Empty Desks

The November 11th edition of the Chicago Tribune reported on the 'empty desk epidemic' in the Chicago Public Schools.  The paper noted that 10.9 days are missed per year by all students with absenteeism highest among African American students.

This doesn't come as any surprise to many of us who follow events in the city.  The paper also points out that the problem of attending class "in the elementary grades is especially acute in African-American communities on the South and West sides scarrd by gang violence, crippling unemployment and grinding poverty."

Let me point out a couple of facts.  First of all, the elementary school students, in many cases, aren't missing because they want to take the day off.  The above facts have something to do with absenteeism.  I have been in dozens of CPS schools and the children are no more prone to like or dislike school than those in suburbia.

Speaking of the suburbs, I think the Tribune would find a good number of students missing plenty of days.  The point I'm making is that absenteeism isn't a problem merely for those of color.  There are plenty of students in many areas who miss a good number of days of school each year.

Back to the CPS schools, the high absenteeism and truancy rates call upon all of us to pitch in, along with parents and school personnel, to turn around this situation.  I will have more to say about some action that can be taken to help students attend classes on a more regular basis.

Dick