UPDATE from the Chicago Tribune:

The team behind a plan to open Chicago's first public high school aimed at gay and lesbian students pulled the plug Tuesday, faced with criticism from Mayor Richard Daley and some ministers and an internal split about whether a revamped version "watered down" the vision

Click here for more info and leave your comments about if you think this was a good or bad idea.

Universal Int'l (1958)

You must be joking. Parents and students trying to sabotage other students by sending nasty and exaggerated letters to college admissions' offices? Concentrate on getting your own child (or self) into school. You don't have to bother others.

How big of a loser must you be to sit down, calculate, and produce a letter that condemns other students who are seeking to be admitted to a university? This is sick. Admission by slanderous cancellation is sinful. Competition is tough on high school seniors thinking about college, but those losers - parents and students producing hate letters to admissions offices - should work harder in school, or choose a college that isn't quite as competitive. Get a life, get a clue, but quit hating on students who may have higher grades or more extra-curriculars. We all have to compete, so "Man Up ...or Woman Up!" 

The middle school teacher is the most disrespected professional in education. We ask them to be able to deal with students who are leaving childhood, but aren't yet young adults. We ask them to be specialists in their area of teaching and to experts on the perils of puberty, jealousy, self-esteem, and name-calling.

Now we ask them to gain an endorsement in their subject area for 6th,7th and 8th grade. Shouldn't a "major" detail like this have taken place while in their teacher education programs? Are middle school teachers the "fall-back" teachers who were undecided about elementary or high school?

According to NCLB, you must be certified, with a bachelor's degree, teaching in the area of your major. Don't tell me we have social studies majors teaching science! I would be insulted and in mourning for our students.

                        Photo: Courtesy/Spider Lilies - Film Zero Chou ( 2007)

Spider Lilies, The Crying Game, Brokeback Mountain, Kiss of the Spider Woman. These films give us a glimpse of gay - lesbian lifestyles. But let's face it, unless you are gay or lesbian, you are clueless as to what surfaces throughout the course of the day for a homosexual. 

So, should gays and lesbians have separate schools? Chicago Public Schools think so. They say that safety is the issue and that students who are open or closed about their personal choices have a much tougher time getting accepted and living a daily life of security while in school. No one deserves to be mistreated while in school, but should we build a separate high school for every group that wants one? Girls aren't always safe in co-ed schools: so should we segregate all schools? Any school that has bullies isn't safe either. Shouldn't the focus be on ridding a school of violent bullies, regardless of the lifestyles and diversified populations in the school?

Gay - Lesbian Public Schools in Chicago. What are your thoughts?

Reverend and Senator James Meeks is on Garrard McClendon Live! So is Alderwoman Freddrenna Lyle and maybe Mary Mitchell from the Sun-Times. Post your questions or comments and we may be able to get them to our guests during the show. 

Should CPS students boycott schools because of poor funding? Or should they follow the superintendent and board president, by attending on the first day?

The punch line - "Go to school, but don't go to school." What?

Aldermen say go to school, but the preachers say don't go. If I'm a parent with a child in CPS, what should I do? What will you do?

As the Bud Billiken Parade ends, the Parade of Reverend begins. From what I understand, there are over 75 ministers in line to launch the  historical first day of school boycott. Will they do it - for real? Or is this just a threat to get Arne Duncan and Gov. Blagojevich at the table?

I must admit folks, Rev. and Sen. Meeks is getting more convincing every day. And he's gaining momentum with a nationally recognized minister. Post comments now.

Last night on Garrard McClendon Live we had a heated discussion about CPS and school funding. Rev. Ira Acree was our guest. He and Rev. Meeks are calling for students to miss the first day of class to protest school funding.

Do you think it's a good idea to have your child miss the first day of school? What's your thoughts on school funding?

Check out the video clips and post your comments. I want to hear from you!!!