CHICAGO— I started off at the wrong meeting. A staff person at Ames school sent me to a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) meeting upstairs. I soon knew I was not where I was supposed to be. Where were the angry parents? I found them downstairs with a Mr. Conner from the CPS who had been sent to “manage” the anger generated by an arbitrary decision to turn Ames into a military school. No one had bothered to ask the parents if this was a good idea.
Ames has an outstanding program of parent mentorship recognized nationally as a huge success. At Ames, every aspect of this beloved community school is monitored by teachers, parents, and students assuring a growing level of positive results. Attendance, academic and every other measure are up. There is that old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Even with success at Ames, Alderman Roberto Maldanado announced that a Marine and Science Military school would be housed at Ames, fulfilling his lifelong “dream.” He knew full well that the community he is supposed to represent did not share this dream. Last month the Mayor ordered a community center in a poor neighborhood in the Pilsen to be bulldozed, over community protests and promises that that it would not happen. Another figurative bulldozer is now aimed at Ames School.
Equal quality education is not on the agenda in Chicago—period. The recent school closings, massive teacher layoffs, and subsidies to private charter schools is the reality. Tons of money is being siphoned out of the public schools and used to advance a corporate agenda. The Department of Defense, is always looking for youngsters to “be all they can be,” and the City is obliging by budgeting for more military schools.
Turning Ames into a military school is a win—win for Alderman Maldanado (the biggest real estate owning alderman in town.) Will some money mysteriously flow into his coffers? It also allows him to appear patriotic, shuffling off mostly kids from poorer communities on a path to become cannon fodder in the next war.
Privatizing and militarizing education works for corporations who are even willing go to war to maintain their profits and power. For the rest of us these solutions are a recipe for death and disaster. With computers and robotics in all areas of production, especially in the military, only a certain number of working class children need even apply. The others will be warehoused, but not educated.
The parents, teachers, and students at Ames are intent on winning a non-military quality education for their children. The powers that be are determined to have their way and are moving ahead with their plans. The Ames community is preparing by organizing and deepening its understanding of the situation. This struggle is well underway and will continue until we win.
