Aug 10, 2008 7:52 pm US/Central
Rev. Al Sharpton Joins CPS Boycott
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Reverend Al Sharpton has joined the push to keep Chicago Public School kids home on the first day of school.
CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports the civil rights leader said the boycott is necessary because of the funding divide between Chicago Public Schools and those in affluent areas.
"It leads to unequal access to education," he said to the congregation at New Landmark MB Church.
The civil rights leader said more than 50 years after the barrier in education was broken with the Supreme Court ruling in Brown vs. the Board of Education – change still needs to be made.
"Whether it will be funding or graduation rates, we are still separate and unequal," Sharpton said.
Sharpton said he's joining forces with Chicago area ministers who want Chicago Public School students to boycott the first day of class. The ministers plan to take busloads of students to schools in wealthier areas, so they can see the financial divide.
"Right now we rank 49 out of 50 in funding education from the state – that's a travesty," said Rev. Cy Fields.
Those urging the boycott cite the example that a Winnetka school receives about $17,000 for each student. A Chicago school gets about $10,000 for each child. Property taxes fund a large part of education – and taxes are higher in more affluent areas.
Even with this in mind, many say they want to see a difference, including Brenda Galloway whose daughter attends a Chicago public school.
"She says she has no challenge," Galloway said. "So with her having no challenge, she don't struggle as hard as she used, when she was being educated in the South."
Parents with school-aged children who heard Sharpton speak say they fully support the boycott.
"I think it's important that the public schools get the same, equal, that the suburban schools does," said parent Marita Oliver.
A spokesperson for Chicago Public Schools says they don't support any effort to keep children out of class on September 2.
Governor Rod Blagojevich issued a response to the boycott: "I respect and agree with Reverend Meeks' goal to increase education funding. To that end, I have called the Legislature back into special session on Tuesday to focus specifically on school funding. But I think it's wrong to encourage kids to miss school. Every time a child misses a day in school, that child misses a chance to learn."
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