Meeks is missing the point,as long as you have parent's that don'tcare about the childrens progress(or lack there of)in school nothing will change.There need to be a big attitude adjustment from cps students and parents,in the mean time you can throw all the money in the world at it and things will not change!

I am once again indicating that the CPS receives more per student thatn 94% of the school districts. Why are you not reporting this? New Trier parents have worked hard and pay the price for their children to receive a very good education. Their hard work and expense is not considered. The communities in Chicago are showing how they are coveting their neighbors, and for a religious group, this is not the right attitude. Why don't you have the Chicago properties taxed higher to cover this inequity. No, Chicago pays very low taxes for their properties compared to what the suburbs pay overall, not including Cook County. And, what about the parents who send their children to private school, they don't get a break, they pay additional money. Nobody seems to think that this is unfair. Reverend Meeks is off base, and he should worry about the children running around in the city, joining gangs and killing people. The CPS has been doing a good job, but they also need the parents to take an interest in what their children are doing when they're not in school. Please don't give this any more attention. The press is very bias in their reporting and promoting Meeks and not covering this properly. This is one of the reasons I do not watch most local news stations and buy the papers because of their bias. I do want you to know that I do check out these programs to make sure I am making the right decision, but for those who advertise, I don't use their products.

The big issue is not funding, that's the easy way out. If it is all about money why is it that students from other countries with far less funding are outperforming ALL our students. America spends more money on education than anyone other nation. Yet we are nowhere near the top when it comes to performance. Throwing money at a problem does not fix it.

The purpose of the boycott is to bring a lite to a serious problem in the city and its schools. The issue is not getting children admitted to New Trier or any other distant school. The funding is done from tax money which is statewide yet it is issued district wide. I have never heard of a district tax. I have heard of state taxes.
2.
Rufus Williams should threaten the legislatures that deprive Chicago students from a proper education by the manipulated funding formula.

The Civil Rights Movement has denegraded into the Extortionist Rights Movement. Long live the Civil Rights Movement.

It’s easy to see that the achievement gap is huge. More than two-thirds of Chicago 11th graders can't meet state standards in Math, nearly two-thirds in Reading!? Scores for minority students are getting even worse!? I can understand if parents are angry. If my sons came home with failing grades like that, I would be angry too.

But my anger would not be directed at the school that pointed out my kid’s failings. I would be angry at myself for letting them slack off, not study for their tests, cut class, or whatever other excuse they would have for such failure. I would be angry with my boys for not letting me know they were struggling and needing help. I would be angry because I expect my boys to succeed at school, because I did, and I know it will be important for them and their future.

The anger in this boycott seems totally misdirected. Money is no substitute for hard work. Many of the students who fail never imagined they would succeed, have no interest in school, and don't value education in the first place. Why force them to stay in a place they don't want to be? Why pay for programs they don't want? Getting above average funding relative to the rest of the state hasn't helped so far, why will more money help now? What will more money do to make any of these failing students and parents successful?

I agree that the children should be in school on the first day. Meeks - right message - wrong method. What has resulted thus far is lost of education for the children, lost of much needed school funding and the potential for those who choose to continue not to attend school will have to be retained in their current grade if they do not go to summer school.

Scott,

So, you are saying that all the parents whose children go to CPS do not care about their child's education? The problem is more than some parents not being involved...it is the inexperienced teachers, lack of morale from school principals, teachers and parents, lack of resouces, and no such thing as advanced education and child development.

It amazes me of the lack of faith that comes through peoples mouths. I support Reverend Meeks protest and praise his determination, perseverence and dedication to the children. Reverend Meeks was a minister first then Senator was was probably voted into office by individuals that commented....it wasn't a problem then! Rev. Meeks has been advocating for better education in CPS even before he rean for office. The remember the Governor promising to get more funding to the CPS inorder to keep Rev. Meeks from running against him.......NOTHING HAPPENED! The CPS/schools in low-income-minority saturated communities has been decline over the past 15 years....people, ministers, officials and children haven been outspoken about the disparities for over a decade. NOTHING HAPPENED!! All children should have equal education, so by having approximately 80% of school funding to come from property taxes leads to the injustice. The way it is set-up now is parellel to the Republican views on healthcare, in which it should be privatised and education should have less federal government influence and leave it up to the state. Those that want to keep sending their children to school so they can have a child sitter (because basically that is the only benefit that the children/parents are receiving) then to each is own, but majority of you are the ones that are not formally involved in their childs education and progress demand. I do not have children, I do not go to any of the churches and I live in the suburbs, but I volunteered at the House of Hope to support this cause, so when I have children I would of all ready fought to make sure my child, relatives and friends have EQUAL EDUCATION.

Most studies show the most important ingredient for educational success is the importance placed on education by the parents. If families don't care if children attend school it does not matter how much money is thrown at schools. The main reason the kids are successful at New Trier has more to do with desire and less to do with money.

Let me get this straight:

Meeks' people want a New Trier caliber school system, but they only want to pay West Pullman taxes?

Ya, me too! Join the club.

Rev Meeks has done all of this for personal gain thats about all. if you look at how many children and parents showed up i'm quite sure he was very dissapointed. all the the so called" Ministers" standing behind him in the weeks leading up to this event were few in numbers.....Hmmmmmm i wonder why that is? well it's simple no for them was involved point blank Meeks needs to go and take a seat somewhere and just shut up.

I say don't deprive your children of an education. Send them to school on the first day. While they are in school you as the parent can do downtown and make an uproar about this whole situation.

Reverend State Senator? Isn't there a seperation of Church and State??

MY KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL TODAY. I QUOTE
REV. CHARLES HARRIS "RIGHT MESSAGE WRONG METHOD"

WHEN YOU INTERVIEW REV. MEEKS ASK HIM WHERE ARE HIS KIDS TODAY?