Posted on 12/14/2004 4:59:09 PM PST by Kurt_D
The hard left is hiding behind and playing upon NIMBY (not in my backyard) issues to block the inclusion of a naval academe at Senn High School in the 48th ward of Chicago. The effort is not being sponsored by students or parents, but rather the "Coaltion Against the Militarization of Our Schools". If the name doesn't tell you everything, the case as they state it at: SAVESENN.ORG should provide some background:
"In fact, military programs teach militarism. Students in the Navy's military schools take a curriculum that includes "Sea Power," "Military History" and "mini-boot camps." They do not include African American History or Latin American History. ..."
"The military also tends to target poor kids (many of whom happen to be black or Latino.) This amounts to an "economic draft" in which disadvantaged kids are pushed by circumstances into a military career. ..."
"We don't let Monsanto or ConAgra run our environmental science classes. We don't let Tower Records run music classes. We don't let tobacco company lobbyists run law classes and then 'offer students the opportunity to join...."
From a flier distributed miles away from the 48th ward at a typical lefty hate and treason fest: we do not believe a military academy should be located in a chicago public high school, which would give the military the appearance of community support and the blessing of chicago public school educators.
...in a single breath stating outright that neither the organized left, nor Chicago Public School teachers "support the troops".
I encourage anyone reading this to call the numbers listed under the sample comments I've provided to oppose the crass manipulation of municipal politics in their attack on a secure America.
In fact, I beg you. when i called the mayors office, i was told that i was the first supporter among a flood of calls opposing the military academy. The flood isn't coming from parents or students of the 48th ward, but from Michael Moore fans. Don't let this deception stand.
The vote takes place tomorrow at 125 n. clark from 10:00-noon. this is urgent.
THOSE WANTING TO SPEAK AT THE HEARING HAVE TO SIGN UP BETWEEN 8:30 AND 9:00.
SAMPLE COMMENTS:
Hello, my name is ___ and I'm calling/writing to register my opinion regarding the inclusion of a military academy at Senn High School.
It is true that Senn H.S. in it's current state has seen many successes. Parents, students and residents of the 48th ward may certainly have legitimate concerns that the annexing of a military academy might disrupt the status quo. There is a debate to be had and heard between those who are concerned with class sizes and those who believe that Senn's resources can accomodate the educational alternatives and occupational opportunities created with the inclusion of a military academy there.
my primary concern is that opposition to the military academe is being led by political organizations with an ideological animosity towards the military and the security of the u.s., and who's goal is the isolation of the military from the public, rather than the concerns of parents and students.
the Chicago Coalition Against the Militarization of Our Schools is such an organization. despite the volunteer nature of our nation's military, they are active in spreading fear of a draft while engaging in "anti-recruitment" efforts aimed at discouraging volunteerism. They simply do not want the United States to have a military.
It is my hope that, in voting on the issue of the inclusion of a military academy at Senn, these irrational and erratic voices are isolated from a debate that is more properly between the parents and students of the 48th ward and the Board of Education.
PHONE:
CPS Chief, Arne Duncan: 773-553-1550 Alderman, Mary Ann Smith: 773-784-5277 Mayor, Richard Daley: 312-744-3300 State Rep Harry Osterman: 773-784-2002 US Rep Jan Schakowsky: 773-506-7100
E-MAIL:
maryann@masmith48.org, aduncan@cps.k12.il.us, hjo17@aol.com,
http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalPreContactUsAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@1229506058.1103065936@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfadddefhjdddcefecelldffhdfgn.0
and
http://www.house.gov/schakowsky/contact.html
PROTEST WARRIOR CHICAGO CHAPTER Fighting the left... Doing it Right...In the Windy City www.protestwarrior.com
The fact is you are incorrect wrt the nature of the change at Senn. Apparently you are also unaware that there can be several distinct programs within a school.
I USED TO LIVE IN THE 48th WARD! Right around the corner from the Green Mill. VERY mixed area (Bosnians, Gays, Nigerians, Vietnamese, Chinese, Students, etc.). This is the Uptown/Edgewater area. Fun place to live, but like the rest of Chicago, is run by Dem Socialists.
Is the "People's Music School" still on Wilson Avenue?
You'd better be smiling when you say that!!!
Maybe we should. At least some of these under performing kids might find work after they graduate. If they graduate.
Maybe this call to action piece is just poorly written, or I am interpreting it in the completely wrong way.
(quite possibly the latter.)
You're trying to win the joke of the day, right?
I thought the say thing! This must be a joke but yet another way the LEFTIES make .org donation money.
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YOU MUST CHECK OUT THEIR BUSH BACKGROUND PAPER BELOW!
And not a place where you'd let your 8 year old daughter ride her bicycle alone at dusk on a hot summer night.
As a neighbor of Senn High School, I resent a bunch of no-nothing outside agitators such as yourselves sticking your noses in our community business. You might all want to learn to do a little fact-checking before launching into your pointless, ill-informed rages. Some interesting quotes from yesterday's Chicago Tribune story about the approval of the Naval Academy at Senn:
"Opponents argued that the new school would take away 14 classrooms, including three biology labs." No, it was not about politics.
"About 200 Senn students marched out of the school Wednesday, arriving downtown in time for the district's monthly board meeting." No, it was not a bunch of outside agitators driving the protest. Uh, that would be you guys.
"Yoddite Woldegebriel the school's senior class president, said she had heard from a younger family member that district officials already have been recruiting middle school students.
"'I just feel this whole thing was fixed,' she said in frustration after the meeting.
"District officials, with support from influential figures including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who helped get a $2.1 million grant to open the school, said this will simply provide another option for students." With those two "socialists" Durbin and Daley pushing the plan, the opponents never had a prayer of stopping it.
In other words, you are all blowing your wasted hot air over this thread for nothing. Try finding something important to worry about... preferably not in my neighborhood.
One more:
"Senn High School will become the latest Chicago public school with a military focus in a city that already boasts the highest number of junior ROTC cadets in the nation."
No, there is not a left-wing conspiracy standing in the way of military academies in Chicago. They are doing just fine here. If we need your help, we'll ask for it.
I went to Senn High School. Nicholas Senn was a military doctor, if I recall correctly.
I would bet old Dr. Senn would be happy to have this program there.
I wouldn't send my dog to any Chicago Public High School, grew up and lived 35 years near Division and Western, if you're proud of the school system or Mayor Daley's pristine metropolis, fine, but I'd never think of living in Chicago or Illinois ever again.
How much is you annual property tax for your 45x120 real estate. 6 grand, 8 grand? And how many deadbolts do you also have (include your garage in the count)?
I have better things to do with my hard earned money than to give it to the felon on the 5th floor of da Hall. Yuppies might think Chicago is cool, but I'd never let my kids play out doors by themselves even if I lived in Edgebrook or the far north side. The quality of life stinks in Chicago.
And how about your 2 esteemed Sentors, Durbin and Obama?
Ding and dong. I'd hang my head in shame if I had to admit I lived in Illinois.
Signed,
A Proud Hoosier (Indiana has some common sense, we never went for Clinton!)
When I went to Senn, there were only two biology labs. Are you saying there are now more than three?
By the way, back when I went there, in the 1960's, we had 7 National Merit Semi-Finalists in our class. How many does Senn produce today?
>Dropout rate: 19.7%
>High School graduation rate: 65.7%
Fuzzy math?
Sorry...
Anytime I see "URGENT ACTION" anymore I'm thinking about my dead relative in Nigeria who needs to get US$35Million transferred to my bank for a nominal insurance and processing fee.
Well... and here's an update, just for you:
The Board of Education just approved the Naval Academy at Senn HS. Yes, the Lefties are whining and bitching.
There have been several stories about this in the Chicago papers over the last couple of weeks. Check them out for more info.
AAR the deal is this is a PROGRAM being put into this school which has others. It is not turning the school into a Little Sparta despite what the crying commie creeps might want you to believe.
ok, then the slant of the article threw me off...
THanks for the info
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