Chicago Working to Keep the Streets Safe for Students
On Sunday, August 25, a 28-year-old man was shot just across the street from Charles Evans Hughes Elementary School in Chicago, a mere 12 hours before the first day of school began. According to The Huffington Post, the young man, who survived the incident, is said to have ties to gangs. However, the recent incident only illuminated the troubles that Chicago has faced in keeping streets safe for schoolchildren, considering the fact that the man who was shot was in a designated “Safe Passage” route.
A Violent History
The recent shooting is nothing new, as violence has plagued Chicago’s streets for many years. In 2013 alone, “Safe Passage” routes were the locations of 38 murders and 133 shootings, accounting for 16 percent of the city’s murders. On the same day that the 28 year-old man was shot, 14 year-old Chicago resident Lavander Hearnes was shot and killed in a vacant lot near Melody Elementary School. The recent closing of 50 Chicago schools has only compounded the problem, forcing more children to travel further to their schools through unfamiliar neighborhoods. Norine Gutekanst, coordinator of organizing for the Chicago Teachers Union, finds the closing of the schools concerning, putting more children at risk of violence. She stated, “We’re skeptical that the Board is going to be able to protect the kids in all of these routes for the whole entire school year, and the school years to come. So that’s a concern.”
Protecting Chicago’s Children
Chicago families, community members and school staff are certainly not sitting idly or ignoring these serious issues. The first day of school on Chicago’s South Side brought out police officers, a bevy of volunteers and security staff in bright vests and even a helicopter to make sure that children felt safe walking to school, according to The New York Times. With more students traversing empty lots, vacant homes and notorious gang areas, parents have expressed fear and concerns for their children’s safety. Larissa Henderson, parent of 4-year-old son Adrian Wright, walked her son to kindergarten class with trepidation. She stated, “It’s still really too dangerous” and lamented that at the tender age of four, her son has already witnessed a shooting. “I don’t know if my baby has a chance out here,” she said as they neared his new school.
The South Side was not the only area with beefed up security for the beginning of the school year. Almost 90 Chicago schools had notable security presences, all part of Chicago’s “Safe Passage” program, which started in 2009 after a 16-year-old student, Demon Albert, was beaten to death after he had left school one day. With so many schools closed this year, the “Safe Passage” budget was doubled to $15.7 million to ensure student safety. About 1,200 workers are employed to oversee “Safe Passage” routes, wearing the bright vests and carrying walkie-talkies. In addition, trees have been trimmed, many vacant buildings destroyed, streetlights repaired and graffiti cleaned up.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel spent some time on the routes on the first day of school. He stated, “The ultimate goal of all efforts — both in the building, on the way to the building and at home — is so kids will think about their studies, not their safety. The city is diverse. This isn’t everywhere. But it does address certain parts of the city and certain communities so every child has a level playing field.”
Even though the number of homicides and shootings in 2013 was significant, 2013 showed a 26 percent decrease in violent acts compared with 2012. As the “Safe Passage” program continues to grow, things can only get better and safer for Chicago youth.
Sign up for Teach.com’s monthly newsletter to receive the latest in education news and information about becoming a teacher, including certification, teaching programs and more!