In my previous post "54 Chicago Public Schools Closed and Your City is Next" I shed some light on the dynamics that were instrumental in causing the massive school closings throughout the city of Chicago, or should I say the inner city of Chicago. As I stated, this was at least 10 years in the making, all the marches, protests, and rallies will not make much difference now because the decisions have already been made while we were sleeping. In other words, the energy you're putting into organizing another march will be fruitless because marches will have no impact on their pockets. You see, this is all about money and the sad reality of it all, it's all about your money, your tax paying dollars.

Don't get it twisted, although the schools are losing money, it's your money that they are losing because these are public schools and not private or catholic schools. In order for these public schools to run efficiently, it needs the resources  of tax paying dollars to do so which comes from you the people and parents of Chicago. It's not that these schools are failing to perform, instead it's  the resources that has been provided to the schools has been abused, lost, and stolen by individuals that sat in high positions in the Board of Education and city Government. I have provided an article to give you an idea in exactly what I am talking about.

 http://gapersblock.com/mechanics/2010/05/03/the-education-revolt-the-chicago-models-fallout/

As you can see, teachers have been fighting this battle for quite some time along with parents in preserving the operation of their local schools, but it has been a uphill battle for the last ten years or so, where today we are witnessing the closing of 54 schools. Now it's time for the parents and community leaders to pick up where the teachers has left off, it's time for you to get organized and make a stand and not another march! A plan needs to be made that will have an impact on the pocket of those that are sitting at the big table making decisions that are effecting the safety and education of your children. The  biggest and most effective impact is the attendance of the school's student body that first week of school, it is here where the school is granted their budget. This is why they invest so much time and energy in stressing the importance of reporting to school on the first day. Their pockets are depending on having your child place his or her behind in the classroom!

So what do we need to do? well first of all you can start by keeping your children home that first week, or connect with your community church and church leaders to house your children in their church. No law official will dare step foot inside of a church to remove a child. Reach out to former teachers and staff members of the school that was closed in your community to see if they could volunteer their services in assisting your children at the church. Second, reach out to local restaurants,  diners, and corner stores to see if they could donate food and others goods to provide nourishment to the children.  Considering the weather will be fairly pleasant, there can be a great deal of fun activities for the children to do outside. Within this first week, continue to reach out and work with the Board of Education to reopen your community school. Be direct in your decision making, and refuse to back down on anything less, draw out ideas that will enhance the quality of your child's school, overall just continue to play an active role in fighting to keep your school open!

Be sure to reach out to community leaders and your Alderman and political figures that relied on your vote to get into office, remind them that election time is around the corner and that you see no need in their services if they are unwilling to fight for you!

Just remember this, nobody is going to give you anything worth having, you my friend must fight for it!