Unit 4 Forum

Posted March 12th, 2008 at 10:43 AM by IlliniPundit
in

The first Champaign Unit 4 "Great Schools Together"community forum will be tonight at 6:30 PM at Centennial.

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On March 13th, 2008 at 07:45 AM, Charles Schultz said:

I would love to hear how this forum went. Did anything productive come out of it?

On March 13th, 2008 at 09:59 AM, Anonymous (not verified) said:

I was there, and I thought that the feedback from the public was thoughtful and mostly well-informed. It was interesting that there weren't as many people there as could have been.

On March 17th, 2008 at 05:25 PM, JohnBoy said:

Why should the people show up? We all know the consent decree will never end, there will be a tax increase and people will still tolerate a violent, look the other way school system.

On March 18th, 2008 at 07:48 AM, Charles Schultz said:

Anon 8:59, more details would be great, if you have a chance. I personally find it sad that more people are not involved.

 

JohnBoy, we all know you are generalizing, but I would consent that many people probably feel that way. At least, that is my observation based on the lack of public participation. People do indeed have a right to complain about something in this country. People also have a right to go beyond complaining and actually do something about it, in the form of meeting with administrators, taking an active role in open forums and voting. I would almost go so far as to say that we are obligated to be involved in such a way.

 

Unit 4 is not totally hosed. Based on what I have read, Unit 4 is a lot like other school systems in Illinois, and the US for that matter. Yes, there are problems. But they are not hopeless.

 

I was hoping to come up with a witty, smooth segue into Jacob's Landing, but.... The idea of a "Champaign address, Mahomet school" really concerns me. This slogan specifically targets folks who may feel the same way JohnBoy does, and enforces the idea that folks need to get out of Unit 4. I see two sides to that. On the one hand, it could be a good thing in the sense that it may open up more discussion (controversy has a way of doing that) and perhaps, just maybe, may galvinate Unit 4 administrators a little more. On the other hand, from my perspective it almost seems like a call to leave a sinking ship. I do not believe Unit 4 is a sinking ship; there are problems that are being addressed, and many folks with good intentions who are trying to appropriately do so.

On March 18th, 2008 at 01:19 PM, Anonymous (not verified) said:

wait til the champaign address, mahomet school gets their tax bill for champaign city services and mahomet school taxes

redstatewannabe's picture
On March 18th, 2008 at 01:29 PM, redstatewannabe said:

People also have a right to go beyond complaining and actually do something about it, in the form of meeting with administrators, taking an active role in open forums and voting

Yes, and people can also vote with their feet or tuition dollars.  Maybe Unit #4 should do exit interviews.

On March 18th, 2008 at 05:28 PM, Anonymous (not verified) said:

John  Boy is right. This gathering is akin to the big, small fiasco. I think the CU community has an abundance of people who like, to "orate". Simply saying the CU schools systems are just like the others in the USA is a nice cop-out and offers the usual excuse ology that so many in this CU community endure. No amount of talking, phrasing, etc..is going to change the facts that citizens are not happy with this school district. The school district will not adopt a " tough love" approach to discipline and other problems. It's all in the pushing of a lower standard of acceptance....something I will not do to my school children. My voucher...please.