West Pullman - More Success!

It is my hope that some of our avid blog followers are seeing a developing picture among a good portion of the schools we serve in the CPS system. A trend in upward growth is quite evident, a harbinger of better days ahead for the children.

West Pullman Elementary is but another success story. The average percent, schoolwide, of children meeting or exceeding state standards on the ISAT test in 2010was 58%. 2011 revealed that 64.7% of the students had met or exceeded the state standards. A nice jump.

Though other schools in the city may have achieved greater growth, few schools have suffered as much as West Pullman when it comes to dealing with some tough times on the southside. The fact remains...West Pullman is improving, the students are showing growth, and everyone concerned is 'pulling their weight.'

As such, the school is most deserving of any help that we can continue to render and that's just what we'll do going forward.

Keep up the great work!
Dick

Lavizzo Elementary Marches On

As I periodically do, I am posting the change in ISAT scores on another one of the Chicago Public Schools we are fortunate enough to work with each fall. As is the case with many of the schools we serve, Lavizzo Elementary's ISAT scores showed great improvement from 2010 to 2011.

The combined percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, in 2010, was 32.2%. Things changed drastically in 2011 as 63.1% of the Lavizzo student body either met or exceeded state standards.

This is wonderful growth!! Kudo's should go out to everyone in the Lavizzo community; the students, teachers, parents, support staff, administration, aides and tutors. I am probably missing some key individuals, who supported this exciting upward trend, so I apologize if I did not name you.

As the crusade to add charters and turnarounds seems to continue, unabated, there is clear evidence that a good portion of the neighborhood schools are getting the job accomplished on a daily basis.

Keep up the great work Lavizzo!!
Dick

'Don't Obsess on Selective Enrollment'

These are the words from today's Chicago Tribune article in which CPS Chief Jean-Claude Brizard emphasized that the best school options come from improving neighborhood campuses. Said Brizard, "I think as a community we're a bit too obsessed with selective enrollment."

These comments were made at the New Schools Expo at Soldier Field on Saturday, January 28th. He added, "What we have to do, folks, is create great schools for kids, no matter where they are."

I'm not always in agreement with Mr. Brizard but, on this issue, there is common ground. Many neighborhoods lack security; job, social, safety, etc. Another form of security can be maintained by keeping students in schools that are working hard and helping kids progress. Notice, I said nothing about test scores.

Whenever children, and their parents, can find peace of mind, a decent education and other forms of stability, withing their communities, then everyone will be all the better for it.

Shipping children around the city to selective schools, closing neighborhood schools that are doing a credible job, and tearing down pillars of crumbling communities is not the answer. On this topic, Mr. Brizard has it right. People 'shouldn't obsess about selective enrollment.'

Thanks,
Dick

Too Much at Stake

One of the efffects of promoting charter schools has been the resulting competetion for students. This may or may not have been an intended consequence of creating such schools but it is a fact. I'll put on my less cynical mask and say that it wasn't intended.

This is a sad story. Pitting schools against one another. Schools aren't free enterprise entities though I know some people reckon it ought to be that way. A seven year old is entitled to a decent and comprehensive education and it should take place as a matter of fact in our society.

We have gone centuries believing in and adhering to the fact that a public education is inherent in the American Experiment. There is no other way to put it and there is no reason to alter the march in that direction.

Lots of people tout 'American Esceptionalism' and if that is indeed the case then the mainstay of reaching such a lofty goal is to have a single, focused goal of providing the best possible public education .

We don't need competing interests and factions doing the above. We need to pull together and find a way, as we have for decades, to satisfy the 'commons.' There is too much at stake to do otherwise.

Thanks,
Dick

Just Another Day in the Life of a Teacher

I have written past stories regarding the onslaught of 'reforms' put in place by various government agencies. At the same time, I have commented on the amount of time, effort, and thought it takes for the classroom teacher to implement such reforms as; 504 plans, various levels of curriculum (and delivery) for students in the same class, online assignments, and IEP's.

I came across an example with an IEP, just the other day, that underscores the huge commitment made by teachers that goes virtually unnoticed by the general population. And, while going unnoticed, it allows critics of teachers and schools to continue the barrage of criticism against public education.

Here's what I came in contact with...A teacher filled me in on a student with an IEP who has it written in his plan, among a number of accommodations, that if he goes below a certain score then the teacher has to meet before and/or after school to go over the incorrect answers. The teacher has to go over all the material that this young man got wrong and he will keep meeting with the teacher until he gets the material correct. Once that takes place then the score will be raised.

Let me be clear I have worked with students with IEP's for a long period of time and I very much enjoyed my relationship with them just as I did with other students. So I want it to be known that we are to help students who have IEP's.

A teacher literally could have to meet with this one person numerous times (and has) per week outside of the classroom. But that's not the whole story. That's just not reasonable given the other duties of a teacher, the time that needs to be spent with up to 130 other students who might need one to one assistance, and the fact that many teachers have lots of IEP students.

Too often, those that develop such 'reforms' just don't understand, or care to, just how difficult it is to meet everyone's expectations and mandates. Really, when will this whirlwind of demands, many not very reasonable, end?

Like I said, it's 'just another day in the life of a teacher.' The fact is, it doesn't have to be this way.

Thanks,
Dick

Fat Tuesday Fundraiser!

2012 promises to be an eventful year for the schools we serve and what better way to kick off our fundraising than to put on a Fat Tuesday Fundraiser!! Our Fifth Annual Mardi Gras Concert is just around the corner and you'll want to get in on the fun at this wonderful jazz concert.

The Hinsdale Central High School Jazz Ensembles will put you in the mood by playing a variety of favorites on Tuesday, February 21st. As in the past, Hinsdale Central will host the event in the student cafeteria commencing at 7:30 pm.

Aside from the night club atmosphere and great jazz, the HC Music Parents Association will provide all sorts of refreshments for our patrons. Quite nice of them indeed!

Admission to the event is $5 per person or $10 for the entire family. A nice deal! By the way, anyone wishing to donate an instrument, in good playing condition, will be provided with FREE admission and Schools Count Corp will provide a charitable tax deduction receipt for the donated instrument. Just bring the instrument to the concert and I will be pleased to accept it.

The instruments will be given to Chalmers Elementary School in Chicago. They have a music teacher but NO instruments!! Our charity will help the school collect instruments so that they can have a band program.

What better way to shake the winter blues away than to partake in a night of jazz, all the while by helping Chalmers get their program up and running.

Looking forward to seeing you!!

Many thanks,
Dick

And the Role of the Teacher...

As I was pondering the implementation of a longer school day at CPS next year, it dawned on me that adding 90 to 140 minutes to the existing day is quite significant.
Then the question hit me...what role did the teachers play, or not, in determining what specific curriculum will be implemented?

I am not talking about how the CPS Teacher's Union weighed in on the matter though I am not discounting their importance. I am sure there are many thoughtful people within the CPS hierarchy who have their heads on straight and can be of great assistance in this matter.

But here's the critical point...the people in the trenches, day in and day out, know the needs of the children. The teachers know the strength and weaknesses of the kids and, as such, must be part of the process.

If teachers aren't consulted then we have lost an important element that should be part of the process. Another reason to consult with teachers is this...they are the ones who have to deliver the additional subject matter. Curriculum should be added to the lengthened day that teachers can effectively deliver to the students.

When teachers are an integral part of the process, and buy into it, then the chances improve that the lengthened school day will produce great results.

Dick