Bowling Benefit Challenge!!

Yes, this is a direct challenge to all prospective bowlers and those willing to make a difference in the lives of school children who are in desperate need of various supplies and materials that can enable many Chicago Public School students to be successful in the classroom.

As you know, from reading the blog, we have a huge bowling benefit planned for Friday, March 18th at the Willowbrook Lanes on Plainfield Rd. in Willowbrook. The three game bowling extravaganza will run from 3:45 to 6:00 pm.

For just $25 you get to bowl three games in addition to partaking in some prizes, great fun, and refreshments! Here's the challenge part: You will not be the only person bowling. I will also bowl three games. For every person who gets a score higher than me, in each game, I will donate $10!

Just think...if 7 bowlers beat me in game one I have to contribute $70 to SCC. Let's say I tire out in game three and 13 bowlers beat my score!! You've got it...I will contribute $130 to the charity.

Let me know if you can make it. Simply email me at rich219@comcast.net and tell me you're in. You can pay now or wait until March 18th. But by all means, let me know if you are in and up to the challenge!!

Thanks,

Dick

March 18th Bowling Benefit

The Future Educators of America and the Family Career and Community Leaders of America (two student groups) at Hinsdale Central High School are sponsoring the Second Annual Bowling Bash to support Schools Count Corp. Last year this group raised, are you ready for this, a staggering $1200.00!!!

Both groups are again sponsoring this wonderful event. For $25, per person, every participant will get the use of a pair of bowling shoes, three games, and plenty of refreshments! $10 of the entrance fee pays for your bowling while the other $15 goes directly to Schools Count Corp to purchase sorely needed school supplies. Watch out...there are some great prizes for those of you who are experts on the lanes!!

By the way, there is an added incentive this year. I will bowl three games, just like everyone else, and for each person that beats my score in each of the three games I bowl, I will contribute $10 towards the total donation. Think you can beat me? Well, you won't have a chance unless you join in on the fun!!

You can pay the $25 at the door or ahead of time, your choice. However, if you are bowling please let me know no later than March 14th. Create your own team of four!! Why not bring your family and friends? It's bound to be a blast. You can pay by cash or check. If you pay by check, make it out to Schools Count Corp.

This bowling benefit will take place at Willowbrook Lanes on Plainfield Rd. in Willowbrook on Friday, March 18th from 3:45 to 6:00 pm. Get in on the action, hang out with some friends, and help a worthy cause.

I'm looking forward to seeing you!

Thanks,
Dick

The Scoop

Plenty of people weigh-in on some of the failings of schools, teachers, and students. Recognizing that there are plenty of struggles, particularly in inner city schools, let me offer a view that is often not used in the discourse on why some schools don't measure up. The real causes of difficulties, more often than not, lie outside of the building.

To be clear, state testing (not the best measure for student success, that's for sure) makes clear that deficiencies are present. What the test results don't reveal, and that the general public doesn't realize, is that most schools aren't causing such failures.

To be perfectly candid, the deficiencies in math, reading, science, and other subjects are due to multiple factors beyond the control of students and teachers. There is no one cause of such problems.

Just take a ride, as I have often done, through a number of inner city neighborhoods and you'll witness the real reasons for a lack of success among so many. Factories are locked up, abandoned and the parents of students are left without decent wages, wages which are critical in terms of raising children.

As a result of job loss, property values have plummeted resulting in fewer tax dollars for schools. I don't want to skirt the next issue. Students too often don't receive enough parental support and guidance. There are plenty of causes for this but the bottom line is, students everywhere deserve such assistance.

There's also a very real condition, in too many neighborhoods, where the opportunities for advancement simply don't exist. That vacuum is sometimes filled with gangs. Safety then becomes a monumental issue in raising young people. As a result of such environmental factors there is a good deal of despair and a lack of hope, hardly the conditions which foster success in the classroom.

Given all of these conditions, and more, how on earth would anyone expect a 5 year-old or an 8 year-old to be successful? I am often amazed at how well teachers and students perform in spite of all of these handicaps. More often than not, I find these same teachers and students to be giving their very best. That, and that alone, is sufficient reason to offer all the help we can provide.

Thanks for all your help!
Dick

Mardi Gras was a Hit!

Last night was truly an amazing night! In the final Mardi Gras Concert performance in the career of HC Jazz Director, Jeff Waggoner, the three Hinsdale Central Jazz Ensembles rocked the HC student cafeteria.

There were some great hits! 'Hit the Bricks' (Jazz Ensemble 1), 'Theme from Hawaii 5-0' (Jazz Ensemble 2), "Fats" Dominio's 'Mardi Gras in New Orleans,' and 'Birdland' (Jazz Ensemble 3) and a great piece from the Jazz Club Combo had the large crowd in a relaxed and cheerful mood.

Aside from the terrific sounds, the evening raised a good deal of money through admissions and contributions while we picked up some donated trumpets and trombones. This was a marvelous evening in all respects.

I just want to extend my kudo's to the musicians and the entire Waggoner family for making it such a lively and entertaining evening. Hats off to Greg Hill, Whitney Wilda, the B & G staff, April Tatro, Kristen Bronke and the HC cheerleaders for setting up the cafe to give it that 'night club' feel. Finally, I want to the Hinsdale Central High School Music Parents' Association for making the evening possible by funding the event, helping with clean-up and providing all sort of refreshments. Please accept my thanks for all that you did to make the night so memorable.

Dick

Tanner on the Rise

There are plenty of reasons to help our friends at Tanner Elementary. Our main focus is to keep helping the students and staff as they go about their daily work.

But what the general public doesn't know and realize is that Tanner Elementary goes beyond the traditional 8 to 3 day. Mr. Smith, the Principal, has a two-hour after school program for the children.

Beyond the extended day, Tanner has a Saturday morning 'Academy' for a number of the students. Tanner also offers a literacy program, on Saturdays, to a good number of parents in the local community. It is clear that Tanner is doing its very best to help everyone who attends the school. Talk about a school on the rise!!

It makes it a real pleasure to work with a school that is doing everything within its power to achieve. It is with great pleasure that Schools Count Corp continues to work with Tanner Elementary. With your ongoing support we will be sure to continue our partnership with Tanner.
Many thanks,
Dick

Tanner Elementary - Mission Accomplished!

Over 40 volunteers from Schools Count Corp, Global Hope, Perma Seal, Lincoln Way East High School Key Club and others made their way to Tanner Elementary School this past weekend to paint the entire 3 story structure!!

Take a look for yourself! You can see many wonderful, civic minded people beautifying Tanner. Talk about pitching in...WOW!!!

To those of you who spent part of your weekend helping us please accept my thanks! I have rarely seen such eager people tackle something for two straight days

These volunteers were terrific. They prepped and painted the building as if it were their very own homes. Mr. Smith, the Principal at Tanner, was elated with the quality of the work. On one occasion he said, "this means so much to our school and community."

Two days worth of work is all it took to brighten the coming days, weeks and months for the students and staff at Tanner. You can be sure that they are most thankful for caring about them!

Great work!! Dick

Standing for What's Right

Don't be confused by the talk concerning the reasons why Wisconsin public employees, including teachers, are protesting enmasse in the state capital of Madison. Too many news agencies lead with the point that the public employees are unhappy with Governor Walker's plan to increase the amount of money the employees would have to contribute to their pension and health insurance plans.

Passage of the legislation would raise both of these costs. That is a fact. The larger and more important issue revolves around public employee unions losing the right to collective bargain. Once anyone loses the right to talk with, discuss, and voice ones concerns then you might as well 'throw in the towel.'

Look, most union workers and their leadership are looking for ways to make their membership more productive. If you don't believe this then think about it another way. What union wants to have a bunch of unproductive members? What union wants to have an uneducated group of people? Why would a union want overworked or ill members on the job?

The answer to the above is that no union would want the above work/worker conditions in the job place. It's in the best interests of the work place and workers, whether among firefighters or teachers, to make sure that they optimize the work environment.

Employees and employers are better off, working together, to make sure maximum conditions exist to get the best possible result. Take away the right to bargain and the chances of realizing those conditions is lost. Collective bargaining has much upside and that's what Wisconsin public employees are really fighting for.

Dick Flesher

Teacher Rights Under Assault

In these uncertain times of budget constraints among various governing bodies, everyone is prone to see program cuts and that includes education. Many schools, aside from state governments, have already scaled back on their expenses.

Let me talk for a moment about state government. Aside from the aforementioned state cutbacks in education, another movement is taking root in various state capitals around the country. The movement is both troubling and it holds the sad prospect that union worker rights, including those of teachers, will be eroded or disappear altogether.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker wants to take away the collective bargaining rights of public employees and teachers. Talk about a return to 19th century labor practices!!

Taking away the right to collective bargain simply equates to an employee being given, paid or told to do whatever an employer sees fit to do. Let's be clear, collective bargaining isn't a nasty thing! It is a real opportunity for the employer and employee to sensibly look at a whole host of issues that relate to the overall effectiveness of a business enterprise or school district.

I realize there are some tough financial times are at hand but taking away the rights of workers to collective bargain won't necessarily ease those pains. In fact, taking away the right to bargain will more likely result in a far greater problem called employee job satisfaction. And I can assure you that a dissatisfied worker, in any job, is not a productive one.

Mr. Walker and other governors need not end teacher collective bargaining to solve financial problems; rather, they need to do more of it.

Dick Flesher

The Fabric of Schools

I have always found it both harmful and without merit that high schools, in particular, label their courses as either core or elective. It's as if 'core' is essential and can't be done without while 'electives' may be taken but they are somehow, in the minds of too many, less important. That is not the case!

Though I taught high school Business and Social Studies courses for a number of years, I can say that core and elective courses shouldn't have these labels. More important, for the sake of the students, why 'core' courses are often pushed over 'elective' ones is simply irresponsible and often harmful.

Oh, I know the argument, colleges and universities tell us that it is recommended that every student have four years of English, Math, Science, Social Studies and, perhaps, Foreign Languages. Let me be clear I am not making a case against any course of study. However, if a student were to take four years in each of the five subject areas then little time is left for Art, Business, Home Economics, Music, Physical Education, Shop, and Technical Education.

It's as if school 'elective' programs are treated as 'add on's' by some. We're fed the line that we ought to give the kids more Math, more English, more Science and they'll be more competitive.

Forget competitive!! Schools had better be in the business of helping young people grow, to find their voice, and to expose them to the world at large. Students need to be well rounded...plain and simple. And the day we start limiting their experiences is the day that the growth and well rounded student slowly goes away.

Sadly, we are already well on the track to limiting or eliminating some of our needed 'elective' courses and programs and because of that, the 'fabric of schools' has changed and it isn't necessarily for the better.

It is time for everyone in education, at all levels, to truly value the merits of ALL types of courses. There isn't a better course or program of study, they are all critically important to young people.

Dick Flesher

Great First Week

All of our work in public schools, whether in Chicago or out-of-state, is dependent upon the sheer goodness of our many volunteers and donors. This has always been the case with Schools Count Corp.

As we have embarked on our annual 'Drive to Thrive,' our first week of donations was simply incredible!! As I mentioned in a previous blog, our goal is to raise $10,000 through public contributions. And to think that we raised $2,535.00 in the first week alone is wonderful.

With the pace of donations off to a brisk start, I have already undertaken plans to expand our work in Chicago Public Schools. Yesterday, I met with administrative staff at West Pullman Elementary School on Parnell. They are very excited about our asking the school to be a recipient of school supplies this coming fall.

Not only are we able to expand our work, due to the generosity of so many of you, but we will be able to work at helping schools within entire neighborhoods, be it Roseland, Englewood or other communities.

So, after just one week of fundraising, I want to thank you for your donations. To be a part of the growing network of helping students simply contact me at rich219@comcast.net. Nothing would make me happier than including you in our mission!

Many thanks,
Dick

The Mission

Don't let the mass media confuse you or mislead you. There is evidence of underforming schools in this nation but I can tell you, from my interactions with plenty of inner city schools, there is much good taking place. There are plenty of terrific teachers, students, and principals within the New Orleans and Chicago Public School systems.

The fact of the matter is this...I have observed more effective, kind and thoughtful teachers than ineffective ones. I have seen teachers within inner city neighborhood schools in New Orleans and Chicago challenging students to make more of themselves. Very few of these great teachers complain or whine, they just do their jobs.

The general public needs to understand that the typical teacher just does his/her job to the best of his/her ability. I have witnessed it on many, many occasions.

One other matter...I am tired of everyone complaining about how our system of public education is failing. Failing because our scores aren't as good as our counterparts in India or China? Every country has certain expectations of its own cultural, societal and educational institutions. There is no need for us to replicate Chinese education nor the Chinese to duplicate ours.

Our mission remains the same; to give students a great experience and for teachers to give their best. As long as this happens, Schools Count Corp will do its best to facilitate schools whose mission is to achieve such excellence.

Many thanks,
Dick

Volunteer Opportunities!!

Looking for an opportunity to do some community service and to 'pick up' someone's spirits? Want to make a difference? Well, here's how you can help!!

Next Saturday, February 19th and Sunday, February 20th Global Hope and Schools Count Corp will team up to paint all of the hallways in Tanner Elementary School in Chicago. Imagine the kids coming back to school, after President's Day, and seeing the whole school brightly painted!!!

Just bring yourself, and a friend or family member, and some energy along with your willingness to pitch in and help the Tanner school community. You won't need any painting supplies as Global Hope will provide all the materials. We will paint from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm both days. Simply bring a sack lunch and join in the fun! Please email me at rich219@comcast.net to let me know that you can join us.

This is a great opportunity to aid a school looking for a way to make the students feel important and welcome. A fresh coat of paint can certainly do that. I hope you can make it!

Thanks,
Dick

Your Donation at Work

Since we are in the midst of our annual donation drive called 'Drive to Help Schools Thrive,' it is worth noting the working power of your contribution. As I have noted on other occasions, 100% of your donation goes directly towards supplies needed by students. None of the funds pay for the administrative costs of running Schools Count Corp.

For each $6 donated, each children receiving supplies will get enough supplies to last for at least one half of the school year! Yes, $6 goes a long way. Thanks to the non-profit, Kits4Kidz, we are able to obtain terrific pricing on the products we purchase.

The money collected, through your generosity, goes towards pencils, pens, colored markers, colored pencil, notebooks, filler paper for binders, binders, rulers, scissors, folders, school uniforms, and glue. Every child, in all the schools we serve, has access to the above supplies depending on their need.

Rest assured, Schools Count Corp is appreciative of your donation and will do everything possible to maximize your contribution.

Please accept my thanks for all that you do!
Dick

Drive to Help Schools Thrive

Each February-March period Schools Count Corp endeavors to reach out to volunteers and donors who have supported us over the years. We also welcome new participants to join the work of our charity.

The first two days of our annual fund raising campaign have brought in $800.00 in cash contributions, a fantastic two-day total!!! Our goal is to raise $10,000.00, this spring, through our 'Drive to Help Schools Thrive.'

I want our donors and potential donors to know that each and every dollar raised goes directly towards purchasing all types of needed school supplies for students who desperately need the materials. None of the funds go toward transportation, hotels, mailing, food or various types of administrative costs. As such, you can be confident, no matter how much you donate, your funds will be put to great use. Remember, not only are you enabling children to receive an education, your donation is 100% federally tax deductible.

Should you desire to learn more about Schools Count Corp, our various initiatives in Chicago and New Orleans schools, our volunteer opportunities, and how you can help please contact me at rich219@comcast.net and I will be pleased to chat with you in addition to sending you some information.

As our charity grows, the opportunities for young people will expand and that is an exciting prospect. I hope you'll consider joining forces with us.

Thanks for you support!
Dick

Haiti Update

Since Schools Count Corp. helped to rebuild IMN School in Darbonne, our volunteers and donors have always taken an interest in the events surrounding the school and the many affairs of the island nation. Here's some of the latest news...

Yesterday, Schools Count mailed an $895.00 check to Haiti Partners. In turn, these funds will immediately be provided to IMN School Director Maxandre Bien-Aime as he finalizes the last part of school reconstruction.

Sadly, there have been over 4,100 deaths to due to the cholera outbreak. Another 210,000 cases of the disease have been reported in the country. Though the death rate has slowed a bit, it is still, nonetheless, not close to be under control as of this writing.

The political situation in the country is still muddled on a number of fronts. Though the final phase of balloting for President is set for March 20th it remains unclear about the possible impact 'Baby Doc' Duvalier will have on the election. Added to the mix is the likely return to the country of former President Aristide. He was granted a passport to return to Haiti and most people feel he will return to his homeland. So the run-off between Mirlande Manigat and Michel Martelly on the 20th is on but, the likely presence of two former leaders may have some impact on the outcome of the voting.

We appreciate all that you have done to help the children at IMN!

Many thanks,
Dick

All That Jazz, Part II

Aside from encouraging you to go to the Mardi Gras Concert on Feb. 22nd, as I did yesterday, I want to convey some other sentiments regarding the extraordinary efforts made by everyone within the HC Jazz community.

First of all, there are the musicians. For each of the students to give up an evening, during the week, to perform a benefit concert is truly remarkable! Students have plenty of homework and after-school activities. For the dozens of musicians to donate their talent and time is simply remarkable and I am grateful for their 'giving' to our charity and the students we serve.

Next are the parents. The HC Music Parents Association does all kinds of wonderful things to help us make this event such a smashing success. The parents generously give of their time to decorate the cafeteria and they provide all of the refreshments FREE so that 100% of the admissions to the concert goes directly to Schools Count. This is an amazing gesture. Finally, the parents provide much of the energy in terms of setting up the cafeteria in addition to 'manning' the concessions.

Because of the above-mention generosity of so many within the HC Jazz community, we are able to help many more deserving students than would otherwise be possible.

Many thanks,

Dick

All That Jazz

Tuesday, February 22nd marks the fourth consecutive year that the Hinsdale Central High School Jazz Ensembles will be performing to benefit Schools Count Corp. The Mardi Gras Concert will feature all three HC Jazz Ensembles in a lively night club setting that celebrates this festive season while raising funds to assist school children in New Orleans and Chicago.

Tickets for this popular event are $5 per person or $10 for the entire family and are purchased at the door. Remember, if you have an instrument that is no longer played, and you wish to donate it, then you will receive a charitable tax deduction in addition to gaining free entrance to the concert!! The concert will be held in the Hinsdale Central High School student cafeteria starting at 7:00 pm.

This promises to be a memorable evening on many fronts; terrific music in a wonderful atmosphere, free refreshments, and the opportunity to aid students in need. Finally, it will be one of the last conducting performances of Jeff Waggoner (HC Jazz Director and teacher) as he is retiring at the conclusion of the current school year. I am absolutely certain you will find the event entertaining, relaxing, and most enjoyable. Hope you can join us for jazz at its best.

Please know that I am most grateful for your support or our many initiatives over the years!

Many thanks,
Dick

Personal Perspective

Recently, I have been discussing the sufferings of people in inner-city neighborhoods; the closing of factories, unemployment, accompanying poverty, crime and the like. I have tried to make the point that neighborhood public schools need to be helped not shuttered.

Let's try to put ourselves in the position of a parent of school-age children. Imagine that you are a parent who has witnessed the exodus of jobs and who has felt the effects of home values plummeting. Try to put yourself in a position where you see homes boarded up and you look out the window each day, worried about the safety of your children.

You live in an area of L.A., Chicago, NYC or Washington where the perception of your community is negative, whether true or not, for all sorts of reasons.

These are but a few of the issues a parent has to cope with on a daily basis.

Now you get the news that, in addition to all of the above problems, the city government wants to close your neighborhood school. Can you see that a parent looks at this as one more slap in the face, one more opportunity lost, one less viable asset in the community, and one less chance to make it in 'the land of opportunity?' I can!

Reasonable people can agree that there are different ways to improve and assist schools but I can't believe that all those same folks can't also agree that losing aneighborhood public school just adds to the misery of those who suffer the most.

Just put yourself in their place and I think you'll see what I mean.

Thanks,
Dick

Ways to Help CPS Schools

Needless to say, the supplies we provide to thousands of CPS students are critical to their daily learning. Don't take it from me, the various people within the schools we serve have said as much.

Aside from the financial assistance you so generously provide, there are other ways to support neighborhood schools in Chicago. Funds are of critical importance but, I believe there are other means and methods of supporting the schools.

Here are but a few ways you can help the children. If you work at a company that has a 'matching funds' program, why not make a donation to Schools Count and then solicit the same funds from your firm. Also, if you or someone you know has the time, why not call a school to inquire about tutoring in an area of your expertise? I'm certain the school would be grateful for your willingness to help!

If you work for a firm that has lots of paper, staplers, binders, and the like, maybe they would be willing to donate these supplies to a deserving school. If you do have these types of supplies simply contact me at rich219@comcast.net and I'll direct you to a school in need. Perhaps you work at a gym or school that has extra athletic supplies. Check with the people in charge. You could be pleasantly surprised that they wish to make a donation. You might have other ways of helping schools...go for it, they can use your backing.

Why not look into some of the above opportunities? They are most likely to fulfill some great needs. I certainly am appreciative of your support.

Many thanks,
Dick

Our Mission in CPS schools

Recently I wrote about the blight of various neighborhoods, and the public schools therein, in Chicago. I mentioned the loss of manufacturing companies and the accompanying unemployment, poverty, a lack of safety because gangs may be present and the like. All of this adds up to a loss of property value and fewer funds being available for schools and other public services.

Sadly, schools are then perceived as not serving students because the entire area might be suffering. Needless to say, some schools may not be doing as well as they once did but this doesn't mean they aren't educating children in the proper manner. Often, these neighborhood public schools are among the most thriving enterprises within the community.

When I go into various schools, within CPS, I find the teachers doing admirable work in spite of the above difficulties. It is my belief that helping neighborhood schools will, in the long run, do more to assist the neighborhood than merely shutting them down.

So, our mission is multi-faceted, to help students and parents and, in turn, assist the very communities in which they live.

Thanks for all your help in this mission!
Dick