News on Haiti

Plenty is happening in Haiti these days with the recent presidential vote, cholera outbreak, and the upcoming 1st anniversary of the Jan. 12, 2010 devastating earthquake. Here's a quick recap of events:

Schools Count Corp will hold a silent auction in late Dec/early Jan in order to raise funds for IMN School in Darbonne, Haiti. We will be auctioning-off 10 original Haitian paintings to raise funds for the school. In the next day or two I will contact you with details of the auction along with some wonderful photos of the artwork.

Some tragic events continue to unfold in Haiti concerning the discontent with the November presidential election. Popular singer Michel Martelly, the third place finisher in the race, along with the front-runner, Mirlande Manigat, called the Provisional Electoral Council's plan to let the top three vote-getters be involved in a partial recount flawed. Violence has erupted in various parts of the country in protest of the election results. Most observers contend that fraud ran rampant in the election. A new three day appeal process was called for on Sunday, Dec. 12th but this will not likely quell the riots and protests. Sadly, more violence is feared in the coming week.

The cholera outbreak continues to take a tragic toll on many Haitians. Over 2,000 Haitians have died and at least another 90,000 have been sickened by the disease. The 'El Tor' strain is considered a particulary troublesome strain. It is very virulent and hard to slow down once it spreads. And spread it will. It is likely to spread to as many as 300,000 to 400,000 citizens.

Schools Count Corp will continue to support and reach out to Haitians in need. Thanks to all for your continued efforts to help IMN.

Dick

Phone Call from King Elementary

It is noon on Friday, December 10th and I just received a wonderful phone call from the Principal of King Elementary School, Mr. Flowers. I wish I could have each and every person who endeavors to benefit Schools Count Corp and, in turn, the students in various American schools participate in the phone call.

Mr. Flowers was effusive in his praise of those who made it possible for the King students to receive winter coats. As he stated, "you made this holiday season more hopeful for them. You have shown the parents (of the students) that there are those who care." You bet we care!

Mr. Flowers went on to say that if we need something he would be glad to get some King students and teachers (including himself)to come out to the Hinsdale area to assist us in a project, some work or a fundraiser. Talk about being appreciative of receiving the winter coats!!!

It is a pleasure to work with people and schools who are so very appreciative of our support. I often marvel at those who are in need of our services who often, in turn, reach out to us to offer their backing.

Thanks Mr. Flowers and King!
Dick

Coats Arrive at King Elementary!

Nearly 55 winter coats made their way into the wanting hands of the children and staff at King Elementary School in Chicago. The photo of coats is just a small sample of the coats donated by Kids4Good and the Hinsdale Central Amnesty International Club.





Ms. Velasco of King met us on Thursday, Dec. 9th and she was truly amazed by the outpouring of such wonderful donors. Ms. Velasco said that many children have inquired about obtaining coats. She went on to say that "these are simply beautiful and the kids will be suprised to know that someone cares about them." I couldn't put it any better than that!!




At this time of the year it really doesn't matter that we reach out to people close to home, in Chicago, or some far away place as long as we reach out to help those most in need. To each of you who have raised funds, bought coats, collected them from your closets or sought them out from your neighbors, please accept my thanks on behalf of the King Elementary School students.

Happy Holidays,
Dick

Help from Kids4Good

Earlier this year Cynthia McGann, from Kids4Good, contacted me with regard to Schools Count Corp helping their organization with the rebuilding of IMN School following the January 12th earthquake in Haiti. For those of you who follow our blog, you know that ours has been a great partnership since that day.

That strong relationship continues to this day. Kids4Good has responded to our call for winter coats in the midst of this cold weather snap. Kids4Good is currently collecting winter coats so that we can deliver them to King Elementary in Chicago.

There are scores of students who are without gloves, winter coats and other warm clothing. Thanks to various Hinsdale Central clubs, donors at Schools Count Corp and Kids4Good we will be able to deliver roughly 40 coats to deserving students at King this Thursday, December 9th.

To Cynthia, the volunteers/donors of Kids4Good, and the various students who participate in Kids4Good please accept my thanks for the donation of coats. I am most grateful for your assistance.

Dick

Coats for King!

As everyone in the Midwest can attest, the temperatures are FRIGID!!! These kinds of temps make it difficult to do almost anything outdoors including going to school.

Many of the students of the Chicago Public Schools are in need of winter coats. Last Friday, Dec. 3rd, we delivered 40 brand new winter coats to Curtis Elementary School. To say that everyone at the school was thrilled is truly an understatement. School can be tough enough for the best of students. Imagine what it would be like to stand outside, without a winter coat, while waiting for a bus. Even worse, ponder a child walking to school without a warm coat. A pretty tough proposition.

Because of the generosity of Ms. Otahal's classes, the Humanitarian Army and Amnesty International, Schools Count will be able to donate another 40 winter coats to King Elementary School in Chicago. We will make our delivery on Thursday, Dec. 9th. To join our efforts to help keep kids warm contact me at rich219@comcast.net and we can make arrangements for me to pick up childrens coats.

To those who have aided our 'Coats to Curtis' and 'Coats to King' efforts please accept my heartfelt thanks.

Dick

Coats arrive at Curtis Elementary

You can see for yourself the smiles on the faces of the people at Curtis Elementary as we brought them 40 winter coats on Friday, Dec. 3rd. To a person, everyone was ecstatic with the early Christmas presents!!

A big thanks goes out to the Humanitarian Army and Amnesty International at Hinsdale Central High School for collecting the funds to purchase the coats. No doubt you have brought much happiness to the children and parents of the neighborhood and school!

Many thanks,
Dick

The Fallacy of School Competition

Yesterdays front page lead in the Chicago Sun Times was a piece entitled 'City's great elite-school race.' And there's plenty of proof that there is a race, to be sure, more like a sprint, to get into the elite magnet schools and selective-enrollment schools in the city of Chicago.

I understand that parents want to have their children get the best education possible but the process of going through that is simply ridiculous on a number of counts.

For one, parents complain about the rules changing from year to year regarding admissions. That, in and of itself, would be a daunting task to keep up with. Worse yet is the fact that people are hoping against hope that they can get their son or daughter into one of the elite schools. Last year 13,065 teeens took a test for 2,942 seats at the selective-enrollment high schools. For elementary schools the scenario was much the same. 10,050 students applied for just 1,787 seats. The above situation holds true for enrolling in magnet schools.

Most damaging of all are the effects of this overly heated competition to get into selective and magnet schools. As therapist Christine Whitley noted, "most people are feeling overwhelmed." Misty Lake and her husband, who live in the Austin neighborhood, commented that "this is just such a ridiculous process." In their case they have been going to CPS programs since their daughter was 18 months old, "trying to make sure they knew everything before applying for kindergarten."

This is simply crazy! Sure parents want their children to attend excellent schools and to not have to attend less than adequate neighborhood schools. The cure isn't more frenzy of this type, the solution is to upgrade neighborhood schools in need of assistance.

Let's be frank, the vast majority of magnet and selective schools have many exellent students, siphoning-off those children from neighborhood schools. The fix can't be more siphoning, it has to be finding all sorts of ways to 'lift up' neighborhood schools. That process will be long and hard but it has to be done otherwise we will simply continue to have a school competition race that essentially boils down to the 'haves and have nots.' And that is something no American should tolerate.

Thanks,
Dick