So, as returning readers read in my earliest posting Rev. James Meeks – Are you there? You may want to read this., the Senator Reverend Meeks of Illinois decided that he would pull up to 3,000 students from the Chicago Public Schools on the first day of class and take them to the “better funded” suburban schools to register. He said it was a form of protest to bring to light the inequality and unfair practices involved in funding schools in the State of Illinois. (Go back and read that blog entry now, or you’ll miss the point of this entry. Really. No. Go ahead and go back to the other article. We’ll wait for you here. Go on, it’s okay.)
When I wrote that blog entry, I emailed all the major news networks and the two major Chicago newspapers. I asked why they were just taking Meeks’s word for the “unfairness” when none of them reported the facts (the big one being that ALL schools in the state get the same money per student and, on the FIRST DAY of class, they get THE MOST MONEY, which impacts the current and following years’ budget). Well, I did catch a report on ABC7 Chicago, and they took a look at it (although half-hartedly), but still helped prove the point. I’d like to call this point “It’s NOT the funding, stupid!”
The ABC7 report from 8/29/08 can be found at http://abclocal.go.com/wls/media?id=6359874
ABC7’s Leah Hope gave a brief, but fascinating report on funding of suburban schools versus Chicago schools and their graduation rates. The numbers were interesting: In Chicago, CPS spends $11,032.00 per student and has a 66% graduation rate. Oswego 308 (which has portions of several Western suburbs) spends $8,020.00 per student and has a 95% graduation rate. Rockford (to the Northwest), spends $9,300.00 and has a 75% graduation rate. The Effingham School District spends $7,700.00 per student and has a 85% graduation rate. But, the BEST one: The Carterville School District 5 spends $5,800.00 per student and has a 96% graduation rate! With this data (since Mr Meeks provided no studies or number) proves… Holy shnikees! MR. MEEKS: your argument about funding is BULL PUCKEY! {Also, we have to ask: What does it mean to “spend per student?” … Mr. Meeks, seems to me the CPS is funding the students just fine. Clearly there is unfairness and inequality of the funding presented here and I want you to go get my Oswego 308 schools more money so they can spend as much per student as Chicago!}
So, on September 1, 2008, Mr. Meeks appears before the press (stylishly decked out in his “Meeks 1″ White Sox jersey, NOT a business suit as would be expected of a Senator or Reverend trying to make a point ot the Chicago community and businesses) the day before the first day of classes and states he is continuing as planned to go to New Trier (forgive me if I misspelled that) to register these poor forsaken urban youths at the “better funded” suburban school.
Well, he carried out his plan. On September 2, 2008, he declared victory (despite having only pulled out almost 1,000 children). Let’s analyze the events of the day.
At the start of the day the superintendent of New Trier addressed the press (in proper business attire, thank you Ma’am!). To paraphrase, she stated that they had spoken to Mr Meeks and Mr Meeks understood that they welcome the CPS students to come and view the facility and supported Mr Meeks’s want to give more funding to schools through the state budget. But, she said, Mr Meeks also understands that, in accordance to Illinois State Law (which Mr. Meeks, as Senator, should be well aware of) she would be unable to fulfill his wish to register any CPS student due to the rules surrounding residency within school district boundaries. Also, Mr Meeks understood that classes were in session and special accommodations would be made for Mr Meeks and his truant students so that they would not distrub those students who are actually in school and in the process of learning.
Upon his “victorious” arrival, Mr. Meeks and his merry band of truant students we’re lined up along side of the school, given a breif tour, and escorted to the nearby field to hold their rally. At the rally, Mr meeks anounced that these truantstudents would be given lesson plans and be transported during the remainder of the week to the lobbys of the big Chicago-based corporations for lessons. What?! Why?! Now, Mr Meeks has decided to use the Olympics to try and strong-arm Mayor Daley into taking his side. Meeks’s logic being that these corporations will be the source of fundingsponsorship for the Chicago 2016 Olympics. To quote Mr Meeks : “If we are promoting Chicago as a world-class city, we should have world-class schools!”.
Let’s back up a second, Mr. Rev. Sen. Meeks. Given the numbers above, what would you say the REAL problem with graduation rates is? I’ll tell you Mr. Meeks, pay close attention here: IT’S THE PARENTS!
Good God, man! You’re a reverend for cryin’ out loud! You know the MOST IMPORTANT thing to make a community, family, or individual successful is a support system. What support system are you promoting here, REVEREND Meeks?! Why not set aside state funding for after-school or after-work programs to help parents connect with their children, to show them right-from-wrong, to help them understand what it takes to be a success and how hard you really have to try to be a failure? How about teaching them the words in the books you preach from the pulpit. I’m not a religious man, Mr Meeks, but I believe the word you are supposed to be preaching would somehow be summarized as “Wealth and possessions does not equal success.” I mean really, what is the measure of success for an individual? It is to set a goal and reach that goal. The goal isn’t supposed to be fame, fortune, and luxury. The goal is to be family, health, and happiness.
Mr Meeks, you have taught these 1,000 students the wrong lesson. You are continuing to proliferate the idea that money is ALWAYS the solutionand that it (and anything else you want) whould be just handed over. Really, computers in a classroom equals success? I think not. Teaching the children how to be academically successfull without the aid of technology will build a greater base knowledge to make them far more successful (and far morelikely to get scholarships) than any “Big new school with computers and plasma displays” will ever get them. (I know this, since when I went through the CPS, I was not even allowed to use a calculator. I was astonished when I attended college at how many students couldnt get by with out a calculator for even simple tasks. By not having the crutch of technology, I was better equipped to think faster and be a lot more academically agile than my counterparts. Oh, wait: Success!)
Mr Meeks: I applaud you for your interest in fairness. I applaud you in your concern for the children and their education. But this is all wrong. The target has been missed. Stand down and find a better way to cure the social issues that plague urban youths. Money wont fix it. Changing the taxes wont fix it. Going to a “nicer school” wont fix it.
Better family and community support and togetherness will fix it.
