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The Caucus of Rank and File Educators (C.O.R.E.) -- the reform caucus of the Chicago Teachers Union -- and teachers from Holmes Elementary School on the south side are planning to picket the McDonald's at 1554 E. 55th Street as well as the Walgreens across the street this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. to, as they say in a press release, "inform the public of their anger toward big-business for meddling with public education."
And how exactly did McDonald's and Walgreens "meddle?" By donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Renaissance School Fund. The fund feeds Mayor Daley's controversial pet project Renaissance 2010 which is overhauling the Chicago public school system by closing and consolidating schools, opening new ones, and doing "turnarounds" where the entire staff of a school is replaced. Holmes is one of the schools slated for such a turnaround, which many say is unfair because Holmes' test scores are similar to other schools that already went through such action. A letter from the Chicago Teachers Union also stated concern because the school was rocked after a Holmes student was shot and killed a little over a year ago, and a "turnaround may upset the delicate balance of healing."
But is any of this really McDonald's or Walgreens fault? After all, Renaissance 2010's stated purpose is to "increase the number of high quality educational options in communities across Chicago by 2010." And we don't see how the two companies really get anything in return for their donations besides a bit of good PR for their altruism, so maybe C.O.R.E. should move the protest to the steps of city hall instead.
Photo by kookybites
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I might be going out on a limb here, but I don't imagine McDonalds or Walgreens are shaking in their boots about this.
What's "chipotie"?
Hah, that's exactly what I thought.
I'm sort of hopefull. I mean the talk of teachers uniting against corporate inetests that are harming teachers and thier efforts in the classroom? Wow how enlighteningly unAmerican! Who are these cool/progressive teachers and are they single? Chicagoist, please keep us posted!
Ren2010 schools ignore their legal obligation to be overseen by parents and neighborhood representatives.
Ren2010 schools suck resources from other CPS schools.
Closing schools for Ren2010 hurts kids and enflames gang violence.
Ren2010 schools aren't any improvement over the schools they replace.
By going after contributors to the Ren2010 fund, parents and teachers are defending their neighborhoods, their kids, and their legal rights under the 1988 Chicago School Reform Act. If you have kids in the system, you should be doing the same.
Oh, and the last several protests re: Ren2010 were in City Hall, CPS headquarters, and Federal Plaza. The Huberman thing kinda overshadowed the last one on 1/28/09.
The demos at McDeath and Wags were to raise awareness of their support for the Ren2010 fund. If they want "a bit of good PR for their altruism", people should also know who it is helping to fund the closing of their schools.