tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post6657319124272207767..comments2024-03-28T01:35:19.028-05:00Comments on Every goddamn day: 03/28/24: Black parent faces loss of Catholic schoolNeil Steinberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-46199190028967379172021-02-10T12:25:29.635-06:002021-02-10T12:25:29.635-06:00It was nice of you to take up Ms. Strong's cas...It was nice of you to take up Ms. Strong's case and amplify it by presenting it in this column. And fair to present the archdiocese's side straightforwardly. <br /><br />"I’ll leave it to you to decide who’s right..." Fortunately, given that it's "possible they both are," I don't have to. Jakashnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-44164523712145217562021-02-10T10:42:51.514-06:002021-02-10T10:42:51.514-06:00Agree with Bitter Scribe that while Ms. Strong and...Agree with Bitter Scribe that while Ms. Strong and her children no doubt face systematic racism on a regular basis, the "every parent thinks her child is gifted" line is thrown at just about every parent with a child seeking some enrichment for their child. When my kid was reading at a 6th grade level in Kindergarten and I asked if she could skip the basic phonic exercises that were boring her to tears I got that line. It's incredibly annoying and makes you feel like you did something wrong. Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831580101168618303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-76466179955910303102021-02-10T09:20:14.704-06:002021-02-10T09:20:14.704-06:00I took a moment to read the mission statement of t...I took a moment to read the mission statement of the church and of catholic schools of chicago . https://schools.archchicago.org/about-us<br /><br />The actions of the archdiocese in this circumstance seem to run counter to their mission and vision and strike me as hipocritical. <br /><br />The church while tax exempt is run like a corporation . For profit. Beholding to it's shareholders and the bottom line. <br /><br />The vast wealth of the church was accumulated by a patriarchal power structure. Very white and notoriously racist. <br /><br />I don't understand catholics. Their faith results in actions contrary to their self preservation. <br /><br />I don't know why people would choose to belong or send their kids to a Catholic institution no matter how well run , effective or prestigious. In the end the church will screw you and your kids for a buck. Of which they have billions. <br /><br />But that's just me. <br /><br />I feel sorry for Ms. Strong and her child . Affordable educational opportunities are scarce especially for people of color. <br /><br />It could be a " blessing" to be forced to find a different school . But very tough in the short term. FMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06829632906445535928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-70802206026745773522021-02-10T08:48:12.291-06:002021-02-10T08:48:12.291-06:00Sorry but I have to vote with the diocese on this ...Sorry but I have to vote with the diocese on this one. They've got the facts and numbers on their side. Catholic schools are closing all over the place and have been for decades. The one in my (lily-white) hometown, an institution where I went for piano lessons, shut down more than 20 years ago. There are just fewer kids to go around, and it's been that way a long time.<br /><br />That "every parent thinks their child is gifted" line gets used a lot, on parents of all races. It was used on my parents and on me when we tried to get my stepdaughter into gifted classes.<br /><br />I don't doubt that Ms. Strong and her children have been victimized by racism. It would be impossible to live in this country as a Black person without experiencing racism. I just don't see overwhelming evidence of it here, given the facts presented in this column.Bitter Scribehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04645909858616987997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-29866386803650172792021-02-10T06:30:31.046-06:002021-02-10T06:30:31.046-06:00Strong points out: "Go to Chicago Heights. Go...Strong points out: "Go to Chicago Heights. Go to Midlothian. Go to these places 30, 40 miles out of your way"<br />Of the merged schools, the diocese says: "They’re merging, the archdiocese says, because they’re a mile and a half apart. The closest school to Christ Our Savior is six miles away."<br />So, six miles is too far for a merger, but not too far for Strong to send her kids?<br />I smell a rat.Rutthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458422478819001822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-78060088485654252922021-02-10T06:23:08.397-06:002021-02-10T06:23:08.397-06:00Amen to your closing line. Sometimes the answer i...Amen to your closing line. Sometimes the answer is "both." Automatically accepting or dismissing the other side of an issue neglects reality. Is race an issue here? Definitely. Are logistics and finances justification? Of course. But of course defensiveness on both sides will probably result in things remaining as they are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com