Call for Chicago students to skip 1st school day

Southside Girl wrote:

I literally laughed out loud in a room full of strangers when I saw this on the news. This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard and wrong on so many levels.
Does Meeks have any idea how stupid he sounds? Knowing the position that he holds (as crazy as that is in itself), I think it is safe to assume that he knows that the funding the school receives is directly affected by attendance. So, if everyone skips the first day, CPS loses a lot of money. That would be counter-productive considering that he is griping about a lack of funding.
What kind of a person encourages kids to skip school?!!!!!!! Now the kids have an excuse to blow off school. Taking a ride to Winnetka sure sounds like a lot more fun that going back to school. That is all I can say because if I start, I'll never stop - once again - wrong on so many levels!!!
I love how he picked Winnetka.****- most kids don't go to school in that kind of environment. I was lucky to get the good education that I did. I did not go to New Trier. My school was nice - probably not in comparison to New Trier, but I had what I needed for the most part. I also worked in high school. If I needed something (new calculator, binders...) I went out and BOUGHT it with my hard earned money. I also saved up my babysitting money to buy textbooks. There are some cases where the school building itself is gross. I do think the buildings should be adequate ( although we need to keep in mind how hard some kids can be on them).
I work in a school in a predominantly white suburb. I think the builing I am in is pretty gross. I bring an air purifier in because my allergies act up from the mold in the building. I certainly don't expect the people from Winnetka, to build a new school for me. I am not entitled to their money.
Also, having the textbooks and school supplies only benefits you if you open them and use them on a regular basis. A district could spend a million dollars per kid, but if those kids don't work hard, they will fail. It all comes back to the students and parents. When I was in high school, I heard about it if I didn't do well on a test or missed assignments. My parents didn't tolerate that. It is not the school's responsibility to pass these kids through or to follow them home and keep teaching. The kids need to go home, study and do a couple hours of homework every single day.
You also have to remember that ANYONE who wants to move to Winnetka is free to do so. It would likely take a lot of work to be able to afford a home there, but if that is what you really want, go for it.
I personally can't afford it. If sending my kids to a school like New Trier was a priority for me, I would have my work cut out for me. I would have to find a way to significantly increase my salary. After all, running a school like that takes a lot of money - the people in Winnetka pay a lot in taxes. They CHOSE the lifestyle they live (and hopefully earned it). They deserve to benefit from all their hard work. I'm willing to bet that the majority of the people who live in Winnetka did not skip school in an attempt to make a point. That would make no sense for someone who is trying to get an education. They owe me (and you, CPS) nothing.
Just out of curiosity...have you planned senior ditch day yet?

Dan wrote:

Perhaps the students should bus to city hall/cook county HQ in a mass demonstration insisting on a reprioritization. Kill two birds with one stone.