So, you probably don't know, as the mainstream media has woefully NOT covered this, but in Chicago, there are a bunch of people on a HUNGER STRIKE who are trying to save their community high school in a predominately and historically black neighborhood.
In case you don't know, Chicago is extremely segregated by neighborhoods. Chicago Public Schools a few years ago closed 50 public elementary schools in black and brown neighborhoods- sure, some of those needed consolidation, most didn't. But it's opened dozen of charter schools in the wake of that closure fiasco.
[our unelected school board which is hand picked by our mayor, just passed a budget for the year that includes $500 million that they haven't even received, and prob won't, from the state of Illinois- which goes to show you how ridiculous the Chicago Public Schools system is in general]
Dyett HS is surrounded by charter high schools and the neighborhood has been told that the kids have choice, but, it's a choice of charters. Not a neighborhood school. Yeah yeah, there are selective enrollment schools and magnets. But, let's be clear, NOT a neighborhood school.
After the mayor went around to town hall meetings a few weeks ago to talk about the city budget in general, and getting confronted by dozens of organized activists supporting Dyett- he met quickly with a few Dyett people and then announced that the school will become an 'arts magnet' or something. That's not what the community wants. They want something more tangible and something that addresses their needs and the future needs of their children: an environmental and green tech school. Right, see, that would put the kids up close to the current jobs trends.
Watch this please
WTTW quick interview with hunger strikers
and call the Mayor's office 312/744-3300 or, better yet, the White House 202/456-1111.
