"The West Side took it on the chin Wednesday in the list of Chicago Public Schools at risk of closing — but residents who packed a CPS hearing vowed not to give up the fight.
A few hours earlier, Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett had released a list of 129 vulnerable schools, mostly from the South and West sides. The schools she will in fact close in June all are among the names on this list, but not all on the list will close. She encouraged communities of schools on the list to testify at the second round of CPS hearings before she announces her final decision by March 31. "
I realize that many of these schools are underutilized, some are not even at half capacity. I also acknowledge that most of these schools are providing subpar education. What I don't understand is that while the city is planning on closing 129 schools, they are moving to open 100 more. This makes me wonder if the true motives are less about efficiency and education and more about privatization and politics.
http://www.wbez.org/news/education/100-new-chicago-schools-5-yearsagain-99276
http://www.wbez.org/news/proportion-privately-run-chicago-public-schools-increase-104303
Something tells me that these hearings by CPS, just like the CAPS meetings, are nothing more than a Kangaroo Court. I suspect that in the end the West side will get the shaft, we are after all, the city's red-headed step child. Another example of City Hall serving up the West side as some sort of sacrificial lamb to further their agenda. For decades the West side has gotten the short end of the stick when it comes to infrascruture, political clout, and basic city services. Is it any surprise that education would be any different.
No comments:
Post a Comment