Students Protest Inequitable Schools

Education may be low on the political radar screen this election season. But 1,000 public school students in Chicago decided to draw national attention to the city’s school funding inequities by boycotting classes on the first day of school.

The Christian Science Monitor reports that “Chicago’s mayor, school superintendent, and other officials condemned the boycott, saying skipping school sends the wrong message. But organizers say it's a desperate situation that calls for drastic action – and that the issue grabbed front-page headlines for the first time in years, due largely to the theatrics of the boycott.”

These students, their families, and the broader community seem to be saying loud and clear, “Enough”! Now that they have the attention of city officials, it will be interesting to see how these leaders respond.