Chicago Sun-Times: City proposes daring school firsts (Catholic/Public?)

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-skuls06.html

"One would be the first Chicago public school run by a Roman Catholic institution. Another would be the city's first all-boys public school in more than 30 years.

And still another would be Chicago's first e-classroom, with kids logging on to the Internet from their homes and communicating with teachers online.

Those proposed firsts are just three of 16 new schools that Chicago Public Schools chief Arne Duncan would like to see open as part of Mayor Daley's Renaissance 2010 Initiative to create innovative schools where others have failed.

Ten opened this year in the program, and all but three of the 16 new proposals could open next fall."

Wow, the reporter might want to do their job (or I a Google search). Providence-St.Mel started out Catholic, but now it's just private I believe. HUGE success over there. They have a 100% or almost 100% of students going to college every year.

At the same time, give Providence-St. Mel a little publicity. They can always use donations.

I remember when it was a successful Catholic school, and when it went independent.

My daughter lives in Chicago. She is a professional musician. She and a few other young musicians go to Providence-St. Mel and give music seminars. They in no way dumb down the music they teach. The school would not stand for it.

Their college attendance rate is still 100%. It is a shining success.

I also remember a few odd attitudes about the school, from the time I first became aware of its' existence.

In the mid to late seventies, I worked for the Health Department in Du Page County. There were many Irish Catholic people who worked for the county government then, after moving there from Chicago. They switched to the republican party when they left Cook County, partly to keep their government jobs in that very republican county, and partly because they were socially conservative anyway. Their numbers in DuPage County were due to white flight. Many of them said so quite openly.

I was amazed at the number of these people who supported Providence-St. Mel, before and after the split from the Catholic school system. They always sent generous checks. Many of them had gone to high school there. My amazement was not due to their loyalty to their alma mater. My amazement was due to the blatant racism of many of these people.

I asked one of the very racist ladies why she supported the school, if she hated black people so much. She seemed puzzled by my question. She just said, "Well, that's different." She did not see that the success of the school made her racism illogical. She just saw the few students at her alma mater as exceptions to the rule.

Before you flame me, I know that all Irish Catholics from Chicago are not racists, and never were. I just happened to run into many of them who had fled west side neighborhoods, and shared this attitude during the seventies.

What exactly did they say that was so racist?

Interesting, you know, because I had just written about the real reasons for 'white flight' elsewhere. I also wrote about the stereotypes of the Irish. Your little essay is a typical 'hack' full of non-sequiturs, culled from things I've said elsewhere.

Irish Catholics - check
corruption in the counties - check
racism - check
white flight - check

This is getting a little old. Why don't you tell me who prompted you to go off on a tangent like this?

I love how you single out the Irish. I am not aware of the 'west side' Irish community. As far as blacks go, maybe you should study some Irish history, along with the rest of your brethren. We have a common enemy.

Why am I not surprised to see this slander and Tribune Company propaganda coming out of DuPage County?

Also, the Irish American community is not too fond of DuPage County or the western burbs.

Here comes the part where someone claims to be Irish-American and says they don't know what I'm talking about. That tactic's been used against me, too - that person is a liar and probably yet another DU forger.

My own family became "Republicans" because of harassment and threats against her children by people who were part of some Cook County corruption. Why don't you go back to DuPage County and ask your friend about that?

You people don't quit, do you?

I have not lived in Du Page County in a long time. I never said any of these people were my friends. I am not Irish. I am not Catholic.

I recounted my experience with people who claimed that background.

If you don't like it, too bad. Put me on ignore.

that says "I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person". Just jot down Rich's name on it so you remember to not waste your time.

Thank you.