Sep 3, 2008 6:45 pm US/Central
Day 2 Of School Boycott Takes Students Downtown
Organizers Plan To Take Students To More Than A Dozen Businesses
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Wednesday is the second day of a student boycott of the Chicago Public Schools that will run through the end of the week.
Nearly 1,000 Chicago students skipped the first day of school on Tuesday, and instead boarded buses to the freshman campus of New Trier High School in Northfield, where they were allowed to register for classes in a symbolic measure.
The protest, organized by State Sen. Rev. James Meeks and other members of the clergy, is intended to highlight funding inequality between public schools in well-to-do suburban areas and the poor inner city. Meeks is among several officials who want the formula that ties school funding to property taxes changed.
CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports he and his fellow protestors fighting for a change in school funding took students to nearly 20 offices, including City Hall.
Nicholas Sanders sat on the floor of the Thompson Center, when he could have been sitting in his eighth grade classroom.
Asked if he'd rather he was in school, Sanders said, "Kinda; I'm supposed to be like the vice president. But they might give it to someone."
But he is willing to gamble his position for the sake the boycott.
He's among the dozens of students skipping a second day of Chicago public schools. Instead they're attending makeshift classrooms in offices and government buildings around the city. It's a protest to put pressure on lawmakers to change the way the state funds public schools.
High school senior William Morris is also committed to cause.
"This is a great way to show the world that we're serious," Morris said. "I think it's a good thing and I'm glad to be a part of this."
Organizers say they targeted government buildings like City Hall and the Thompson Center to put the protest at the face of the mayor and governor. But they chose downtown business to encourage corporate Chicago to join their fight.
"Businesses will eventually have to employ these people," Meeks said. "We think businesses will instrumental in moving Springfield to a point that Springfield can make the right decision."
Meeks says he believes the boycott has been a success because it's drawing attention to the problem.
Critics say the student boycott may have the reverse effect of its intentions. They say it could wind up costing Chicago schools more than $100,000 in state funds because funding is based on attendance.
Organizers are weighing extending the boycott past the original end date of Friday.
CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker contributed to this report.
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