Nothing New on ISAT's

Kudo's to the students at the various schools who scored well on the 2014 ISAT's. The schools always near the top of the list of high performing schools, year in and year out, are still right there. In Chicago these are the 'classical' and 'gifted' schools for the most part. In the suburbs, the schools are New Trier, Hinsdale Central, Stevenson and other north side suburban schools. It is what one would expect.

Yes, there were some CPS neighborhood schools who made some real progress on ISAT's this year. Well done!!

What you typically won't see, though, in terms of great gains on the standardized test are schools where 80% (and above) of the students come from low income families. I have discussed at length the many disadvantages facings students and families with high rates of poverty. In fact, poverty is just one of many variables working against these good people.

Before anyone shouts out that the parents are to blame or the schools are to blame, kindly take stock of the very real conditions that these students and families have to contend with on a daily basis and then you will understand why scores don't often go up. In fact, you'll reach the conclusion that it isn't all about the scores.

Dick

The Power of Many

Yes, there is power with many. When it comes to collecting winter wear, there are plenty of ways to engage a big group to help with this cause. Please consider any of the following!

Why not ask your son or daughters classmates to help

Get your religious affiliation or civic organization to jump in

Check with your neighbors...they are bound to have something in those closets

I bet your co-workers could be of assistance

This is a terrific project for a boy scout or girl scout

A school club or sports team might find this a great bounding initiative

Thanks for your consideration,
Dick

It's Urgent

Yesterday's call to action was an important one...let's provide warm winter clothing to the kids who need it. But a one day call to arms is not nearly enough to get the job done. I'm certain some people will heed the call to come up with the gloves, boots, mittens, coats, and hats that will keep the students warm this winter but I want to encourage everyone to see themselves as part of the answer to help those in need.

Aside from personally buying the clothing I've suggested you purchase or finding some suitable clothing in the closet, why not go a bit further? Perhaps your place of work or religious or civic organization, that you are a member of, would be willing to collect the above listed items. Maybe you are a teacher and can ask a club to pitch in and help.

I do know that the students, parents and teachers are appreciative of the generous donations that you've made in the past. I also know that providing items of need beyond the supplies received at the start of the year makes a real difference. Sadly, poverty doesn't end when a child gets his/her school supplies, it continues to hurt in so many ways; be it nutritious food, clothing, medical care and more.

Please consider asking your friends, your house of worship, your place of employment to join with us in collecting winter wear. Caring is critical, taking action is the solution.

Many thanks,
Dick

Need for Kids Winter Clothing

Cold, snow, ice, slush (an occasional warm day) and wind are all part of winter around Chicago. With the wintry weather not far away, it is time to help the students we work with in the Chicagoland area as the bad weather descends upon us! Aside from PK-8 grade winter coats, we are also collecting mittens, gloves, hats, boots and scarves for the children. These are the warm clothing items that the children are often missing and are just as necessary as a warm coat.

Keeping the children in warm winter wear has been a big part of the work of our charity over the past years and it continues to be a huge need according to school officials and parents. Many children wait for a bus or walk to school and nothing beats staying warm and dry as the students head to and from classes.

We will be collecting all of these items from Nov. 1st through Dec. 10th. As in the past, if you are kind enough to collect the clothing, I will be more than happy to stop by and pick them up. Give me a call at 630-863-6035 or email me at rich219@comcast.net and we can make arrangements. Sizes needed are children through adult medium.

As in the past, new clothing is always sought though we do accept very clean and 'gently used' items. Please accept my thanks for your consideration of helping us as we continue to support the kids.

Dick

No Way to Treat Them

I find it insulting whenever I see that various government bodies fund schools based on a given amount per student. It as if, according to their thinking, that this is a 'fair' way of dispensing money. That might be true if all the other variables were the same. That's certainly not the case.

An affluent area in a district, with little crime, high employment and other positive school/learning environmental factors shouldn't be penalized for being successful. On the other hand school children in less affluent areas where other factors mitigate against learning could use greater funding to compensate for the negative influences surrounding the learning situation.

It may sound 'fair' to dole out the same amount of money to every school based on a particular amount per student but fair is in the eyes of the beholder. Just what comprises 'fair' in one situation is not necessarily so in another instance. What I believe is 'fair' is to provide each school what the leaders of that school deem as necessary to properly educate their students. In that regard, the amount provided per student will surely differ from one school to another.

We went through an era of 'separate but equal' and we don't need to go there again!!

Dick

Well, What do you Know!!

Yesterday, CPS Board Member Andrea Zopp actually made an admission of sorts. Ms. Zopp essentially said it was hypocritical of CPS to close 50 schools in 2013 while opening new charters at the same time. In her own words, Zopp remarked, "We cannot continue to open new seats [charters] and then say 'Well we closed schools because we have too many seats.' It's highly hypocritical."

Zopp went further on charters. "But we need to be thoughtful and strategic about what schools are where, and also make sure they're performing charters. Many of our charters are not performing."

Many citizens are under the impression that just because a public school becomes a charter then all is well. That isn't the case. The name of a school system and how it is organized is not assurance of student success. Student growth and success has many, many variables and whether it is a charter or not has little to do with such achievement.

Let's hope other CPS personnel heed this warning.

Dick

Slipping Away

For the first time in some years, the population of the CPS schools has dipped below 400,000 students. To most, that isn't all that meaningful. After all, you teach whoever shows up at the door. I get that point. What is troubling is the fact that the slid has other implications for all of those involved in running and attending the schools.

For one, state and federal funding is affected by enrollment on the 20th day of classes. There is certainly bound to be less of these funds heading to CPS schools due to the decline in enrollment.

Just as troubling, at least to me, is the constant drip of students out of the CPS system into the myriad number of other school systems in the city. The reason I raise the issue is not to take a shot at these systems; rather, the more students who leave CPS the more the negativity surrounds those who remain within the hallways of CPS schools.

Critics of CPS will say that the options offered elsewhere better serve the students. Whether this is true or not may be tough to judge and never really comprehended by the masses.

For me, it is hard to watch the system lose students.

Dick