Irene Robinson stands outside Overton Elementary School on the South Side of Chicago on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013. Robinson, who attended this school as a child, is upset that the school was among 47 public schools that closed in the city in June. Her grandchildren attended the school but now attend an elementary school farther from their home. “Every time they cut back, they cut back on OUR children,” she says. Photo: Martha Irvine | AP
On this The National Day of Action, Americans throughout the land come together to Reclaim the Promise of public education as our nation’s gateway to democracy, racial and economic justice. Grandparent of 6, parent, and former Chicago Public Schools student, Irene Robinson is among these. On this day of dignity she speaks for we, the people. Ms Robinson makes more real what the public understands, the original intent our forefathers articulated through the United States Constitution; the American Dream, is to have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Each of these is realized when all are free to learn and learn well. Equal, equitable education is essential. We acknowledge as Thomas Jefferson did…
Above all things I hope the education of the common people will be attended to, convinced that on their good sense we may rely with the most security for the preservation of a due degree of liberty.” ~Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1787. Madison Version FE 4:480
Yet, anathema to the American anthem, that strong schools build strong communities, funds for public education are cut. Community schools are closed. Classrooms are locked. The keys to opportunity are lost and most importantly, students are left to fend for themselves. The quality of education in today’s climate is tentative. Highly qualified Teachers have been dismissed. Of those permitted to stay teaching is provisional. Our youth and their elders are frequently, left out or just left behind. That is why this Day to Reclaim the Promise is vital. It gives voice back to the people. May we introduce one of these, Chicago Kenwood Oakland Community Organization leader and grandmother Irene Robinson.
Irene Robinson Reclaims the Promise of Public Education
My name is Irene Robinson, a grandparent of 6 CPS students and a leader with the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization. This is our National Action Day, as parents, teachers and students in over 30 cities today are making our voices heard. These are our schools, and our solutions. School closings is not CHOICE, it is displacement by force that has made education worse in our communities.
My grandchildren have been victims of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s education policy.
Since the closing of Overton, my grandchildren, along with over 240 other children have been stuffed into Mollison. We have a good principal and good teachers at Mollison but they, along with our students are being put in a situation that is out of our control. These are the conditions at Mollison;
- 54 kindergarten students initially assigned to one classroom
- The former lunchroom was transformed into a primary classroom and now the gym is the auditorium and lunch room
- The gymnasium 9I mean lunchroom) is so crowded that many children have to eat lunch in their classrooms
- A school with no space for parent activities
- We need you to demonstrate your support for an elected school board by calling for this in your State of the State address.
- We need a fair tax system in the State of Illinois and you should highlight this in your State of the State address.
- Mr Governor we appreciate your support on many working class issues, but this is one that will not go away. We need your support Governor Quinn and we would like to meet with you to discuss this further.
If I could afford the transportation from Arizona to Chicago, I would be there to tell you face-to-face what a great letter you wrote. What your mayor did is entirely racist. Many, many Americans support you; put their feet to the fire.May I suggest that you consider having these displaced children participate in a project to write a book about your old school. It should not be hard to do. I am sure old records and pictures exist. Tell the story of how Chicago businesses used the new school and built housing to entice people to settle in that area and provide the manpower to operate their mills and sweat shops. Have them describe what the \’social contract\’ was that they now chose to ignore. Make the book, tell the story and put it in front of everyone\’s eyes. If you all decided to all leave your community when they needed you to pay rent, buy their goods, and work in there sweat shops, they would have blocked the roads and forced you to stay but if you tried to prevent them from leaving and held them to their \’social contracts\’, they would have put you all in jail.