Outrage: “Whites Only” Seats The Connecticut Supreme Court made a ruling in Sheff v. O’Neill that was supposed to integrate schools. Instead, it capped the number of students of color who can enroll at magnet schools, saying that 25 percent of each school’s seats must be occupied by White students. And while some of those magnet schools are holding seats…
Tag: African Americans
At Embarc, Sending Kids to College Is Not the Holy Grail
Meet Embarc, a youth-serving organization that bucks conventional wisdom and is deliberately reducing the number of its grads who enroll in college. We’ve already discussed their unconventional approach to social-emotional learning; in this post, Embarc co-founder Imran Khan describes their groundbreaking perspective on life after high school. In a time when too many students leave college with debt but no…
To Boost College Admissions Equity, Let’s Support High-Achieving Freshmen of Color
The first year of high school is a challenge to everyone. CPS has increased supports for high school freshmen, but high-achievers are still shorted. A new report suggests this has lasting consequences for district equity in college admissions. In a district where many students may have attended the same school from kindergarten through eighth grade, ninth grade means finding a…
Students Don’t Learn From Suspensions But Restorative Justice Offers Opportunity
For the last few years, Chicago Public Schools has been working hard to change its discipline policies and practices to reduce suspensions and expulsions. Instead, the district is encouraging principals and teachers to use restorative justice practices such as peace circles, conversations to restore relationships and formal letters of apology to repair harm and restore community. This shift is essential.…
Vic Mensa Is Looking Out for Our Kids Better Than the Police
Vic Mensa for the m’fn win! This weekend, he hosted the Anti-Bait Truck event in West Englewood in response to the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and Norfolk Southern’s attempt to bait people in that community into stealing gym shoes. This Sunday my foundation @savemoneysavelife is giving away THOUSANDS of shoes on a Anti-Bait Truck in Englewood on 2050 W 59th…
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…
A School with Student Voice Creates Countless Opportunities
When schools give students the opportunity to speak out, the effects can echo across a student’s life, building confidence and increasing self-esteem. The opportunity to be heard by authorities and school officials makes a student feel accomplished. Additionally, students feel as if they can make a positive impact in the future school system and their communities. Even more importantly, when…
3 Tips to Survive College From Someone Who Made It
Editor’s Note: This is a condensed version of Samantha Smylie’s speech to the 2018 graduating class at John Hope High School in Chicago. Hope is one of the high schools that will be closing as part of the plan to create a new high school in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. Smylie is a Hope High School graduate who earned a bachelor’s…