Wow, Please help me understand here. District 150 is considering closing some Primary schools, 2 in the north end and 2 in the south end. These schools are all Title 1 schools and all these schools are not making AYP. (Not making state test scores)
OK, according to this POST on CJ's site, this person named PrairieCelt has authored a post, using very clear stats from the State's own school report cards. Here are the schools: Tyng, Garfield, Irving, and Kingman. Be reminded that the District is building new schools. Go read the post and soak the numbers. It's not the post that got me it was some of the comments. I want someone to clear this for me:
EmergePeoria writes: "District 150 deserves to have a Class Action lawsuit brought against it for constantly pushing black children to the back. Look at the desegregation information - Whitaker clearly states that they would make the decision that would have the least impact on white children. They have failed three generations of black families. THREE GENERATIONS"
I ask: How? I say Black families and yes even the NAACP have failed themselves. Children having children is not family and this has been happening for more than 3 generations. Pekin High School, which is 99% white has failed AYP and goes in restructuring next year so color has nothing to do with it. It seems that the NAACP plays on the problems of blacks in this community and that is how they make their living. Maybe if they took a more proactive role in helping blacks, the blame game would disappear. The fact is, Blacks make up the majority in our schools and if a minority is being hurt, then it is white children. Where is the suit for that?
Another commenter Sharon Crews writes inpart: "I can remember in the early 1970s when I worked Headstart, a team of us (2 black and 1 white) traveled together all day–which meant eating lunch at a restaurant. We weren’t welcome any place past Main Street–and that one place where we were welcome was hard to find–entrance off an alley.
I say: Wow Sharon, go to acting classes? Such drama. I worked with 2 fellow blacks in the 70s and we traveled all over Peoria. I never recall having a problem getting lunch anywhere. I swear to God, you must have slipped a med someplace. Please, don't confuse this with me denying discrimination, I am not. It still happens today. But come on Sharon, really?
There are other comments like, this is a huge plan to create other Title 1 schools for more money and someone wondering why if 70% of the students are poverty, then why aren't all the schools Title 1? or this....
Commenter By The Way sez: "If you look inside schools that are not “Title I” schools, they are also warehousing low income and minority children who attend schools on a waiver in certain classrooms."
What? Parents are getting wavers to satisfy the District's warehousing or hiding of kids? Does the District have a black helicopter?
I think too many people are giving this District way too much credit. They couldn't be this smart to warehouse kids, sweep black kids into warehouses, close schools for no reason other than to create other Title 1 schools for more money.
Here is the whole problem. Many many years ago, when our great city leaders were annexing northern parts of various townships into the City, they should have, as should the school board at the time, demanded they pay school taxes to District 150. Nope, Vast areas where annexed, million dollar homes were built and taxed but for Dunlap schools thus land locking District 150. City leaders then, as now, don't seem that concerned about District 150. In fact some of the big movers and shakers, like the Head of the Heartland Group don't even live in Peoria and their kids don't go to Peoria schools. The first thing a young couple with kids buying a home wants to know is; How are the schools?
So as Peoria's inner city rots, so goes the demographics that goes with it. Here we are, today. Dunlap is rolling in cash because of inaction many years ago by District 150. Our city leaders in a misguided attempt to spurn economic growth have made TIFs almost every 5 blocks robbing still more needed funds from the schools. That hasn't worked so far.
I know, I'll take the heat for this but it seems to me, yes, the post will generate 100s of comments on CJs site from people telling how this District is fucked up. I wish I had the magic bullet. I see it as a parental responsibility for their children issue and I see it as an administration that must trim itself before it can be taken seriously. I see it as white flight to the burbs where people didn't have to pay into District 150 and got better schools in another district. I see it as city fathers ignoring for years the rot of the south end, the north end and more recently east bluff and center bluff. As these homes were sold and then rented and allowed to decay, came the poverty that comes with that type of decay. Maybe you have heard of the term? Ghettos? Slums? Whatever.
I see this District has been dealt the cards they have to play. They aren't pretty by no means and yes, they may have thrown away some aces or some kings, but they have the cards they have. It is not their fault entirely so some tough choices are going to have to be made, like closing old run down schools. Building some new schools (no one builds old schools) and restructuring and cutting services. the money tap has run dry, plenty of blame to go around, but the last thing they need is a crowd with torches threatening them every inch of the way.
I am sorry, I am just laid back by some of the comments. Yes these schools are in trouble but I ask this; How can you force this District to make AYP, get schools off Title 1 rolls (which is really a free lunch to the poor and this is grossly abused) when the kid and their parent (one in many cases) don't give a rats ass about the school unless the kid is caught doing something? Then it's the school's fault for catching the kid. That is where 70% of these kids are coming from. By the time these kids hit high school (if they make it) you get the kind of stuff seen outside Peoria High School any given afternoon. Fights, kids smoking in gangs, police cars, and a District that needs a full time armed police force.
Pekin has none and I'll bet Dunlap has none sans a liaison officer.
I don't understand.... I guess for some, it's easy to jump on the "I'm being warehouse, discriminated, bandwagon when the crowd is roaring. Sadly, this hurts those that really do suffer in a world of discrimination.
From what I read on this post, the fix is setting fire to the whole place. It's like setting fire to your bed to rid it of your partner. You both lose.
My fix, more City leaders should take a much more active roll in helping our schools as should community leaders like Don Jackson, The Heartland Group, churches, pastors, everyone. If all these groups put the time and effort that was put into the Build the Block campaign, or the effort that was induced into moving a street for a ballpark, or the efforts to build a new hotel or relocate a strip club, I think this community can find a cure and save our schools. The way we have ignored District 150 is like ignoring your gas gauge on your car and then wondering why it won't start. It is not the fault of this District their schools don't make AYP or that they qualify as Title 1. It is the fault of this community as a whole. Think of what could be done if just the City spent what the Build the Block did on just improving the image of our schools. Then, with all the resources of this community, we could rebuild this district second to none. Nope, a few of us continue to hash it out on a blog, in front of the District's offices, and in the media. Enjoy your museum because at this rate, no one is going to be able to read any of the exhibits.
Now over to Billy's site to read about what Schock is up to as I have had enough school stuff for now.
20 comments:
Good read PAP. Spot on!
Nailed it again, Randall. Great post!
LMAO!!!! *bowing down*
Whew!!! Thank God my name wasn't in there! :)
However, I believe when they say they aren't closing schools in the North end, they mean North of War Memorial, not the North end as us old timers used to think of it.
MAWB: I am fully aware of which is which in regards to the north of War and the north end. Remember, the District closed Loucks, which isn't north of War but close. I think the District needs to update it's buildings and build new schools, which by the way, most of are south of War. Some schools are going to have to go, sadly, no matter which school it is, it isn't going to appease all the people.
It's pretty demoralizing when you know that your learning/teaching/working in a building that's nothing like the buildings the "others" are in. I also don't think that as non-minorities we have a lot of knowledge or experience with the issues those groups deal with.
I say build new schools in the inner city and go back to the old K-8 grade schools and high schools. Get rid of the buses and make the kids walk to school like the old days. Worked for us pretty well and seems most people in my age group turned out fairly well! The kids that were advanced had to tutor the kids that were behind. We all chipped in as one. Parents were there and participated in their kids' educations. That's just the way it was done. Frick white flight....I went to DHS in the late 70's and can tell you there were more drugs and alcohol than I ever saw at WHS. The parents out north are all living in lala land anyway.
White flight has a way of turning back around to a good thing for a city, ask Andres Duany (he would be pleased with District 150s decision). Never mind that families and entire neighborhoods are displaced - in the end it's all good (a little sarcasm there).
Wow! This is an outstanding post. I am going to have to start reading you more.
Frustrated: I try and sometimes it is hard to get my thoughts out. Many misinterpret them but then maybe it's the alcohol talking. :)
As to my drama--I really believe that you may have a memory loss about the racial situation before the effects of the Civil Rights movement were fully realized in Peoria (or maybe you're younger than my 71). By the early 1970s--the time when I was referencing--there were probably no longer restrictions or signs like "We reserve the right to seat our patrons"--and we all knew what that meant, but black people were still uncomfortable eating out in most Peoria restaurants. Of course, the whole fast food phenomena hadn't taken hold, had it? I will grant you that my memory doesn't allow me to pinpoint exact dates--just experiences and eras. I know that housing hadn't fully opened up yet because in the early 1970s when I was working at Urban League in the summer, I participated in a fair housing survey for the U.S. government. I was offered housing, but my black counterpart looking at the same apartments or houses was refused. I remember taking one of my students to Corn Stock--probaby just before she graduated in 1972. There were no other blacks in attendance, and she asked me if I was embarrassed. I remember that Art Szold asked me to recommend a high school student to be one of the first blacks to work at his store in the south side--this young lady was the one I recommended and the one who began working at Szolds. Too much drama--no, too much bigotry in the era in which I grew up and started my career. Actually, I had had very little contact with anyone black before college. One black child lived in my neighborhood on Sangor Street in the south end when I was about three. My mother took a picture of us together--which is why I remember. There were no black students at Longfellow or Kingman and only two at Woodruff. And there were no black teachers at Manual or Woodruff until the late 1960s--that would be Adrian Hinton and Audrey Gipson. So there is some more drama for you.
I don't know why that show up as anonymous--clicked the wrong button or something.
I like to have a cocktail myself.
Frustrated: I am not sure what your last post means. See what happens when we leave the sanity of C.J.'s blog. When I am put in a place where I start remembering the past and the racism I witnessed in my early years--in my own family, in the church of my youth, in District 150, then I have a hard time when I read comments like "I ask: How? I say Black families and yes even the NAACP have failed themselves. Children having children is not family and this has been happening for more than 3 generations." Then I do become a bit dramatic--based on real drama that I witnessed. Many of my comments on all the blogs relate to the discipline problems in District 150. Make no mistake I do see racism as the root of the problems in our schools. Like it or not, we do have to consider the impact of the racism of the past even if it isn't so obvious in the present or even when it no longer exists. As a Christian, I have to believe the principle that "what we sow, we reap" and our society is suffering from the racism of the past. Emtronics is not entirely wrong; the black community does have a responsibility to help young people rise above that past instead of becoming its victims. However, the rest of us cannot use their "failures" as vindication for the injustices of the past. I witnessed first hand the racism that debilitated so many young people that sat in my classes, and my relationships with African-Americans of my own age opened my eyes to their experiences--suffering that few of you younger people can imagine.
However, I must also say that even though Emtronics (Anti-Pundit) made some rather brash statements on this post, I do believe that he, as a south sider, is not as insensitve as this latest post makes him seem.
Sharon: Rant away and yes you are too dramatic at times. As for discrimination, I never ever said it does not exists and does to this day but as white people, we have no idea how discrimination affects people, really. I simply disagreed with a comment about who is at fault (Emerge) for the failure in our schools and one of her suggestions that a suit be filed. A difference of opinion and point of view as Emerge is black and her perspective is different than mine as I am white and I respect that although I may not understand it. I simply point out the elephant in the room which is talked about in back rooms and at dinner parties but never discussed for real.
I know who you are Ms Crews. I remember you at Manual and I'll admit I don't know you well as a person, much like you don't know me, but I do know that my impression of you as a teacher then wasn't all that good. Then I find you show up on these blogs and all of a sudden you have the insight of Gandhi. I guess I was wrong with my impression of you so I'll give you that but to come here and basically call me insane because I really think you are being a drama queen, well, then go back to the sanity of CJs and keep drafting those 5 page posts or better yet, start your blog and right the world on discrimination as a white woman sees it.
Remember, my sons went to the schools in th south end and I wouldn't have it any other way as when I was young and growing up, my dad was probably the most stereotype 1960s racists you could find. That rubs off on children much like single parents today who have drug problems rub their young children today. Environment. I felt that my kids would experience diversity. They did and their view of society is so much different than mine when I was young.
So, yes, your comment on finding a place to eat with your black friends north of Main St to me was being a drama queen. So much like me standing up and saying I know what discrimination is like. I don't and I don't think any white person in society can say they do. I am glad you remember all those little examples you sited and yes, they are sad. Sometimes it is hard to go against the grain and stand out and point out the obvious but that is what I try to do. You have a mouse and can click away if you don't like it.
I guess I inadvertently called you insane with my first comment--I honestly didn't mean to make that implication. I apologize for that careless implication. My last sentence best describes how I feel about you. I do partially agree that "no white person can understand discrimination." I agree in that because we didn't experience it, we can't fully understand it. However, we can see injustice, etc., and listen to the voices of those who have suffered discrimination. And we can "bear each other's burdens." Why is it that I do understand Emerge's point of view? I don't think her view is the whole story--yours also has merit. There can be merit to more than one side of any issue. We just need somehow to merge the best of all viewpoints to find solutions.
I would imagine that others besides you might object to my "walk down memory lane." I don't go there very often--or maybe not often enough of late. While these might be my "little examples," the people who experienced them first-hand might not be so willing to have their experiences mitigated to make the rest of us feel good about this country's racial history. My father was a good man, but I am glad I did not inherit his racial views. He didn't live through the Civil Rights era--I like to think he would have changed with the times.
No, we didn't know each other at Manual since your sons were not in my classes. We both just heard about each other. Anyway, I try not to make personal attacks on the blogs--and I didn't mean to give the impression that I was attacking you--your opinions in this case, yes, but not you.
Sharon: No problem. I'll live. I know you are a passionate person and I respect your opinions although I do not always agree but, I do agree with you more than you know. Thanks for commenting.
Oh my gosh, Sharon! My comment about cocktails was in no way meant to be flippant towards you and your statements about the issue of racism. It was in response to a comment of AntiPundit that he may have been drinking when he wrote a post and hoped it made sense.
I hope my comments are never interpreted as racist. I am only interested in District 150 maintaining and enhancing educational standards so that students graduate prepared to go to college, trade school, the military, work, etc. If I suggest different curriculum for different students it is only because I am a realist. Some students need to be studying algebra II when they are in 7th grade and some students may never get to that stage and that has to be alright, that is, allowing someone to work to their potential.
Good Lord. Would someone please show Sharon Crews how to start her own blog?
Frustrated, no, I have never jumped to that conclusion about youor Anti-Pundit--not at all. I hadn't followed the thread back to get the reference to his comment about drinking. And it was probably late and I was probably tired.
Anonymous: I would start my own blog, but I doubt if I would have a following. I couldn't count on your readership, could I?
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