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