Are you planning to use GoCPS to apply for your child’s elementary school for next year? Well, buckle up, because it’s not easy. The process of choosing schools, applying, and enrolling your child in the Chicago Public Schools is daunting for even the most seasoned of parents. As a Chicago Public Schools graduate, I had dreams of my children attending…
Author: ShaRhonda Knott-Dawson
This West Suburban Black Mom Skipped “America to Me.” Here’s Why
Our community has been captivated by the Starz docu-series, “America to Me.” But I haven’t watched the show myself. Not because it isn’t interesting; rather, I didn’t watch it because racism and racial achievement gaps in Oak Park are topics I have been writing, talking, and fighting about since my husband and I decided not to place our children in…
A Love Letter to Parents of Kids With Special Needs and Disabilities
Dear Fellow Parent Warriors, While every parent has strong feelings during the early part of the school year—excitement, nerves, even a little worry—our special tribe of parents with children who have IEPs (Individualized Education Plan) or 504 plans feel all those feelings plus some. Our worries are much more complex than just wondering whether our kids will fit in (we…
Racial Crossfit: Movies Edition
As I prepare myself for my seventh, yes, seventh, viewing of “Incredibles 2” with my daughter, I was inspired to have a new movie-themed racial crossfit! Lucky for you, the assignment is not to watch “Incredibles 2” seven times without going crazy. And for you high school English and social studies teachers, this is an assignment you can do right…
The Rules of SummerTimeChi
As a child in Uptown, I lived by some hard-and-fast rules in the summer: Stay inside, stay in the backyard, stick to the “good blocks,” watch your back. I was never able to just play outside. I lived in constant fear of all kinds of danger.
We Got Rid of Roseanne. Now Let’s Get Rid of Racist Teachers in Schools.
Roseanne Barr’s recent racist rant isn’t surprising to most Black people. In fact, it is the exact type of commentary Black folks have to encounter ALL THE TIME. Most damaging are the “Roseannes” who work in schools and educate our children. A recent Washington Post story dug in on surveys of Black elementary school children and concluded that something…