that you're controlled more by the intimidation of gangs that you won't even try to get rid of them, I call BS on that. The gangs don't own parts of Chicago - FAMILIES who work, attend school, pick up trash, volunteer, contribute, etc - that's who owns the neighborhoods. It IS going to be hard work to drive the gangs out. But to give them the idea that they've got so much control that, by showing up downtown because you don't want your kids' school closing because you're (rightly so) afraid of crossing gang territories - be furious with the gangs, drugs, hookers, guns and everything else rather than the people in charge. School closings are happening all over the US and there's nothing we can do about it.

Fewer people have been having kids over the past 15 years and more people are homeschooling their kids. This was bound to happen, and it'll happen more. This is one of the first times it has happened in such a major city, however. This is an opportunity to improve these neighborhoods where kids are playing in the summer - inside - and never get to go outside. What kind of childhood is that? Get angry enough to take action against those who are making you feel like you have to live that way and get rid of people like Lewis who do nothing but bring negative energy into the school system while getting richer off of every interview and speaking appearance.

[chet everett]

Believe or not,I knew Ms. Lewis when she was teaching chemistry. She is a bright person and has the capability of being articulate / thoughtful. I don't exactly know what has happened to her over the years but I do know that as various efforts to cut staff in CPS has resulted in many lab courses that met for 7 or more periods per week have been reduced to just 5 that means less time to work on the kinds of hands-on things that matter to dedicated teachers...

I cannot disagree that in a world where appearance matters Ms. Lewis is not a very "media friendly" spokesperson but I also know her passion /frustration is widely reflected by other experienced teachers...

[LeotheOrangeCat]

Originally Posted by chet everett

I cannot disagree that in a world where appearance matters Ms. Lewis is not a very "media friendly" spokesperson but I also know her passion /frustration is widely reflected by other experienced teachers...

Police officers have said they wish she was their union rep. She handed Rahm his ass in the strike.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by LeotheOrangeCat

Police officers have said they wish she was their union rep. She handed Rahm his ass in the strike.

I think she did as well as could have been reasonably expected, but revisit the terms by which the strike was settled. I don't think it was anything resembling a slam dunk for teachers.

[LeotheOrangeCat]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

I think she did as well as could have been reasonably expected, but revisit the terms by which the strike was settled. I don't think it was anything resembling a slam dunk for teachers.

Rahm gets rolled: Rahm Gets Rolled: Chicago's Winners & Losers - Rick Hess Straight Up - Education Week

Tbh, I don't know who "won" the strike, I just remember the perception that Rahm lost and the teachers won. That always seemed the likely result: the teachers could stay out longer than the city could keep the schools closed.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by LeotheOrangeCat

Rahm gets rolled: Rahm Gets Rolled: Chicago's Winners & Losers - Rick Hess Straight Up - Education Week

Tbh, I don't know who "won" the strike, I just remember the perception that Rahm lost and the teachers won. That always seemed the likely result: the teachers could stay out longer than the city could keep the schools closed.

Rahm definitely ate major crow.

And I stand very corrected, I remembered the initial complaining:

Chicago Teachers Union members to run against CTU President Karen Lewis's leadership team - Chicago Tribune

But forgot that Lewis then won re-election as CTU President with 80%, 'nuff said:


Karen Lewis wins second term as CTU president | catalyst-chicago.org

[TheSunshineKid]

I think it's mainly the culture of the kids that enter the CPS.

And the incompetent leaders of the school system. And the teachers who want a raise even though their pay is quite nice once they have a few years under their belt.

[A2DAC1985]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

Well, but it's more than that - it's that CPS isn't allowed to expel them, short of felony behavior.

I am 100% for public education, but IMO it's part of a social compact, not a constitutional right on par with the freedom of speech.

Part of that social compact is on us, the taxpayer, to provide the school system. But the other side of the coin is on the students, who I think should be expected to put a reasonable amount of effort into their education, and certainly should not be permitted to disrupt anyone else's.

I would wager that by simply lowering the cut-off age we could get rid of a lot of the chronic problem "children" who are dragging down everyone else. I never bought into this concept that "special needs" kids should be in high school in their early 20s. Just think about that for a minute - you have all of these kids labeled special ed who are often just hard cases the teachers want segregated out of the gen pop, and they stick around until they turn 22.

That's outrageous on a lot of levels. Who on earth would want their 14 or 15 year old daughter in an environment which guys old enough to be drafted and to legally drink?

I'd say by 19 you need to keep moving on. That's why we have continuing education programs like the GED.

All round, I agree.

But even then, what would expulsion do?

If I was ever in the position to be expelled, I don't know if I would have lived to see the day, via my father causing my untimely demise. So I still think it goes back to parents, and home life.

If the parents don't care about their kid doing well in school, why would they care if they were kicked out?

Sure, make it so that CPS can kick kids out of the classroom. Will those kids willingly go and get a GED? Will the kids whose parents allowed expulsion worthy behavior and academics make the kid go get their GED? I'm guessing (I could be wrong) they wouldn't on both fronts.

So, we would have a bunch of people not interested in education or accepting/following societal norms out and about during traditional school hours. Will that make Chicago's streets safer? I highly doubt it. But that's just my personal opinion.

[Vicman]

For the people "not interested in education or accepting/following societal norms" - if they didn't try at school but don't cause trouble they can be offered to drop out.

If they cause trouble, Chicago Public Schools should make "babysitting academies" - they have to attend and there's no pretense of education. They have negative "grade numbers" and are not allowed to take state tests. The mascot of the "Babysitting Academy" is... the Babies.

Every class is video monitored and sound-bugged. If kids cause further trouble, there is a clause that automatically allows non-suable corporal punishment that can be viewed from the internet.

The Babysitting Academy can choose to allow a dropout or it can choose to force a student to attend until 18.

Originally Posted by A2DAC1985

All round, I agree.

But even then, what would expulsion do?

If I was ever in the position to be expelled, I don't know if I would have lived to see the day, via my father causing my untimely demise. So I still think it goes back to parents, and home life.

If the parents don't care about their kid doing well in school, why would they care if they were kicked out?

Sure, make it so that CPS can kick kids out of the classroom. Will those kids willingly go and get a GED? Will the kids whose parents allowed expulsion worthy behavior and academics make the kid go get their GED? I'm guessing (I could be wrong) they wouldn't on both fronts.

So, we would have a bunch of people not interested in education or accepting/following societal norms out and about during traditional school hours. Will that make Chicago's streets safer? I highly doubt it. But that's just my personal opinion.

[chiMT]

Originally Posted by Vicman

If they cause trouble, Chicago Public Schools should make "babysitting academies" - they have to attend and there's no pretense of education. They have negative "grade numbers" and are not allowed to take state tests. The mascot of the "Babysitting Academy" is... the Babies.

Every class is video monitored and sound-bugged. If kids cause further trouble, there is a clause that automatically allows non-suable corporal punishment that can be viewed from the internet.

The Babysitting Academy can choose to allow a dropout or it can choose to force a student to attend until 18.

I can't tell if you're being serious...?

You might as well throw them in a prison, although this may be worse.