Students Constantly Shuffled Around

Just take a look at yesterday's Chicago Tribune front page article on the history of CPS schools in the Bronzeville neighborhood and you'll see why Fuller Elementary is slated to be a 'turnaround' (all staff members are replaced) next year. I have some startling news for you...the shuttering of schools and the constant movement of students by CPS, over the years, is the real culprit.

There are many students currently attending Fuller who have seen the hallways of other schools prior to going to Fuller. Commencing in 1999 students, within Bronzeville, have gone from Einstein (closed down) to Donoghue (later closing) to Doolittle (it also followed the same closing pattern) and on to Fuller.

Instability is not a variable that works in the favor or students nor will it be beneficial to any school that sees such wild fluctuations from one year to the next.

Children, and their families, aren't game pieces to be moved around in order to win some game (what the CPS thinks it is). These are people who need to get accustomed to and acquainted with the school, the staff, their neighborhood and classmates.

Though Fuller will remain open next year, having a 100% staff turnover is somewhat akin to the students being sent off to another school. How would you like it if your elementary school child was moved to three different schools and, by the way, you had no real say in the matter. And these people have no say.

I have a solution for those who are making Fuller a 'turnaround.' Go visit the school and attend some classes and you'll witness a principal and staff that don't need to be 'turned around.'

Dick