Adult Education (AE) at Chicago City Colleges (CCC) is facing cuts to classroom hours. This is an assault on AE at CCC. Instructional hours are being cut. AE students are being forced to sink or swim. AE teachers are being forced to early retirement and poverty!
What is AE?
AE is an educational lifeboat. It provides English as a Second Language (ESL) and General Educational Development (GED) education to lift our residents out of poverty.
- Imagine not being able to speak English and trying to get or hold a job! That is a very scary proposition, doomed to failure.
- Imagine trying to get a job that requires a high school degree. GED fills the gap for all of us who did not have the opportunity to complete high school. Our City Colleges fill that gap. Downsizing AE assures failure for the poor to acquire opportunities to survive. It is time to expand AE services, not cut them.
Chicago’s Obligation as a Sanctuary City
Chicago has an obligation to do more than warehouse asylum seekers. The Chicago City Colleges Adult Education program is vital to education and life-long learning for diverse student populations to overcome socioeconomic inequities. Several administrative policies are undermining this mission.
The Consequences
On Monday, Dec 12, 2022, more than two dozen frustrated AE students marched on the office of Wright College President David Potash with their grievances. Potash refused to come out of his office. Wright College Vice President Pamela Monaco agreed to listen to the grievances and promised to convey them to higher ups.
AFSME Local 3506 reports that students at some campuses report administrative chaos and confusion, leaving many lost, frustrated, and unable to know what classes they can take next term, what tests are required, and other information that students need.
Together, students, teachers, and community allies will bring education justice to our communities.
Kathy Powers is a lifetime Chicagoan. At 50, Kathy speaks out as the voice of the people. She became a revolutionary activist whose lifelong fight raises unheard voices. She is the Health Care Desk on the People’s Tribune Editorial Board.
