School Board President Gery Chico’s recent decision to make all Chicago Public Schools eligible for academic “probation” (Metro, Dec. 17) is ultimately demeaning and demoralizing to all teachers and students.
This is because the very word “probation” smacks of criminality. The word suggests that anyone who is on probation has somehow done something wrong and needs to be watched to ensure the safety of others.
Unfortunately, the problems of the Chicago Public School system run far deeper than Mr. Chico seems to be probing. Although Mr. Chico would have us focus on test scores and teacher classroom performance, there is a more fundamental issue that is not being scrutinized.
Specifically, the life circumstances of our children need to be closely examined. For example, of the 426,000 who attend Chicago Public Schools, fully 350,000 live under the poverty line.
As a consequence of being underfed and underhoused, these children attend our schools with fundamental living needs that are not regularly met. Does such poverty impact on learning? Of course, it does. Those who do not see the connection need only skip a meal and see if it impacts on job performance. Then intensify that hunger and understand it as a daily experience. Consider finally if such circumstances wouldn’t affect learning.
Ultimately, putting schools on probation does nothing to address the greater needs of our city and communities. Instead, it places an additional stigma on all who strive to teach and learn in the Chicago Public Schools.
Regardless of how well-intentioned Mr. Chico may be, I urge him to stop “criminalizing” the heroic efforts of our children and teachers. Threatening to place all of our schools on probation not only takes away from the goal of teaching our students to be successful but also diminishes us as learners and educators.
