Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs
Photos From:
United We Learn Presents: "The Future of Illinois Education and What We Can Do About It!"
On Thursday, May 14, 2009, a standing-room-only crowd of more than 75 people -- students and adults of all races, from the North Shore and Chicago, clergy and teachers, representatives of elected officials and reporters -- gathered in the board room of New Trier High School's Northfield campus to grapple with what to do to stop Illinois public schools from failing to educate its children.
Participants heard from (in order of appearance) Matt McCambridge, NTHS senior and founder of the new Illinois Council of Students, Dea Meyer of the Civic Committee of The Commercial Club, Julie Smith, a deputy chief of staff of Gov. Pat Quinn, and rounded of by Max McGee, former State Superintendent of Education & Pres. of the Illinois Math & Science Academy, who urged the crowed to be "mad as hell and not take it anymore" and added that "the time is now" to reform our system.
The speakers laid out statistics and anecdotes (McCambridge's presentation, Meyer's presentation, Smith's presentation and McGee's presentation) that gave an overall picture of the state of llinois' public schools and large spending disparities by community. (United We Learn also disseminated a handout with a summary of the crisis at hand.) There is no doubt that the number of low-income students and test scores that fall below standards are correlated. However, presenters pointed out instances where low spending was trumped by dedicated teachers (where "college bound" became a mantra) and parents. In Chicago, charter schools have shown promise. But what all took away from the evening is that it takes all of us to work together prepare all students for a bright future. As moderator Lali Watt exhorted the group, this is about caring for all our children.
Listen to interview with Lali Watt for United We Learn and Max McGee on Chicago Public Radio ("North Shore Group Pushes for Research on Education Funding Reform") as a "preview" to that evening's panel on May 14, 2009. Read additional coverage in the Chicago Tribune ("New Trier discussion to focus on future of public education," May 13, 2009).
Sponsored by United We Learn and co-sponsored by the Leagues of Women Voters of Glencoe, Glenview, Wilmette, and Winnekta-Northfield-Kenilworth.
United We Learn, a grassroots group of three dozen parents and community leaders, coalesced in August 2008 with the immediate aim of creating an atmosphere of welcome for the State Sen. Rev. Meeks-sponsored boycott and rally at New Trier High School last September 2nd. UWL supports the aims of Chicago Public School and Suburban Public School communities to secure a higher quality public school education – and brighter future – for all our children. For more information on United We Learn or to join, you may download this flyer, or contact Gail, (847) 501-5762, or e-mail: gail@interfaithhousingcenter.org
On the big screen
Attentive participants
United We Learn moderators Barbara Hiller (left) and Lali Watt
Leagues of Women Voters of Glencoe, Glenview, Wilmette (banner pictured), and Winnetka-Northfield-Kenilworth co-sponsor
United We Learn members Anthony Anderson and Kathy Miller collected questions from the audience
Barbara Hiller introduces the panelists
Matt McCambridge, student organizer
Panelists Dea Meyer (left) and Julie Smith
Panelists and Moderators at New Trier High School, Northfield
Participants
Participants
Matt McCambridge, Dea Meyer, Julie Smith
Participants
Participants
Participants
Consequences of inaction, from Julie Meyer of Gov. Quinn's office
Max McGee
Max McGee: "Where is the urgency and outrage?!"
McCambridge, Meyer, Smith, and McGee
The Price of Equal Opportunity
Participants
Participants
Solutions (Max McGee), informed by research largely conducted by his Illinois Math & Science Academy students
Photo Report Author: Gail Schechter
Photos From:
"Where Does United We Learn Go From Here?"
United We Learn hosted a follow-up gathering exactly one week later, same time, same place, to brainstorm "Where Does United We Learn Go From Here?"
A dynamic group of fifteen people from as far south as 95th Street in Chicago, north to Wilmette and Highland Park, and as far west as Belvedere, gathered in a working circle on May 21, 2009: a group diverse by race including several teachers and all passionate about making a difference for all of Illinois' public school children.
The teachers shared some sobering information. A Wilmette resident and teacher spoke of being responsible for 190 students in Wilmette but 1,200 in Chicago. Anthony Anderson, who has worked for years in the correctional system, said that it costs $100,000 a year for the State to support an inmate. The group contrasted this to the tiny fraction of this amount spent on early childhood education, and this when multiple studies have apparently shown that 3rd grade is the most significant year in a person's life.
Rev. Kirk Reed of Trinity United Methodist Church in Wilmette assisted the group in prioritizing its next step actions. In the spirit of solidarity, United We Learn aims to join with others at a grassroots level to make quality education a reality for all in Illinois.
United We Learn gathers!
Brainstorming, with Kirk Reed, facilitator, at right.
UWL leader Lali Watt of Wilmette reviews some of the findings presented by the panelists the prior week.
Sandra Lurie of Highland Park
Jae Choi Kim of Wilmette
Kirk Reed leads the discussion.
Brainstorming and dot voting
"Hope is needed"
Moving forward!
Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs
www.interfaithhousingcenter.org
620 Lincoln Avenue; Winnetka, Illinois 60093-2308
phone: 847.501.5760
e-mail: ihcns@interfaithhousingcenter.org