Welcome Back
Posted by Hallie Gordon on 9/05/2008What an exciting way to start the school year - with a protest! It’s funny, I have lived in Chicago for over fifteen years and I don’t remember a school year starting without some kind of controversy. Because I work with Chicago Public Schools and I have two children in the public school system, I know something about the disparity in funding throughout the Chicagoland area. We paid $250.00 for school supplies that go to the kids’ classrooms and $120 in registration fees at our public school. Not everyone can afford this, so whether you agree or not about children missing the first couple days of school to protest, you have to admit, it did bring much needed attention to the challenges of funding education.
Lindsey Barlag, our new Education Associate, was at New Trier High School interviewing students and parents during the symbolized registration at the school. Here is what she had to say about it:
“The atmosphere at New Trier High School was electric with a sea of 2,000 orange shirts - students, parents and community leaders - filing out of buses. I came to observe, participate and listen. I wasn’t sure what to expect of the day, and I left inspired and moved. A group of New Trier parents stood posed, waving signs of welcome and clapping as the buses pulled up. School officials were ready with water and registration tables. Shouting from the buses, I heard calls of “We love you New Trier.” After over 1,000 students were symbolically registered at New Trier, a rally was held at a local nature preserve. Lunch was served to everyone, and the crowds cheered as Reverends, politicians and community members spoke for the need for change. The protest led by Reverend Meeks was organized, empowering and a testament to community strength. However one might feel personally about the school boycott, it is clear that there is a lack of equality in funding that translates directly to the quality of education our students receive across Illinois. Being at the protest first hand, I felt the call to action. It was a demonstration that was well thought out with care and succeeded in bringing attention to this important issue.”
As all this was going on we in the Steppenwolf for Young Adults department at Steppenwolf have been gearing up for our season! The phone has been ringing non-stop for our production of The Glass Menagerie which opens for students on Tuesday, October 21st. I am super excited for the response so far for both of our productions, the other being Of Mice and Men, which opens in April. We are also in the process of adding to our Young Adult Council and recruitment is moving fast. I love this program. It gives teens an opportunity to learn not only what happens on the stage, but all the things it takes to get a production going! These teens are not only creators, but leaders and collaborators, much like the students Lindsey interviewed at New Trier.
Welcome back to school all!