ok.  I’m not too into getting into issues but this shit gets more and more ridiculous.  Any Chicagoan somewhat involved with their city knows that cps is closing schools.  If you know that, there is a chance you know that there are meetings in each area of the city where communities can discuss and ask questions to CPS central office and schools can beg to stay open.  As the fucking local news seems to think wrigley fields 7th inning stretch song upgrade is  more important than all these bananas, I’ll relate what I saw. 

I saw a meeting of 2000 parents, teachers, children and community members who are directly affected by the 19 schools that are closing in Englewood and Auburn Gresham.  This public meeting started off with a prayer for clarity and positive consultation.  After which, at least 5 state representatives (you know, the people that work in Springfield) and alder(wo)man publicly, aggressively, and very bluntly stated these school closings are appalling, probably racist and unconstitutional, and one of them threatened legal action.  One pointed out that every school from 55th to 68th north-south (1.3 miles) and Ashland-Western east-west (1 Mile) is on the list  – about 1 square mile in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the country will not have a public elementary school.  Another pointed out that she has seen this before and she knows what’s happening and, although she said it is the “most black people working for a cause” she has seen since Harold Washington, there needs to be more “soldiers” as this machine will continue to proceed as planned.  As with the teacher strike, a certain amount of pride bubbled up knowing these black men and woman leaders of the community stood so strong with us and their community, especially when the rest of the world (i.e. “white” collar) could either give two shits or think “thank god cuz those schools need to be shut down because of how unsafe they are” (for the record - that is completely untrue - the schools in englewood are the definition of safe for most of these kids.)

In between the representatives and the schools, a man from CPS tried to explain how they came up with the list.  He was booed until he gave up.

On to the schools.  One by one - all 19 schools got a chance to plead their case as to why their school should remain open.  Some were very emotional, some were data driven and logical.  The basics were all the same.  These schools are the safe-havens of the community.  These teachers and students and staff work their asses off.  Regardless of where they were coming from, the simple fact is these kids need education.  There is no way out otherwise.  That may be hard to understand, so let me repeat it.  There is no way out besides education for these children. 

And this current plan of action to close all these schools will prevent them from having the chance.  because every day they will not be able to get to school safely. because there will be so many damn kids in the classroom that everyone will just drown.  because their city wants to build and put multimillion dollar renovations into schools in the area and a year or two later shut them down (i’m not gonna speculate, but I am sure you can guess what that may mean)…

as one parent said - every time you shut down a school, you kill a community.

peoples.  I am truly at a lost for words, meaning action, on all this stuff.  I hate writing about it.  Every word I put down fucking stabs me cuz I think about these damn kids that are in my classroom and the shit they have to go through.  The shit this goddam world, which is completely against them (completely!), is going to try and destroy them with.  I understand the “not my problem” thing.  but I ask you to consider something.  Not accept it or even say that it might be true - just consider the possibility.  consider the possibility that the whole reason this beautiful community is being destroyed is for you.  so your schools can flourish.  so you can have a “hot” new neighborhood.  so you and yours does not have to see them and theirs and “all” can live happily ever after.