Due to a confluence of factors both inside and outside its city limits, Chicago’s education system has been the subject of national attention and encouraged vigorous debate about the best way to ensure all students are provided the education they rightly deserve. Many of the same challenges facing Chicago’s students can be found throughout the general area surrounding the city, including in places like Joliet, La Grange, and Hinsdale, not to mention countless other cities throughout the state of Illinois and indeed across the entire country.
According to Adrian Rubin, there are a variety of ways in which students, regardless of geography, can access the kind of education that opens up so many future opportunities. One of the principal strategies for ensuring educational enrichment involves the cultivation and maintenance of a supportive network made up of family members, peers, teachers, tutors, and community members.
Obviously, establishing a robust educational support system is far easier said than done, particularly since it requires the involvement of so many different people on an ongoing basis. It is for this reason that the recent national attention focused upon Chicago’s educational system and the students who are a part of this system is such a positive development.
Involvement
Despite the differences of opinion expressed by various parties involved in this debate, there is universal agreement that education is critical to the development of the nation’s children and that every child deserves an exceptional, enriching educational experience. And while there are systemic issues that must be addressed, it is possible for immediate action to be taken that benefits all students: Everyone can support a student in some way, whether it is through philanthropy, tutoring, or even just by expressing interest and offering encouragement in a student’s education and academic success.
Challenges
The challenges currently facing Chicago-area communities – not to mention the country at large – have no easy solution, and it is indeed necessary that these challenges be addressed as quickly as possible. The recent $1 million donation made by Chicago native Chance the Rapper certainly succeeded in drawing attention to the larger issues facing the education system, as well as showcasing the value of an arts-based education, but there is still a great deal that must be done to ensure Chicago students benefit from educational enrichment.
In the meantime, it is necessary to remember that everyone has a vested interest in the nation’s education system, and all of society benefits when its population is composed of thoughtful, well-educated citizens.