LETTER: 'Least of my brethren...' are kicked out of Meeks's school... Meeks's Salem Christian Academy excludes challenging students, kicks out others
[Editor's Note: The following comment was published originally at Catalyst magazine's new version of its blog, which appears at www.catalyst-chicago.com, on October 29, 2009, and is appearing here without change with the permission of the writer. It will be published as a letter in the December 2009 print edition of Substance. Catalyst has continued to receive comments on its own articles at its Web site, but no longer hosts the Alexander Russo blog "District 299.com," which used to be at catalyst as well and is now at the Chicago Tribune. George N. Schmidt, editor].
One of the many activities sponsored by the Salem Baptist Church, "House of Hope" of Rev. Sen. James Meeks (above in a recent photo at 111th St. and the Bishop Ford expressway in Chicago) is a Christian school that excludes special education children and discriminates against teachers who are not Christians, according to the writer of the letter. The Salem Christian Academy is very clear that children with special needs are not welcome in its classrooms, and children who pose discipline problems are kicked out of the school. Meeks, chairman of the Illinois Senate Education Committee, recently compared the Chicago Teachers Union to the city's worst street gangs and announced in the Chicago Tribune that he supports vouchers. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.The Reverend Senator Meeks in his Tribune opinion piece [Tribune, October 29, 2009] is truly indignant over the killing of poor African American students in Chicago, which is understandable. He somewhat self righteously casts wide responsibility for the social conditions that have facilitated these murders. Among the guilty are “Chicago teachers, Mayor Richard Daley, churches and elected officials” who cannot work together to improve the education system.
Rev. Meeks does not in his opinion piece accept the argument that “uncaring parents” are responsible for children becoming murders, nor does he accept the argument that irresponsible youth themselves are carry the burden for these killings in his community. He apparently sees public schools as primarily responsible.
I find that curious. The reason I find that curious is because in the school Reverend Meeks founded, Salem Christian Academy (S.C.A.), parents are seen as being highly responsible for their children. In fact in the parent-student handbook we can see that students can be removed from the school for the failure of parents to pay tuition, and various fees (currently the school has no financial assistance of any kind). S.C.A.’s progressive discipline policy can also lead to the removal of students from the school for relatively minor infractions if they happen repeatedly. Fundamentally if parents can not make their children comply with S.C.A.’s discipline standards they are out.(http://www.salem christianacademy.org/ hello1/handbooks /docs/SCA_ Parent_ Student_ Handbook_09_10_1_.pdf ).
What I find to be even more curious is that Senator Meeks holds public schools responsible for students with significant social, emotional problems, and learning problems, but in the Christian school he founded its admissions policy explicitly states: “S.C.A. is not a school that can accommodate students with special educational needs. We attempt to enroll students who are able to achieve at grade level with a minimum amount of special assistance.”
Moreover, S.C.A. requires all students who are admitted to be functioning at fiftieth percentile or above in reading and math. [http://www. salem christian academy.org/hello1/ test12/docs/New_ Student_ Admissions_Procedure.pdf].
In his opinion piece, Rev Meeks took Fenger High School to task for having 98 percent of the junior class below grade level. Who could not but agree with that sentiment? But, it would be good for Rev Meeks to recognize that most of these students were also functioning at these low academic levels in elementary school and would not have been eligible to attend his S.C.A.
Rev Meeks in the opinion piece states “for the first time in [his] personal and political career, [he is] exploring the idea of vouchers.” I would ask if these vouchers would be granted to his own SCA which explicitly excludes students with disabilities and academically underperforming students?
Rev Meeks is very critical of underperforming CPS teachers who avoid being assessed on “as [to] how well they perform in the classroom.” But Rev Meek’s school S.C.A. has no publicly stated approach to teacher performance assessment. The school states: “Salem Christian Academy recognizes the need for Christian influence in the teaching of young minds, therefore, we only accept educators who have a proven record of academic and professional excellence in addition to a belief in the principles and teachings of the Christian faith.”
Apparently Jews, Muslims, possibly non-Baptist Christians, and other highly qualified non-Christian teachers need not apply to teach at S.C.A. Even the Archdiocese of Chicago does not go that far, they inform applicants for teaching positions: “Preference in hiring may be given to teachers who are Catholic and who evidence an understanding of the Catholic faith and a commitment to living that faith.” Basically they are saying they will hire Catholic first but will not categorically excluded non-Catholics. [http://schools. archchicago.org/ public/emp_ elementary. shtm].
I do not believe it is wrong for a religious school to require adherence to its faith. I do think it is wrong for Rev Meeks to raise the specter of vouchers as a solution to the educational crisis of urban students when the school he founded simply will not accept low functioning students and students with disabilities. I do think it is wrong for Rev Meeks to criticize the performance standards for public school teachers when his own school has established no clear publicly reviewable standards.
According to the Gospel of John, the Pharisees, in an attempt to discredit Jesus, brought a woman charged with adultery before him. Then they reminded Jesus that adultery was punishable by stoning under Mosaic law and challenged him to judge the woman so that they might then accuse him of disobeying the law. Jesus thought for a moment and then replied, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.”
The people crowded around him were so touched by their own consciences that they departed. When Jesus found himself alone with the woman, he asked her who her accusers were. She replied, “No man, lord.” Jesus then said, “Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.” I think Rev Meeks needs to be a little less self righteous.
(Rod Estvan Thu Oct 29, 2009 at 9:54 PM)
By: Zeta
Liar and Hypocrite
Nothing would surprise me that Meeks does. This just proves he's a liar and a hypocrite.
Also, I wonder what kind of parents Meeks had to make him believe that the role of parents is insignificant.
Maybe he feels that since he "made it" without the proper nurturing that others can do the same. Unfortunately, he doesn't realize how sick he really is.
Heaven forbid if somehow he became a role model. A pathological liar and a hypocrite. What a combination.
To add insult to all of this, Meeks uses a Christian forum to spew out his insanity. His poor parishioners, say a special prayer for them. How can they sit and listen to the ridiculous mombo jumbo that he calls a sermon?
They obviously haven't attended a "Real Church" before and cannot discern the difference between a Jesus Pimp and a pastor.
PLEASE FORGIVE ME IF MY WORDS ARE OFFENSIVE TO ANYONE! I USUALLY DON"T TALK ABOUT MINISTERS SINCE BOTH MY GRANDFATHERS WERE MINISTERS, BUT SOMEHOW MEEKS SEEMS MORE LIKE A HUSTLER OR PIMP THAN A PREACHER.
Also, I want to challenge Meeks to come in disguise and work in one of these Middle or High Schools on the South and West Sides. I wonder how he would feel after that experience. OOps we'll never know because he'd probably just tell a lie about his experience!