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Sunday, March 10, 2013

Last Stand for Children First: School Closings Offer Opportunities for Students to Learn a Trade

Last Stand for Children First: School Closings Offer Opportunities for Students to Learn a Trade:


School Closings Offer Opportunities for Students to Learn a Trade

Commentary by Representative Jack Kimble (R-CA, 54)

Unfortunately, it's very easy for parents to get angry over school closings.   After all, neighborhood schools can be sanctuaries in a neighborhood of boarded up and abandoned buildings and the school community can be a family for children whose own parents are unable to provide them with the stability every child deserves.  This is a nationwide problem, but because Last Stand for Children First is so active in Chicago, I probably understand that situation a little better.

The problem in Chicago is that 30,000 students have left the system so it is necessary to close over 100 schools in African-American neighborhoods.   I guess, an "oops" is warranted on the part of the city, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing as you will see.

In Chicago, parents, teachers, and community members have been lucky enough to have forums provided by the Walton Foundation to allow them to vent to facilitators and plead that their school be kept open without having