December 18, 2015 8:43 pm
Mike Klonsky reports that Sara Sayigh, the librarian for the DuSable building has been rehired. The Chicago school superintendent Forrest Claypool said “an anonymous donor” had funded the position. Mike suspects that student protests brought about the sudden change.
As one of our readers pointed out recently, the elite of Chicago don’t think that public school children need libraries. But the University of Chicago Lab School–where Mayor Emanuel and Arne Duncan send their children–has many librarians.
Mike Klonsky writes:
“While I’m elated to hear that students at DuSable (I still call it that) have their beloved librarian Sara Sayigh back, CPS’s statement explaining the whole affair, is borderline laughable. An anonymous donor? Really, Forrest Claypool? Are teaching and staff positions at CPS now like endowed chairs at the university, dependent on the benevolence of wealthy patrons? Is that even legal? Will it become part of the next collective-bargaining agreement (if there ever is a next)?
“We’ve already got high schools named after billionaires line Gov. Bruce Rauner, retired ComEd CEO Frank Clark and Exelon’s John Rowe. What’s next? The Ken Griffin Social Studies Teacher at Lindbloom? The Anonymous Donor School Clerk at Bronzeville Military?
“Sayigh’s retention means we’re back to three out of 28 high schools with a student population over 90 percent African-American that have a library staffed by a certified librarian. The others are Morgan Park High School and Chicago Vocational Career Academy.”
Sadly, DuSable is no longer a school. It is a building that houses three privately managed charter schools. They too need a library and a librarian.
Posted by dianeravitch
Categories: Chicago, Education Reform, Libraries
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Diane, I am the librarian. DuSable house 3 schools but only one is a charter school. The students that protested go to two small public schools, Daniel Hale Williams Prep and Bronzeville Scholastic. Charter schools do not have librarians and libraries.
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By Sara on December 18, 2015 at 10:11 pm
“Charter schools do not have librarians and libraries”. Unconscionable.
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By Ms. Cartwheel Librarian on December 18, 2015 at 11:40 pm
Well, they don’t have certified teachers or administrators either, very often.
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By Christine Langhoff on December 18, 2015 at 11:43 pm
But they make up for it in disciplinarians, so fret not.
“Madam Disciplinarian”
The public has librarians
To help the kids find books
The charters, disciplinarians
To punish dirty looks
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By SomeDAM Poet on December 19, 2015 at 8:14 am
“Marian the Disciplinarian” (from the Music man)
Marian…Disciplinarian
What can I do, my dear, to grab your ear I love you madly, madly
Disciplinarian…
Marian Heaven help us if Eva’s office caught on fire
And the Volunteer Hose Brigademen
Had to whisper the news to Marian…
Disciplinarian
What can I say, my dear, to make it clear I need you badly, badly,
… Disciplinarian
Marian If a student stumbled and I busted his what-you-may-call-it
He could lie on your floor unnoticed
‘Till my body had turned to carrion… Disciplinarian
But when I try in here to tell you, dear
I love you madly, madly,
Disciplinarian…Marian!
It’s a long lost cause I can never win
For the civilized world accepts as unforgivable sin
Any talking in the hall with any Disciplinarian
Marian…
Disciplinarian
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By SomeDAM Poet on December 19, 2015 at 11:19 am
SomeDAMPoet,,
I can reitre now knowing that you, our bard, have penned an ode or two alluding to my profession. It made my day. And while I realize that your use of the line, “To help the kids find books” was a poetic device I do want to remind all that numerous studies support the fact that work done by certified librarians greatly impacts student achievement. Keith Curry Lance http://keithcurrylance.com/school-library-impact-studies/ published one of the landmark studies.
At some point those who believe that in education we can do with less will learn that we that we will then reap less, to all of our detriments.
Again, you made my day:0)
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By Ms. Cartwheel Librarian on December 19, 2015 at 7:05 pm
I’m delighted that these kids will have their librairian back, and that Sara will still have her job. Nonetheless, a library is a public good. We should not have to depend on the kindness of anonymous strangers to give Chicago’s (or any other city where this stuff plays out) students the tools they deserve and have a right to.
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By Christine Langhoff on December 18, 2015 at 11:42 pm
Yes agreed. A librarian is part of a properly staffed school along with counselors, a nurse, art and music teachers, special education teachers and aides. CPS has cut these vital services from their schools in the name of school reform using austerity budgeting.
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By Sara on December 19, 2015 at 8:46 am
Should note that there was a move-on.org petition with comment space about this. My guess is that in addition to the student et al protests that Chicago became a national laughing point, and Claypool had to change course. Anonymous, my eye.
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By Hannah MacLaren on December 18, 2015 at 11:59 pm
Soon, educators will fund themselves on Go Fund Me and retain their jobs, before they are deleted from the universe or given to a TFA-type who plays one for a while…on the way to padding their vita.
Unbelievable CHAOS in PublEd created by Duncan/Kbama/Rahm & Co.
Wait until Obama returns to Chicago.
As the world churns!
Not in favor of educating children in poverty schools, or their teachers.
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By H.A. Hurley on December 19, 2015 at 10:56 am
*Lindblom
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By Loretta Northcutt on April 14, 2016 at 8:18 am