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Middle school was quite the awkward time for us, our memory of that time is a little hazy due to the mass amount of time we spent thinking about girls. We also had quite 
a crush on our Math teacher. We have gone to bat for her like these kids at Simmons Middle School in Oak Lawn did for their teachers. The only difference is, they were truly standing up for something.
On Friday the entire 8th grade class, 250 of them, staged a protest to the firing of teachers. After they finished lunch, which as we remember started at about 10 a.m., the students sat in the hallway of the 2nd floor. When the students wouldn't move the police were called and six students who wouldn't move were arrested.
The teachers were fired due to budget issue, the superintendent indicated the district is proposing a tax increase and may be able to reinstate some of the teachers if it is passed.
ABC 7 Chicago said that many of the students are currently taking a class on civil disobedience. Superintendent Jandes had this to say, "They learned a number of lessons from this. Number one, that in a public middle school, protesting is probably not going to go very far without authorities coming in and putting a stop to it." He then yelled "skin-ner!" We say bravo to the kids.
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Honestly, its about time young people took a stand for something. Without going political, its amazing how much students think is wrong with what is happening in their life and don't do anything about it. They just shrug their shoulders and say "nothing i could do about it."
While it may not accomplish anything directly, it has drawn attention to the matter and that no matter what anyone says, we should not be diverting funds from our schools.
Rock on!
Finally. Something optimistic about the educational system. :) Hopefully, that good news does not turn into a bad one. :/
Just want to say how nice it is to see Viola Swamp!! Brings back great memories of reading to my four children. Still have the first editions.
She was a beloved character!
Cheers
It's unfortunate that the parents aren't as upset about the firings as the kids. Yes, it's great to see the children taking a stand at the school but I wonder how many know that reason the teachers were fired was because of budget issues? Do the children know that the parents vote on such matters?