Yesterday I commented on the dynamic between poverty and education and expressed some general thoughts about tackling these very serious concerns. Later in the day I went to get my eyes examined and lo and behold the eyes are a bit weaker so I need new glasses. At this point you may be wondering what getting glasses has to do with poverty and education.
As I came home, after spending nearly $600 for the exam, new lens and two pairs of frames, it dawned on me that those who live in abject poverty may well not be able to afford glasses for their children (or themselves). Without the money or insurance, those who don't get their eyes checked or get the corrective procedures are in tough shape.
Imagine all the children who go to school, who live in such poor economic conditions, and they don't have access to such services. I am sure there are plenty of kids who are further handicapped in doing their school work. Certainly expensive medical services are needed for people to live well and function well.
Yes, eye exams have much to do with both poverty and education. An absence of medical services, of all types, will further exacerbate the hardships suffered by our fellow citizens.
Dick
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Monday, April 14, 2014
Poverty and Education
Some advocates who want to see an end to poverty bolster the idea that to do so one need only to get a decent education. These same folks say that getting a wonderful education will almost certainly guarantee a good source of income and then all will be well.
Other citizens feel that only when the cycle of poverty has ended will we be able to do something about improving the quality of education. These people see better incomes and improved jobs as providing the sources of money to make our schools better.
These both sound like great possibilities and there is merit to both of these propositions. But alone, they aren't nearly enough. The causes and complexities of poverty, along with the continuous generational existence of this scourge, necessitates that multiple strategies must be called upon. My point is this, no single program, no single individual and no single initiative will end something as sinister as poverty.
One thing is certain, the individual person, family, and neighborhood will need our assistance to end the perils of poverty.
Dick
Other citizens feel that only when the cycle of poverty has ended will we be able to do something about improving the quality of education. These people see better incomes and improved jobs as providing the sources of money to make our schools better.
These both sound like great possibilities and there is merit to both of these propositions. But alone, they aren't nearly enough. The causes and complexities of poverty, along with the continuous generational existence of this scourge, necessitates that multiple strategies must be called upon. My point is this, no single program, no single individual and no single initiative will end something as sinister as poverty.
One thing is certain, the individual person, family, and neighborhood will need our assistance to end the perils of poverty.
Dick
Friday, April 11, 2014
Myth Buster!
Those of you who follow the work of Schools Count are aware of the fact that our charity provides all sorts of free school resources to students. This has been our manner of operation for years and we will continue to conduct our work in this manner going forward.
Around this time of the year I send a letter to the principals of the various schools asking them for their needs for the coming year. This helps me to order exactly what we need. I leave it open for the principals to ask for everything and anything on the requisition form. I have already received about a dozen responses telling me what their needs will be in 2014-15.
I have often heard it said by many in the public that if you ask people what they want and that they can order anything then they will say 'I want everything I can get my hands on.' To be quite blunt about it, when it comes to people in poverty (those with many of the greatest needs) these same people who feel the principals will abuse the system, proclaim 'they will ask for things even if they don't need them.'
I have never found that to be true in our work. In fact, as I am looking at the requisition forms, many of the principals are not asking for certain supplies. If they already have enough of a particular supply they are simply requesting less.
So much for thinking that people taking advantage of our charity. It is both the honesty of those we work with and the binding trust which makes our relationship such a wonderful enterprise. Our charity is proud to serve schools thoughout the area and country.
Dick
Around this time of the year I send a letter to the principals of the various schools asking them for their needs for the coming year. This helps me to order exactly what we need. I leave it open for the principals to ask for everything and anything on the requisition form. I have already received about a dozen responses telling me what their needs will be in 2014-15.
I have often heard it said by many in the public that if you ask people what they want and that they can order anything then they will say 'I want everything I can get my hands on.' To be quite blunt about it, when it comes to people in poverty (those with many of the greatest needs) these same people who feel the principals will abuse the system, proclaim 'they will ask for things even if they don't need them.'
I have never found that to be true in our work. In fact, as I am looking at the requisition forms, many of the principals are not asking for certain supplies. If they already have enough of a particular supply they are simply requesting less.
So much for thinking that people taking advantage of our charity. It is both the honesty of those we work with and the binding trust which makes our relationship such a wonderful enterprise. Our charity is proud to serve schools thoughout the area and country.
Dick
Thursday, April 10, 2014
What's A Person to Do?
Ms. Brown, the Principal of Gresham Elementary School, took part in a protest at the home of CPS Board of Education President David Vitale the other day. The protest was to call attention to the fact that Gresham is slated to be a turnaround school next year. Some will criticize Ms. Brown for this saying such things as 'she ought to stick to being principal' or 'she ought to mind her business.'
That last comment is right on cue. The school and the progress of her students is her business. From all appearances, Gresham has made good progress over the past decade. When you can get the entire student body to nearly double the state standard criteria of 'meeting' the prescibed measure on the ISAT you have done yeoman's work!
In light of that progress, Ms. Brown has a couple of choices; one, not protest and, of course, to be part of the protest against the CPS wanting to make her school a turnaround (getting rid of the entire staff at all levels). If a principal really cares about the kids, parents, community and staff then she ought to fight an unjust and ill-advised action.
That's the kind of principal I want working for me!!
Dick
That last comment is right on cue. The school and the progress of her students is her business. From all appearances, Gresham has made good progress over the past decade. When you can get the entire student body to nearly double the state standard criteria of 'meeting' the prescibed measure on the ISAT you have done yeoman's work!
In light of that progress, Ms. Brown has a couple of choices; one, not protest and, of course, to be part of the protest against the CPS wanting to make her school a turnaround (getting rid of the entire staff at all levels). If a principal really cares about the kids, parents, community and staff then she ought to fight an unjust and ill-advised action.
That's the kind of principal I want working for me!!
Dick
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Taking it to the Streets
Gresham Elementary School Principal Diedrus Brown made the most thoughtful statement concerning the CPS desire to make her school a 'turnaround' next year. Since becoming Principal in 2004 almost twice as many Gresham students are now meeting the state mandated test score as dictated by the State of Illinois. Brown said, "Is that really a steady decline?" Any person with any degree of understanding would realize that this is true progress.
Brown, CTU President Karen Lewis and around 100 other stakeholders protested the slated 'turnaround' of three schools, including Gresham, at CPS School Board President David Vitale's home yesterday.
Whether one agrees, or not, with the tactic of protesting at a board member's home, the issue should not be lost on anyone. The fact that students are making progress is the key issue. Another issue, is that by removing the entire faculty and Principal Brown, after 10 years, simply leads to instability. No school needs that added issue to so many that need to be addressed.
Isn't it easy for someone sitting afar to take the action of riding a school of all the workers? Perhaps, just perhaps, if the brass could really put themselves in the shoes of Brown, the Gresham faculty, the students and those who live in the community they might see things differently.
Dick
Brown, CTU President Karen Lewis and around 100 other stakeholders protested the slated 'turnaround' of three schools, including Gresham, at CPS School Board President David Vitale's home yesterday.
Whether one agrees, or not, with the tactic of protesting at a board member's home, the issue should not be lost on anyone. The fact that students are making progress is the key issue. Another issue, is that by removing the entire faculty and Principal Brown, after 10 years, simply leads to instability. No school needs that added issue to so many that need to be addressed.
Isn't it easy for someone sitting afar to take the action of riding a school of all the workers? Perhaps, just perhaps, if the brass could really put themselves in the shoes of Brown, the Gresham faculty, the students and those who live in the community they might see things differently.
Dick
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Checking in on Chicago Charters
Yesterday's Chicago Sun Times put it this way with respect to charters - "there's little evidence in standardized test results that charters are performing better than traditional schools operated by the Chicago Public Schools system." Talk about an eye popper.
This statement isn't made without evidence. For example, on the math portion of the ISAT, 7.3% of CPS neighborhood school students exceeded standards while 5.3% of kids at the privately run schools exceeded standards. Want more? Among charter or contract elementary students, 7.9% exceeded standards on the ISAT for reading compared with 9.8% of students at neighborhood schools.
These results were gathered by the Chicago Sun Times and the Medill Data Project at Northwestern University. The Chicago Sun Times and the Medill Data Project at Northwestern University gathered the information.
As you might expect, both charter and neighborhood schools had some that performed well and others that languished.
One thing is a certainty here in Chicago...the myth that charters outperform traditional schools just isn't true. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Dick
This statement isn't made without evidence. For example, on the math portion of the ISAT, 7.3% of CPS neighborhood school students exceeded standards while 5.3% of kids at the privately run schools exceeded standards. Want more? Among charter or contract elementary students, 7.9% exceeded standards on the ISAT for reading compared with 9.8% of students at neighborhood schools.
These results were gathered by the Chicago Sun Times and the Medill Data Project at Northwestern University. The Chicago Sun Times and the Medill Data Project at Northwestern University gathered the information.
As you might expect, both charter and neighborhood schools had some that performed well and others that languished.
One thing is a certainty here in Chicago...the myth that charters outperform traditional schools just isn't true. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Dick
Monday, April 7, 2014
Washington Strong
As many of you remember, School Count Corp and Archer Daniels Midland are taking part in helping the citizens of Washington, IL as they bounce back from the horrific tornado that hit their city on November 17th. I spent part of this past Friday in Washington and many positive things are taking place.
For one, there is a good deal of rebuilding taking place. On some streets I noticed that it appears as though two out of every three homes that were damaged or destroyed are being rebuilt. In other parts of the city that is not the case but, for the most part, rebuilding is progressing at a good clip.
The park district has some terrific plans in place to get the various parks repaired and up and running for the activities in the coming months. By next month I am certain these repairs will be visible and children will be out and about.
More good news. Originally, it was thought that the city of Washington might lose 30% to 40% of its taxable property for the coming year. In speaking with an official of the park district it now appears as though the city will only lose about 12% of its EAV. In other words, more revenue will come into Washington than originally anticipated. That is indeed good news.
I will keep you posted going forward.
Dick
For one, there is a good deal of rebuilding taking place. On some streets I noticed that it appears as though two out of every three homes that were damaged or destroyed are being rebuilt. In other parts of the city that is not the case but, for the most part, rebuilding is progressing at a good clip.
The park district has some terrific plans in place to get the various parks repaired and up and running for the activities in the coming months. By next month I am certain these repairs will be visible and children will be out and about.
More good news. Originally, it was thought that the city of Washington might lose 30% to 40% of its taxable property for the coming year. In speaking with an official of the park district it now appears as though the city will only lose about 12% of its EAV. In other words, more revenue will come into Washington than originally anticipated. That is indeed good news.
I will keep you posted going forward.
Dick
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