Nearly half of Black men ages 20-24 are out of school and out of work. That is according to a report released this week by the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Great Cities Institute. This unemployment rate is higher than the unemployment rates of Black men in other major cities in America. Some have suggested that these numbers have a…
Tag: Chicago Unheard
My Charter School Taught Me Relationships Matters
The power of relationship can never be understated. Throughout my life I have heard phrase after phrase that illumines this point: “It isn’t what you know but who you know.” “No one cares what you know until they know that you care.” Relationship matters. Every successful person knows this and can point to people who were instrumental in helping them…
Are We Equal? Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools students are asking the question, “Are We Equal?” in a video created by LUMA. The 3-minute video addresses recent budget cut proposals and strategically breaks down why this is happening. What are your thoughts? Sound off below.
Chicago Parent Shares Why She Loves KIPP Bloom
Denise is the guardian of 3 of her grandchildren. The children have faced a lot of difficulties in their early lives and she’s working hard to bring them some much needed love, support, and stability. The number of children being raised by grandparents in Chicago has been on the rise for a long time. Denise’s story is a great reminder…
AstroTurf or Hypocrisy? CTU Please Let Us Know
The term “AstroTurf” comes to mind. You know, that’s what they call it when the financial resources behind a certain set of political activities are intentionally hidden in order to make it seem like the messages, ideas and activities originate from and are supported by the grassroots. And it certainly came to mind when I read the Sun-Times article…
In Defense of Cheaters: I Understand Why They Lied About Their Address to Go to That School
What do you know? The Chicago Public Schools Inspector General has discovered that families from affluent Chicago neighborhoods and even affluent Chicago suburbs have been using false residency information in order to gain access to some of Chicago’s top high schools. I would love to join the chorus of people roundly condemning this behavior, but I can’t shake the…
Is Chicago Public Schools the Scrooge?
Chicago teacher and award-winning blogger Marilyn Rhames may have it figured out: As a kid, I had a love-hate relationship with “A Christmas Carol,” the Charles Dickens tale that plays out in black and white TV every December. I loved the character of Tiny Tim, a poor sickly boy whose kindness and grit gets rewarded at the end, but I…
Is There A Double Standard in CTU Contract Negotiations?
Yesterday the Chicago Teachers Union roundly rejected a contract offer from the Chicago Public Schools. The offer was described by CPS CEO Forrest Claypool as containing “a short-term sacrifice” in return for overall pay increases and other concessions. The CTU said that Claypool’s “short-term sacrifice” would amount to “long-term pain” for the teachers they represent. I’m not sure the district…