State lawmakers have been trying to settle this issue for years. But they don’t get an A for effort. It’s your turn Chicago. Today at changeyoucansee.com, tell us, “WHAT MORE CAN WE DO AS CONCERNED CITIZENS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS, TO GET THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS A LAW ENSURING THAT ALL SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED EQUALLY?”
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Question of the Week
State lawmakers have been trying to settle this issue for years. But they don’t get an A for effort. It’s your turn Chicago. Today at changeyoucansee.com, tell us, “WHAT MORE CAN WE DO AS CONCERNED CITIZENS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS, TO GET THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS A LAW ENSURING THAT ALL SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED EQUALLY?”
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take it to the streets
ReplyDeleteorganize a 'Make the Grade' street consciousness & awareness march on State of Illinois.
Average person on the street is aware but may feel helpless in how to VOICE their personal concerns for this issue.
A massive 'million' citizen march will show State of Illinois that its' citizens are vested to make sure State of Illinois government officials are accountable and responsible to all of its citizens; up to and including children forced to learn in substandard, poorly equipped and unsuitable learning environments, I won't venture to even call them 'schools'.
Just a thought!
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ReplyDeleteI agree with you E! We definitely need to make our voices heard, and doing a march is one way to do so. It would put some pressure on legislators.
ReplyDeleteWith the change in our federal government, I think people are starting to realize that their votes do matter -- and not just for the federal government. If we want to make some serious changes, we need to hold our legislators accountable. We need to reach out to them to see how they have voted on past education funding reform bills (750 and 2288) to see if they are really committed to making a change. If they aren't, we need to vote them out.
Parents can also be the best spokespeople around this issue. Visit your child's school and find out how money is spent locally. Take pictures of the school, their textbooks, and the facilities, and pass these on to legislators. This testimony could have a great impact on what happens in Springfield.
We need to begin a grassroots movement going door-to-door signing up volunteers and getting the signatures of Illinois residents that are concerned and are willing to help change the current educational crisis in Illinois.
ReplyDeleteFrom there we have to have a dedicated team of people made up of teachers, parents, and other sources that are knowledgeable and experts in regards to the unequal funding that's taking place in Illinois.
We must demand meetings with the legislatures, and descend upon Springfield, IL with in massive numbers not once, not twice, but until we get the results that we seek.
LET'S STOP TALKING! AND BEGIN THE CHANGE THAT WE WANT!
This month New York state reported overall achievement test score increases in English in grades 3 to 8. Why? Among the reasons most cited are -- a Court ordered increase in state spending on education, greater equity in funding, and an increased emphasis on professional development of teachers.
ReplyDeleteJust a thought, Illinois.
Legislators need to look back at our history - Why is this still an issue? Didn't the children in Little Rock, Mississippi and New Orleans (in the 1950's & 1960's) risk life and limb for this right? Anyway, if we legislate based on tax dollars then it should be more equal...However, how many people in the poorer neighborhoods pay taxes? Don't you have to have an income to pay taxes?
ReplyDeleteWe need to stop sitting in silence. We have become victims of our environments even though we don't have to. So many have given up in our urban areas but we need to fight for our children. I think that our community leaders need to spend more time fighting for the education of our children instead of fighting about what businesses should open up in our areas.
ReplyDelete