For the last few years, Chicago Public Schools has been working hard to change its discipline policies and practices to reduce suspensions and expulsions. Instead, the district is encouraging principals and teachers to use restorative justice practices such as peace circles, conversations to restore relationships and formal letters of apology to repair harm and restore community. This shift is essential.…
Tag: Chicago
Vic Mensa Is Looking Out for Our Kids Better Than the Police
Vic Mensa for the m’fn win! This weekend, he hosted the Anti-Bait Truck event in West Englewood in response to the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and Norfolk Southern’s attempt to bait people in that community into stealing gym shoes. This Sunday my foundation @savemoneysavelife is giving away THOUSANDS of shoes on a Anti-Bait Truck in Englewood on 2050 W 59th…
A School with Student Voice Creates Countless Opportunities
When schools give students the opportunity to speak out, the effects can echo across a student’s life, building confidence and increasing self-esteem. The opportunity to be heard by authorities and school officials makes a student feel accomplished. Additionally, students feel as if they can make a positive impact in the future school system and their communities. Even more importantly, when…
A Career and Technical Education Program That Is Getting Kids Jobs
Across the Chicago region and the Rust Belt, thousands of small to medium-sized manufacturing firms have been soldiering on through decades of outsourcing and disinvestment. Many are led by aging owners struggling to find qualified and willing employees or successors to run their companies. Into the breach comes Manufacturing Connect, a program based in Austin College and Career Academy on…
Student Voice: Chicago Youth Can Make a Difference and Stop Gun Violence
Chicago is arguably one of the best cities in America. Trade and business are booming and there are a ton of opportunities available for all groups of people. Youth have the opportunity to go to some of the best schools in the nation and can prepare for the real world through curricular and extracurricular programs. But like all great cities,…
Real School Choice Means We Need Good Neighborhood Schools Too
I believe in school choice. But I believe in it like I believe in capitalism or college football. It’s a cool idea and I’m glad it’s around, but it doesn’t always work quite as well as advertised. Capitalism needs regulations and external guardrails to operate in any sustainable, fair way, and college football needs…well, I don’t have room to go…
3 Tips to Survive College From Someone Who Made It
Editor’s Note: This is a condensed version of Samantha Smylie’s speech to the 2018 graduating class at John Hope High School in Chicago. Hope is one of the high schools that will be closing as part of the plan to create a new high school in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. Smylie is a Hope High School graduate who earned a bachelor’s…
What Traditional Schools Won’t Teach You About Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama will easily go down as one of the most powerful and influential women in history. Aside from being the first Black FLOTUS, she is intelligent, beautiful, strong, accomplished, and an ideal role model for young girls and women everywhere. So there’s no question as to why artist and Chicago native, Chris Devins, wants to paint a mural of…