The
Community Forum for Economic Development will not meet in October;
instead we strongly encourage all our members and supporters to attend
next Tuesday's candidates forum for the South Bend Community School
Corporation Board of Trustees. It will begin at 5 p.m. on Tuesday,
October 9, in the Kroc Center Auditorium, 900 West Western Avenue, South
Bend.
Community Forum for Economic Development will not meet in October;
instead we strongly encourage all our members and supporters to attend
next Tuesday's candidates forum for the South Bend Community School
Corporation Board of Trustees. It will begin at 5 p.m. on Tuesday,
October 9, in the Kroc Center Auditorium, 900 West Western Avenue, South
Bend.
This
forum is sponsored by the South Bend Branch of the NAACP. Co-sponsors
include the National Education Association, the Martin Luther King Jr.
Senior Men's Club, Teamsters Local 364, Kappa Alpha Psi, Delta
Sigma Theta, We Care, and the Community Forum for Economic
Development.
forum is sponsored by the South Bend Branch of the NAACP. Co-sponsors
include the National Education Association, the Martin Luther King Jr.
Senior Men's Club, Teamsters Local 364, Kappa Alpha Psi, Delta
Sigma Theta, We Care, and the Community Forum for Economic
Development.
The
SBCSC Board is elected by all South Bend voters — not only by parents
and educators. The decisions made by our elected school board affect
our entire community. The challenges for public education were among
the topics discussed at our recent "Conversation about Poverty,
Inequality and Economic Justice." Based upon this discussion, we have
several concerns:
SBCSC Board is elected by all South Bend voters — not only by parents
and educators. The decisions made by our elected school board affect
our entire community. The challenges for public education were among
the topics discussed at our recent "Conversation about Poverty,
Inequality and Economic Justice." Based upon this discussion, we have
several concerns:
1. Concerning the challenge of poverty:
According
to Census Bureau statistics, 38% of South Bend's youth (under 18 years
of age) live in poverty! Most of these children attend South Bend
schools. Many spend more waking hours with educational professionals
than with their parents. So we would ask these candidates: What
programs, new or existing, could be used to meet the challenges posed by
the high rate of poverty experienced by children in the SBCSC schools?
to Census Bureau statistics, 38% of South Bend's youth (under 18 years
of age) live in poverty! Most of these children attend South Bend
schools. Many spend more waking hours with educational professionals
than with their parents. So we would ask these candidates: What
programs, new or existing, could be used to meet the challenges posed by
the high rate of poverty experienced by children in the SBCSC schools?
2. Concerning economic development:
There
is a growing consensus that educational institutions must change to
meet the challenges of our developing economy. So we would ask: Is
the SBCSC preparing our students for the jobs that will be created by
our developing economy and what changes would you advocate to make sure
that happens?
is a growing consensus that educational institutions must change to
meet the challenges of our developing economy. So we would ask: Is
the SBCSC preparing our students for the jobs that will be created by
our developing economy and what changes would you advocate to make sure
that happens?
3. Concerning increased privatization:
There is increasing concern and debate about the growing privatization of public education. We would ask the candidates: Since
charter schools and vouchers are a reality for at least the near
future, what would you do to lessen the impact of privatization? How
would you advocate or lobby for requirements that would ensure equitable
opportunities for all children, whether they are in private or public
schools?
charter schools and vouchers are a reality for at least the near
future, what would you do to lessen the impact of privatization? How
would you advocate or lobby for requirements that would ensure equitable
opportunities for all children, whether they are in private or public
schools?
Participate next Tuesday. A strong system of public education is critical for our community's future.