It Doesn't have to be this Way

In 2013 the Centers for Disease Control pointed out that there were 33,636 deaths in this country due to the shooting of said firearm. That's roughly 90 deaths a day. There's no need to compare this number to those killed in transportation accidents or any other cause. The number is simply sad and most distressing.

Raising the primary question among all of our fellow citizens, is this acceptable or even remotely tolerable? I suspect most people think this is not something that can continue.

Whether it's suicide, accidental shootings, or other forms of firearm death, this simply can't continue without some action. Why would a civilized nation continue to tolerate this condition? We shouldn't. It doesn't matter the form of death; car accidents, firearms, disease or other forms of meeting ones fate, we can do something about it.

Yeah, I know this is a contentious issue but on one thing I am certain everyone can agree and that is on the issue of firearm safety. Ask any decent gun owner and they will tell you that safety is a major concern of theirs. So, that's where we all have to start...the issue of safety. Everyone should want to find a way to keep safe and to ensure the safe use of guns. There are lots of options about how to achieve this goal and the sooner we tackle this, all the better.

I, for one, am tired of seeing 9 year-olds gunned down in the middle of the afternoon. We all ought to be driven to action to see to it, as best as possible, that the chances of this happening again are limited through sensible gun safety action.

Thanks,
Dick

Kids Getting Killed

Late yesterday, around dusk, a 9 year-old boy was shot multiple times on the south side of Chicago. He lost his life. A 9 year old mind you. As I think about the children we serve in the city schools of Chicago and all the problems that they have to deal with, the proliferation of guns on the streets is but another stark reminder of too many mountains to climb. How is a 9 year-old to overcome this?

We lose too many young people to gun violence and everyone can certainly agree to that fact. And what we will, what will I, what will any of us decide - if anything - to do about it.

For our charity, we will continue to do our best to help the students in the classroom.

On another front, we have to add voices, reason and action to stem the flow of gun violence. Whatever the causes, wherever shooting deaths occur, and no matter our lot in life we have to be more proactive in seeing to it that a fourth or fifth grader doesn't meet their end to life at the end of a barrel.

No matter what our U.S. Constitution, along with the amendments, there IS a way to deal with the harm inflicted daily by guns. You see people created our charter, we are the ones who pass laws and regulations of all sorts, and the citizenry are those who can either stand by idly or come to our senses to make this a safer country, one worthy of young boys and girls living long past the age of nine.

Yes, as the saying goes, "We the People..." The people of this country can and must take action. I can think of fewer ways, at this moment, to think of creating "a more perfect union" than to address the issue of gun violence.

Thanks,
Dick

Schools Back in Session

Now that my surgery is over and I'm on the mend, it is time to get back to the business of children, schools, our charity and the plight of education. As they say in the elementary grades, "if you can play right you'll have to have a timeout!" Well, that's just what I needed as I recuperate. Doing much better!!

As October has quickly moved into November, the time is short on a State of Illinois budget. Why is this a big deal? The budget passed by the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education is banking on receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in order to make the budget work. Word has it that if the state doesn't 'pony up' then the CPS brass will make drastic teacher cuts, translate...thousands of positions, leading into the holidays.

I don't get the sense that much positive movement has taken place on this front and there is every likelihood that the wheels are already turning in terms of determining which staff members and how many of them will get pink slips. In fact, I'd be shocked if these draconian cuts don't occur.

A sad state of affairs for all concerned. That last word is really it, isn't it? Are the 'powers that be' really that concerned?

Dick

This Whole Thing Stinks

Today's likely guilty plea by ex-CEO of CPS, Barbara Byrd-Bennett, is nothing short of shameful, disappointing and harmful. Ms. Byrd-Bennett may well plead guilty today to a scheme of alleged kickbacks. I say alleged as there has been no court proceedings regarding the matter. Apparently, there are plenty of facts that point to the CEO potentially receiving potential monetary kickbacks for directing the services of her former employer(s) to do business with CPS.

I have no desire to get into the details about the case beyond what has been reported. Actually, even if I had more information I wouldn't go into more depth on the matter. Let the law take care of this.

No, the real loser in all of this is CPS as a whole. At a time when finances are in disarray, when schools have had to make personnel cuts in the middle of the year and a contract with CTU needs to be hammered out - among many other real issues - the schools, children and their families don't need anymore chaos and disarray.

It's hard for me to imagine working in this system. It certainly is not serving students, their families and school staffs in an appropriate manner. This whole fiasco is not certainly leading by example. What a travesty.

Dick

I Have an Idea

Yesterday Mayor Emanuel told the City Council that he wants an annual $45 million for construction projects. It seems that there were few specifics in terms which projects would be tackled first or whether there would be borrowing against the new pot of money so that construction can begin in earnest.

Let me say this. Forget using the entire $45 million for construction. Yes, repairs need to be made, crowding does exist in some buildings (remember the 50 schools closed a few years back? Not such a good idea was it?) and upkeep for structures has to take place. But, if the specifics aren't there then a problem exists.

I have an idea. I know two people who are teachers in the CPS system and they have been RIFed (let go) within the past 10 days. That's right, they have been dumped part way through the school year. This has nothing to do with their performance but dollars and enrollment. What a travesty for these individuals and the children they taught.

So, if the City Council and Mayor Emanuel are puzzled over how to use the $45 million, bring back these two staff members and the 500 that have been let go during the school year. That would be a 'constructive' use of the funds.

Dick

Everyone Matters

Whether one attends school in a remote part of the Great Plains or goes to classes in Harlem or any part of the country, one thing remains at the fore of public education...everyone matters!!! Ones station in life, ones struggles (or lack thereof), and ones aspirations should never be ignored.

Every single child who attends school must be given a rich, fulfilling and vibrant education.

If a child can't get their hands on a trumpet or paint brush, we have to find a way to provide these learning tools. Should students not have paper, pencils, books or folders then it is incumbent on all of us to find a way to get these supplies to the kids. If a youngster is hungry how on earth do we expect this student to learn? We can and must provide them with the proper nutritious food.

Put another way, friends, if YOUR son and/or daughter went without the items mentioned in the previous paragraph wouldn't you be grateful for your fellow citizens saying, "I'd be glad to help!!" Whether your family or that of another, "Everyone Matters." And that is exactly why our organization exists.

Thanks,
Dick

The Unsinkable School

The Chicago Sun Times 'Another View' recounts the remarkable 2 minute comment made by Laurie Viets, the mother of three children, who talked about one of her son's experiences at Beard Elementary School. Ms. Viets has three children who attend Beard. What she had to say at the CPS Board of Education meeting yesterday was powerful.

Ms. Beard chose to reference Beard Elementary in terms of comparing it to the 'unsinkable' Titanic. Laurie pointed out the greatness of Beard just as the Titanic was so powerful and majestic when it left England bound for the US. You know what happened on that voyage.

Ms. Viets said that Beard's loss of teachers, building staff and services is tantamount to hitting an iceberg. One is left wondering if Beard will meet the same fate as the Titanic. Clearly losing the services at Beard indicates that the school has hit an iceberg of sorts and the students are losing, her children are losing. When you get right down to it, lots of students are losing, we're all losing.

What will the CPS system do to rescue the kids from the cold water where their schools are slipping into the cold Atlantic?

Dick