Keeping Kids Warm

As you can see, these are some happy Lavizzo Elementary School staff when we delivered nearly 35 new winter coats to the children. As these two office workers mentioned, "we have students who will be so happy to get the coats. They love school and wouldn't think of missing one day." Well, because of so many wonderful donors, a number of kids will be able to stay warm and won't miss any school!!

Dick

Coats for the Kids

This is but a small portion of the many winter coats headed to 17 CPS and Harvey schools starting tomorrow. This is our seventh year of keeping the kids warm as they head to and from school each day. Got to keep 'em bundled up as the walk to school, catch the bus or wait for a ride.

To each one of you who donated coats, the time to collect them or provided us with funds...thank you so very much for caring!!!

Dick

Medgar Evers - Chicago

Many years ago a kind soul and social activist, Medgar Evers, fought for and lost his life fighting for social justice. A bright, thoughtful and articulate person did his part to move our country forward. Well, many years later his cause continues on the far southside of Chicago.

Medgar Evers is a school we have worked with over the past five years in terms of helping students who have a need for various supplies and resources.

The students and faculty at Medgar Evers decided to pitch in and raise funds for Bel Platon Community School in Haiti. The school and community was hit hard by Hurricane Matthew nearly a month ago. Hats off to the students and faculty for raising nearly $300!! Three hundred dollars in Haiti is an amazing amount of money and will do much to help the children of Bel Platon.

Talk about 'paying it forward!' Thank you Medgar Evers!!

Dick

Medgar Evers - Chicago

Many years ago a kind soul and social activist, Medgar Evers, fought for and lost his life fighting for social justice. A bright, thoughtful and articulate person did his part to move our country forward. Well, many years later his cause continues on the far southside of Chicago.

Medgar Evers is a school we have worked with over the past five years in terms of helping students who have a need for various supplies and resources.

The students and faculty at Medgar Evers decided to pitch in and raise funds for Bel Platon Community School in Haiti. The school and community was hit hard by Hurricane Matthew nearly a month ago. Hats off to the students and faculty for raising nearly $300!! Three hundred dollars in Haiti is an amazing amount of money and will do much to help the children of Bel Platon.

Talk about 'paying it forward!' Thank you Medgar Evers!!

Dick

Lovable Losers No More

Of course the Cubs were always known as the Lovable Losers. We loved Earnie, Ryno, Fergie, Billy Williams, Ron Santo and so many more. So in a very real sense they were never 'losers.' Of course they lost ballgames more often than not but you just kept on love 'em!! So the game 7 win and the World Series victory just makes them that much more lovable!!!

To Sum Up

The idea that the Arts and various elective courses somehow count for less or that they are in the words of the NBC survey, 'useless'is misguided, without merit, and incorrect. This move to denigrate the Arts and electives just takes us down that slippery slope of 'we can do without it.

Hmm...that translates into 'we can't afford these programs.' My answer is...we can't afford to not have these programs!!

American liberal (sorry folks this is isn't a bad word, it means a wide exposure to different ideas, curriculum and the like) education at all levels is a necessity sown into the fabric of our country. We cannot, for one minute, allow the erosion of the Arts and electives in our schools and universities.

To do so may well result in what many have said long before I say it, "be careful what you wish for."

Dick

Useless Courses - Part II

And just what does a NBC survey/poll prove or attempt to validate by criticizing the various Arts? Good question but what I know, and I will say, as a former teacher, I know, is that the arts alluded to by the NBC are the very ones that have much to do with problem solving, deep thinking, creativity and reflection.

These are qualities that should reside in all of us, period. They are the skills and thought processes that enable one to find resolutions to problems, to be able to find new ways to work with others and they have their place in our economic, social and culturally well-being. In short the Arts are indispensable.

In this day and age of short-term attention spans, cost effectiveness, high stakes testing, getting the best paying job (not necessarily a bad thing) and being efficient, the Arts offer a counter weight or balance that enables one, and our collective population, to make wise and thoughtful decisions, to foster wisdom in the face of 'I want an answer right now,' and to do so mindful of others and their ideas.

School and college Arts Programs AREN'T useless.

Dick