Submitted by arlenegloria on Fri, 02/26/2010 - 22:10

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"There is something wrong when a 'top down' decision,
based on dubious data, can turn the lives of an entire neighborhood into a never-ending nightmare."

Karen Lewis
Candidate for President of the Chicago Teachers Union
Co-Chair of CORE [Caucus of Rank & File Educators]

How Paderewski School Got Saved
 

"The children were not considered," said Debra Thomeson, sharing the story of how Paderewski escaped the chopping block during the recent and controversial round of Chicago school closings.

"We weren't just going to stand by and let this happen," said Mrs. Thomeson, who chairs the Local School Council at Paderewski school, where she has four children.

"Yes, I guess I'm happy," said Mrs. Thomeson, "but I'm worried about how to build up the LSC and how to do all the things that are needed to build up the school.

"I think the Board of Education ought to do a lot too, including a music program where the kids learn how to play instruments."

"We didn't find out till the end of January that they wanted to close Paderewski." she said. "We had a very short time to put a plan together and get ready for the hearing.

"First we had a meeting with the parents, the principal, and a local pastor. CORE came too, and they supported us all the way through.

"A plan came together very quickly. Parents went out and took pictures of the route our children would have to take to get to school on their own. They would have to cross three big streets and go through dangerous areas.

"The law about consolidating schools says the school they send
the children to is supposed to be a better school. But it wasn't.

"They said enrollment was a big problem. It wasn't the problem at all. It's much better for the children when the classes are smaller, not bursting at the seams. The teacher can give more attention to each child.

"They talked a lot about boundaries. My daughter Marion, in the seventh grade, testified. She said if they could move the boundaries one way, they could move them the other way just as well.

"A lot of people came to speak up for us. Nate [Goldbaum] from CORE was there from the beginning, and he spoke. Derrick Harris, from the North Lawndale LSC Foundation, spoke and George Schmidt [editor of SubstanceNews], and Jonathan Jackson from Operation PUSH.

"If we had any celebration it was at Operation PUSH. Jonathan Jackson had a bus pick us up at the school. After the broadcast they took everybody to lunch at McDonalds, and then brought us back to the school. That was a very nice touch." 

More Paderewski Videos:

Real Estate over Children - Paderewski:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IouNecFHpWw&feature=related

"Disgrace to the Civil Rights Movement"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caZAgGHBZvE