Chicago Public School's holding public meeting...phase out of Pulaski Fine-Arts Academy intro IB
Wicker Park & Bucktown Examiner
.jpg)
"Many neighborhood residents have been eager to have a curriculum change at
Pulaski Elementary School," explained Steve Dillinger a parent and Chair of the Bucktown Community Organization's (BCO) Education committee. "We encourage people in the neighborhood to attend the Tuesday, Aug. 4, 5:30 p.m. meeting at Pulaski School, 2230 W. McLean (north of Armitage at Leavitt), during which the Chicago Public Schools will make a presentation about adding an
Accelerated International Baccalaureate program to the Pulaski Fine-Arts Academy and phasing out the fine arts academy." (Photo courtesy of Pulaski Fine-Arts Academy)
Currently the
Pulaski Fine Arts Academy three guiding values are: progressive and intentional instruction to serve every learner; fine arts as a catalyst for learning and engagement; and serving the whole child by scaffolding services and programs. Their extensive arts program includes music, bank, visual arts and dance.
The 2008-9 student enrollment of 827 was 92.6% low income, 9.4% Special Education and 15.3% limited English learners. With approximately 23% being from the Pulaski school district, the demographics were made up of 91.3% Hispanic with the second biggest demographic being White at 4.5%.
Accelerated International Baccalaureate (IB) programs are recognized worldwide and are offered under the auspices of the International Baccalaureate Organization, headquartered in Switzerland. The program strengthens students' communication skills, enables students to become global citizens by encouraging their understanding of people from other countries and cultures. Neighborhood residents feel that it is important that more neighborhood students attend the local school and that receiving an international diploma recognized by the leading universities throughout the world is important for their children.
Assuming the change is voted on by the School Board, the Fine Arts Academy would not enroll new students but allow existing students to continue thru their eighth grade graduation. The Regional Gifted Center for Spanish-speaking English Language Learners (K-8) will most likely remain. Eight year principal of the school, Lenor Karl commented, "I'm proud of the work we have done and saddened at the thought of it being phased out."
All residents are encouraged to make Tuesday's meeting. Register your comments below.
Permission is granted to include extracts of this article and photographs on websites and email lists with a link to the original. This article is copyright © and should not be added in its entirety on other websites or email lists without author's permission. For permission please contact: ECoorens@gmail.com
Elaine Coorens,
Wicker Park & Bucktown Examiner
Elaine is a writer, IT consultant, historian, author, and tour guide. A resident of historic Wicker Park, Elaine is passionate about community involvement and communications. She has served on many local boards as well as on international professional organizations' boards and advisory councils....
Comments
Like Chicago doesn't already have ENOUGH failing IB indoctrination centers?
Save the arts! Keep the academy as is!!!!
www.truthaboutib.com
IB should be banned from every school in America. It's a money grubbing UN indoctrination program!
Pulaski Fine Arts Academy IS NOT A FAILING SCHOOL!!! GO OUT AND HELP SCHOOLS THAT NEED IT!!! Pulaski's Preschool for All Program IS A MODEL PROGRAM THAT USES BEST PRACTICES. Teachers throughout the city are sent to Pulaski to observation in their classrooms. Open-ended, inquiry based, project based, etc curriculum is what PULASKI USES. When people, hear THE ARTS, they don't understand how schools integrate the academics and arts. SO SAD THAT THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES, STAFF, ETC AT PULASKI WILL BE FORCED OUT OF THEIR EXCELLENT SCHOOL. The only 2 IB Programs in Illinois, are not doing great at all. WHAT A SHAME HAVING MONEY CAN DO FOR SOME. THE LOW INCOME FAMILIES ATTENDING PULASKI FINE ARTS ACADEMY DESERVE THE RIGHT TO AN OUTSTANDING EDUCATION. Wow! being rich is...
People in this neighborhood have earned a chance to give their kids a better education close to home. It's not fair for these residents to have to move to the suburbs or pay for private schools while their taxes subsidize others' educations. The fine arts stuff isn't the issue.
You can enroll your child in Pulaski Fine Arts today, what's the problem? It has always been open to neighborhood families.
Bucktown offers a plethora of high-quality schools currently.
While, Chicago Public Schools offers only three Regional Gifted Programs for ELL students. I'm not sure I understand why it is "unfair" for middle to high-income ,mostly white families to not be able to send their children to THIS program. The current gifted, bilingual school demographic has three choices out of the entire city...including Pulaski as it stands. Find a program in or around Bucktown, take the steps that all other families have to take to get their children in, and send your children to school.
I would like to add to "thetruth" by saying that Mr. Dillinger never stepped foot into Pulaski. He just decided to do this one day and called the mayors office (hmmm imagine that!) met with the mayor twice and look where Pulaski is now.
One last thing. There has not been another achieving school replaced by another in CPS. Why start a precedent now. The ripple effects of this will not be in the best interest of any CPS schools. You are not safe you can be replaced!
Teachers have worked hard to incorporate the arts into the curriculum. What that means is that the children learn about operas in Language Arts and put an opera on themselves. They learn how to express their ideas through body movement. This is important as it is just one more way that a child can learn the material. Pulaski gives students the opportunities to learn in a way that makes them feel good about themselves.
Please save Pulaski, don't let the mayor and his "old friends" ruin a good school.
EVERYONE is welcome at Pulaski - come see for yourself. It's a shame that divisions should be created when our children are involved. If the IB program is a solid one, no one opposes it, but CPS wants two schools. Really? Our teachers are excellent and can be IB trained - no need to bring in anyone else. We love the school and are proud to send our children there! IB for all or none.
Pulaski's current program should not be phased out because some random person " in power" says so. My children who attend this school have the right to obtain the same education that these local neighborhood children do. Two programs running concurrently seems like a pathetic thing to do. The IB mission statement goes something like this... "The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect." Where does understanding and respect come into play here? They are phasing my kids out of this program? very respectful.
Well that's quite dumb; who's saying that the neighborhood children can't go to Pulaski Academy..
our doors are always open...open to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think Pulaski should stay open because its really not a bad school... last year when i was in 6th grade my whole class room scored over 80% on the testing and i belive that happened by us being foucas and having a good teachers that know what there talking about!!! I also dont want pulaski to close because of the kids in pulaski been there since pre-k and its a part of us !!!! PLEASE DON CLOSE PULASKI
I just want to say my child doesn't go to Pulaski and I have heard great things and witnessed great things about this school! The fact that i have actually heard of it and it's expectations,and the great role teachers' play in these childrens' lives says enough! I don't live close to this school at all! I don't see why the "neighborhood children"cannot attend the school as is! I understand that the neighborhood committee wants to implement this IB program in Pulaski but why phase out any other program they have? Someone needs to step up and really say what the issue is here! It's RACISM! No money,no high paying job,or perfect education is going to take away the ignorance that some people with so called power have! This is the message that we subtly want to give and teach our children wether they are caucasian?hispanic?african american?chinese?or whatever else! I as a mother of general education children know when some scheme is trying to be covered up by money and power!
I read the indirects about the demographics and the percentage of kids that are failing and all this other mumbo jumbo! But why not point out Pulaski's great aspects as a CPS school! They have always been very welcoming to EVERYONE! The staffs' expectations have always been great ones and the kids's are treated with respect and equally regardless of color! I am sorry no one will convince me that this is not a racial issue
Bucktown makes a big deal about their arts fest, but yet the only Fine Arts school in the community that want to shut out,
how ironic
I heard the BCO and School board just came to an agreement to make it IB and Phase out al l the teachers. A petition was going around yesterday to save there jobs. Can they do this?
It does not make any sense that the teachers have to reapply for their jobs. I do not get it. When this has happened at other schools only a couple are ever rehired.
It does not make sense that children should be forced out of a school merely because the neighborhood wants to include their children, what happened to embracing diversity, and teaching children about valuing different cultures, and at the same time training them all to grow up to be leaders, why do some always become excluded? This is a city-wide problem, My kids were already forced out of one school for the same reason. I want a good education for my kids too. Unfortunately, I can not afford to live in Bucktown, I hear gunshots where I live every night and want to make a change for my kids. People look at scores of state tests but they fail to see the many constraints and obstacles families go through to try and give their children a better life. Just because they are low-income Latinos does not make them criminals, which is how the neighborhood people seem to be regarding them
My children currently go to Pulaski. There was a letter sent home from school telling us about how CPS is going to cut programs due to budget crisis....care to guess what program is included? The IB Program. I was not for this change at all and now this has not even taken place, and they are already talking about cuts. 35 students per room? Give me a break....I don't think that an IB program is going to teach our children how to work with people in general There is no such thing as an IB work place.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!