Here’s where your parking meter money is going - charter schools

[proud2BlibKansan]

I’ve hated those &#@% Chicago parking meters ever since I got a $50 ticket on Mothers’ Day 2010, right after the new system was installed across the street from my church (no signs up – and the hours for the meter were changed over the weekend).

So, now I read that Chicago Parking Meters –the company that Mayor Daley sold us out to — recently gave a $10,000 gift to a charter high school.

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So, I learned about the parking meter largesse as I was looking at the charter school’s web site to confirm something disturbing I heard about the school the other night.

Their web site describes “Parking Meter” charter school’s grading, assessment, promotion and graduation system, which is somewhat different from that of traditional CPS schools. There are three academic levels, and students must successfully complete each one before moving to the next. What the web site does not say, but what a recent visitor to the school told me, is that students must leave the school if they have not successfully completed a level in a set amount of time.

more ... http://pureparents.org/?p=17563

[Starry Messenger]

1. Aren't the Chicago parking meters owned by a foreign company too?

I remember reading that here last year. Maybe Tatiana or someone else from Chicago will see this.

[Obamanaut]

10. Here's a thread that says Goldman-Sachs bought the meters and then

sold them to Dubai http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=1315429

There were other threads on this, I just picked this one.

[Drale]

2. I would never park on the street

I either take the Metra downtown or if I have to drive I'll park in a garage.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. I was in Chicago just this week and I parked my car and took the train into downtown

Didn't even want to try to find parking.

[Drale]

4. I go to UIC(University of Illinois at Chicago) and I don't even bother

having my car down there. If I need to go someplace I can either walk, take the CTA, or if I'm going home I walk to the Metra station and take the train home.

[girl gone mad]

5. I used to live near the tunnel where they towed vehicles for unpaid tickets.

They did a brisk business, night and day. Selling off income-generating assets to cover short term debt is "fucking retarded".

[Shagbark Hickory]

6. Tell me, why is it we're supposed to hate charter schools again?

These aren't private schools and it has nothing to do with school vouchers.
Seems to me spending parking meter revenue on schools is a rather good use for the money. :shrug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Did you read the whole thing?

Here's the key passage:

students must leave the school if they have not successfully completed a level in a set amount of time

Public schools serve ALL. Charters receive public dollars and therefore should NOT be kicking kids out.

[Shagbark Hickory]

8. Sounds like a good idea to me.

It's a public school where the students actually want to learn.
It's not like the opportunity to get into the school isn't available to all students. You have to work to get in and stay in.

Where am I going wrong in this line of thinking?

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. What happens to the kids who get kicked out?

For that matter, I'd like to know why they didn't meet the standards. :shrug:

[MattBaggins]

12. Education deformers don't care about all kids

The "undesirables" particularly poor kids deserve the conditions they are in.

[Shagbark Hickory]

13. Maybe in your area. In my area, there's even a free charter school.

I don't understand why you suggest the charter schools don't want the poor kids.

[Telly Savalas]

14. What happens to a kid that gets kicked out of Lincoln Prep?

Aren't there minimum academic standards there? I guess that's only OK when traditional public schools do it, eh?

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. That school doesn't continue to receive funds for kids no longer enrolled

Charters do.

[MattBaggins]

11. It's not a public school

I know the education deformers want to massage and twist the definition of "public", but schools that hold a lottery once for 9th grade based on applications that can't be accessed openly; and do every thing in their power to push out the kids that really need help, are not "public" and deserve not a dime of public funds.