Hart and Greenbay schools
It is with such joy that we are able to relate our visit to two schools in North Chicago last june.Both of these schools could certainly be described as urban, with a very culturally diverse student population. But these schools unlike some of their counterparts that decay in large cities, a casualty of apathy and disinterest, are thriving...alive and the most exuberant testimony of the " celebration of difference"!
Of course they both had wonderful art programs and music programs...It is our everlasting sorrow that we are seeing more and more public schools in this country, especially those that would be described as an inner city school, loosing their art , music, drama, and libraries because of a lack of funding for these programs.
I would imagine that this could not happen at at Hart and Greenbay
schools. Their exception from the others lie in these factors:
Parent Participation
Mentoring from others in the community
Attention and follow up to families in crisis
Dedicated faculty and staff
We witnessed in both schools a true sense of pride in themselves, each other and their community. their students are flourishing in the light of understanding and respect for their fellow students. All of this generated by the community's commitment to the celebration of differences. With a grant provided by the United Way, the schools were able to provide books, curriculum and support for the teaching and reinforcing of the ideas of community and respect.
In a time when we have schools that do not allow the celebration of or even the study of people's different holidays and traditions, it did our hearts good to see that their are still places that have not given in to politics and who still see and understand that only by celebrating our differences can we learn to respect each other and allow us all to live within a society of respect and honor.
We were especially moved by an assembly that was held the last evening of our stay. the school had a writing contest for the children. The assignment was for them to write about their heroes in their lives, just as Patricia had written about Mr. Falker. the winners were then invited to bring their hero to the assembly to be honored for their positive influence in their lives. the auditorium was packed. Children were honoring their teachers, parents, brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents... It was truly an amazing evening. One moving tribute was made by a gentleman who is now a Detective on the local police force. He spoke of how a particular teacher in his life had interested him in reading and school. He then honored his teacher ( now retired ) with a large b bouquet of flowers, a hug and a standing ovation from a teary eyed audience. People do make a difference.
We had a wonderful visit with the people of Hart and Green bay in north Chicago. They will forever be in our hearts. they will also be helping us provide information about grant writing and curriculum based upon the Polacco books they used.