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. Ginés, 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.
