Proviso Stabbing
The Southwest suburb of Hillside delivered an official report Monday, November 14, confirming the stabbing of a student at its local high school, Proviso West. The incident involved a student getting stabbed in a stairwell located by the school’s garage. The injured student was transported to the nurse’s office before being picked up by paramedics and treated at the local hospital.
However, the student who attacked, fled from the scene and was at large for multiple hours. This caused both Proviso West High School and the neighboring Hillside Elementary School to be put on a soft lockdown. There was also a third student who had been questioned by the police when they arrived at the scene.
The student at large had been found a few hours later and detained. The principal of Proviso West, Elizabeth Martinez, sent the students home after the lockdown was lifted and gave them notes so they could inform their families about the scene that had unfolded earlier that morning.
Another Violent Incident at a School
Sadly, there has been a steady increase in violent acts happening on school grounds. On September 3, in the town of Woodlawn, Mount Carmel High School had a shooting that took place after a football game.
The report stated that after a football game (around 10 p.m.) had just ended shots rang out causing the civilians to scatter. Unfortunately, two teenagers a 15-year-old male and a 16-year-old were hit by the barrage.
The 15-year-old was rushed to the hospital in critical care with a wound to his abdomen. While the 16-year-old girl received treatment for a shot to the foot but quickly recovered.
However, despite these acts of violence, there are great things that Westside Chicago schools have done.
World Kindness Day
On Sunday, November 12, downtown La Grange was visited by about two dozen young boys from over 10 different Southwest schools. They went out and celebrated World Kindness Day ahead of the Monday date it’s actually held on. They were all participants in a not-for-profit program called Buddy Helpers.
Buddy Helpers looks to help empower young athletes. Some of these athletes even play against each other.
While out there they passed around donuts, flowers, and more to passersby on the street. One sophomore participant from Dwight D. Eisenhower High School said, “We’re here together giving back to the community and doing something good.” They even went as far as telling drivers to “honk for peace.”
Black Students Need Reform
Although there are good examples and bad of violence, peace, and education in the West Side school districts, some still believe the districts need reform. Such as West Side leaders who believe that the schools need to be reformed, especially for Black students.
The conference was held at Austin College and Career Academy High School to talk about how black students are usually underserved within the Westside. They feared that the Board of Education hadn’t delivered on its plans to look into the gap Black students have. As well as the dismissal of multiple Black principals.
What Can Be Done
Education advocate, Natasha Dunn has stated that Black students’ reading scores have been at their lowest in over 30 years. She also expressed the fact that Black students tend to have to travel farther to get to their schools. She and other advocates also encouraged a type of legislation that would ensure gains for Black students, about their usually falling scores.
In defense of their proposal she stated, “The fact that you don’t see it as important to make a Black student achievement committee as you see them struggle and flounder through the system, it makes you complicit.”
The CPS CEO Pedro Martinez was one of the attendees as well, also stated that he understood the inconsistencies in the school system. He stated, “As a CPS kid myself, I’ve seen the inconsistency and lack of the resources in our schools. This is the first time we have a fighting chance to stop this.” His further support was announced that a $3 million budget plan would be put to use for improving school facilities and other necessary needs.
The example of the West Proviso incident shows that these areas truly do need developments to give students a safer more valuable education.
Written By AriAnna Rathers
Sources:
CBS News: 2 teens hurt, 1 critically, in shooting after high school football game in Woodlawn
NBC Chicago: Proviso West student injured in knife attack involving other students: officials
ABC Chicago: Southwest suburban high school students share random acts of kindness ahead of World Kindness Day
Block Club Chicago: West Side Leaders Urge City To Help Close Black Student Achievement Gap
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Daniel X. O’Neil’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of COD Newsroom’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
