Student testimony at Ames Middle School news conference, Saturday, November 2, 2013
The following statements were presented by two Chicago Public School students at a news conference at Ames Middle School on Saturday, November 2, 2013. The event was sponsored by the Logan Square Neighborhood Association, opposing Mayor Rahm Emanuel�s and 26th Ward Alderman Roberto Maldonado�s plan to move a selective enrollment high school, Marine Military Academy, into the Ames school building.
Hello, my name is Katherine Penaloza. I�m currently a student at Kelvyn Park High School. But I graduated from Ames [class of 2012].
My years Ames were the best ones. I have a lot of memories in there. They helped me to become the person I am today.
Before, I couldn�t speak any English. I struggled a lot during my 7th grade, because it was really hard to speak to others, and even though I could understand it, I wasn�t able to express myself.
But with the help of my teachers, I became better and better. Then during 8th grade, my teacher, Ms. Gin�s, helped me a lot. She used to correct me every time I spoke. She taught me how I can use my own language to find the meaning of a word.
Since I was also involved in Elev8 [the after-school program at Ames run by the Logan Square Neighborhood Association], they had a tutoring program for bilingual students. I learned a lot.
Thanks to all the help that Ames gave me, I�m able to stand up here and express myself proudly.
Ames belongs to the community, and it�s not for sale. So Mayor Emanuel and Alderman Maldonado, stop being cowards, and take your military school somewhere else!
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Hello, my name is Raul Arias, and I am a student at Marine Math & Science Academy. The past four years have been memorable at this facility.
May I ask you all a question? Would you like being lied to on your education, on what�s being planned for the future? I don�t understand the reason for not talking to students first, and just keeping it amongst the Board [of Education]. The students have the right to know where are they going, and should be informed.
I grew up in the neighborhood of Logan Square, and adding this military school would be okay, but in reality it�s just not for the community. Why add a selective enrollment high school in the community when schools are already in the community?
Where are the students headed years from now? They will be looking back in regret saying, �I wish I graduated with the same people from freshman year,� knowing that friendships will be vanished as people from the West, South and North Side scatter off. It leaves the student body pessimistic at the point they ask themselves, �What�s next?�
It�s sad how students come last nowadays, don�t you think?
My community deserves a school where it�s right for the community. Reality is, Ames is an elementary school developing throughout the years.
So Alderman Maldonado, I�d like to let you know as a student to stop putting us last. Mayor Emanuel, I�d like to implore you to think about the community before benefitting yourself.
Thank you.
