This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/04/chicago-protesters-hunger-strike-school-future-divides-city

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Chicago protesters continue hunger strike as fate of high school divides city School reform divides Chicago as protesters vow to continue hunger strike
(35 minutes later)
Chicago protesters have angrily vowed to continue a hunger strike over school reform plans, reacting to the city’s announcement that it would reopen a South Side high school on its own terms.Chicago protesters have angrily vowed to continue a hunger strike over school reform plans, reacting to the city’s announcement that it would reopen a South Side high school on its own terms.
The city’s public school department (CPS) on Thursday announced that formerly closed Dyett high school would reopen as an “open enrollment, arts-focused neighborhood high school and community innovation lab”.The city’s public school department (CPS) on Thursday announced that formerly closed Dyett high school would reopen as an “open enrollment, arts-focused neighborhood high school and community innovation lab”.
Protesters hijacked a public hearing after mayor Rahm Emanuel refused to answer questions about the future of Dyett on Wednesday, prompting the mayor to leave the stage in front of several hundred people. A hunger striker also took the stage, one of a dozen who began her strike 18 days ago to protest the city’s plans for the school.Protesters hijacked a public hearing after mayor Rahm Emanuel refused to answer questions about the future of Dyett on Wednesday, prompting the mayor to leave the stage in front of several hundred people. A hunger striker also took the stage, one of a dozen who began her strike 18 days ago to protest the city’s plans for the school.
The high school was closed a year ago due to dwindling enrollment and poor performance by the students of its small classes, but Bronzville residents have taken it up as a symbol of over privatization and a lack of access to good schools for poorer Chicagoans. The high school was closed a year ago due to dwindling enrollment and poor performance by the students of its small classes, but Bronzville residents have taken it up as a symbol of over-privatization and a lack of access to good schools for poorer Chicagoans.
Officials said it would eventually enroll 550 students, with local residents able to enroll first.Officials said it would eventually enroll 550 students, with local residents able to enroll first.
“Ultimately, the goal was to do what was right for the children, that’s the fundamental answer,” CPS chief Forrest Claypool said at the press conference. The “new” school would be “a unique, world-class high school on the south side,” he added in a statement. “Ultimately, the goal was to do what was right for the children, that’s the fundamental answer,” CPS chief Forrest Claypool said at the press conference. The “new” school would be “a unique, world-class high school on the south side”, he added in a statement.
“We should see this as a win for the community,” chief education officer Janice Jackson told reporters.“We should see this as a win for the community,” chief education officer Janice Jackson told reporters.
But the officials’ vision of a compromise with activists, who presented a plan for a technology-focused high school and pointed out that Dyett was the last open-enrollment school next to a selective high school and a privately contracted school, was disparaged by many protesters. Activists argue that the “choice” system of schools that many cities have embraced in fact creates discriminatory selection policies that disproportionately affect poor and black locals.But the officials’ vision of a compromise with activists, who presented a plan for a technology-focused high school and pointed out that Dyett was the last open-enrollment school next to a selective high school and a privately contracted school, was disparaged by many protesters. Activists argue that the “choice” system of schools that many cities have embraced in fact creates discriminatory selection policies that disproportionately affect poor and black locals.
“This does not reflect the vision of the community,” the strikers said in a statement.“This does not reflect the vision of the community,” the strikers said in a statement.
“The hunger strike is not over,” activist Jeanette Taylor-Ramann told reporters. Mikki Kendall, another protester, tweeted that the fight “isn’t over. Trust and believe an arts focused open enrollment won’t get the same budget as a STEM program.”“The hunger strike is not over,” activist Jeanette Taylor-Ramann told reporters. Mikki Kendall, another protester, tweeted that the fight “isn’t over. Trust and believe an arts focused open enrollment won’t get the same budget as a STEM program.”
Science teacher Phillip Cantor agreed, tweeting: “Rahm has disregarded the community’s plan.”Science teacher Phillip Cantor agreed, tweeting: “Rahm has disregarded the community’s plan.”
Many of the protesters complained that they had been “locked out” of the press conference.Many of the protesters complained that they had been “locked out” of the press conference.
Officials framed the school’s “innovation lab” as a version of the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines that activists demanded. The lab will link “the resources of local universities to ensure that students have access to resources and can gain the skills needed for the next century,” Jackson said in the statement. Officials framed the school’s “innovation lab” as a version of the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines that activists demanded. The lab will link “the resources of local universities to ensure that students have access to resources and can gain the skills needed for the next century”, Jackson said in the statement.
Jackson said that officials chose the “arts theme” while considering “what is in the best interest of the community”.Jackson said that officials chose the “arts theme” while considering “what is in the best interest of the community”.
“We decided we need to open a school that would attract people from within the community and also outside the community,” she said.“We decided we need to open a school that would attract people from within the community and also outside the community,” she said.
“I’m very disappointed that the board has chosen to ignore the proposal that was produced by the coalition to revitalize Dyett High School,” said Pauline Lippman, an education professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago.“I’m very disappointed that the board has chosen to ignore the proposal that was produced by the coalition to revitalize Dyett High School,” said Pauline Lippman, an education professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago.
“What this campaign represents and what this proposal represents is an alternative to the privitazation of public schools. And the reduction of schools in black communities to low level second tier schools. So to endorse this proposal suggest that there is another alternative to revitalizing public education, besides the privitization that they’re doing right now.” “What this campaign represents and what this proposal represents is an alternative to the privitazation of public schools. And the reduction of schools in black communities to low-level, second-tier schools. So to endorse this proposal suggests that there is another alternative to revitalizing public education, besides the privitization that they’re doing right now.”
Zerlina Smith, the parent of a six-year-old girl, told the Guardian the protesters were “fighting for a community school.” Zerlina Smith, the parent of a six-year-old girl, told the Guardian the protesters were “fighting for a community school”.
“Our city education policy does not include poor African-American children or children of color,” she said. “And what they’re fighting for is to have exactly what the mayor’s kids have, the senator’s kids have, the congressman’s kids have. And anyone who has the money to afford to give their child a quality education within their community.” “Our city education policy does not include poor African American children or children of color,” she said. “And what they’re fighting for is to have exactly what the mayor’s kids have, the senator’s kids have, the congressman’s kids have. And anyone who has the money to afford to give their child a quality education within their community.”
Others who have backed the protesters thought the new plan a victory for the protesters.Others who have backed the protesters thought the new plan a victory for the protesters.
Representative Bobby Rush, whose district largely overlaps with the South Side, said that activists “who really care about the community” should feel good about the new plan. “They have won,” he said at the press conference. US representative Bobby Rush, whose district largely overlaps with the South Side, said that activists “who really care about the community” should feel good about the new plan. “They have won,” he said at the press conference.
“This is a great day for our community and all the citizens of Bronzeville,” said state representative Christian Mitchell.“This is a great day for our community and all the citizens of Bronzeville,” said state representative Christian Mitchell.
On Wednesday, two of the hunger strikers traveled to Washington DC to appeal to the Department of Education directly, frustrated with CPS’s repeated delays in confronting activists’ concerns. In their 18 days without solid food, two of the strikers have been hospitalized.On Wednesday, two of the hunger strikers traveled to Washington DC to appeal to the Department of Education directly, frustrated with CPS’s repeated delays in confronting activists’ concerns. In their 18 days without solid food, two of the strikers have been hospitalized.
Chicago closed almost 50 schools in 2013 and laid off more than 1,000 teachers a year later, having adopted a system that links funding directly to the number of students enrolled.Chicago closed almost 50 schools in 2013 and laid off more than 1,000 teachers a year later, having adopted a system that links funding directly to the number of students enrolled.