Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Commission motions to close down E.E. Waddell High School, and make significant changes to many other schools and Charlotte Mecklenburg School system programs. What does this mean for children in foster care, another move? Another loss? It is estimated that every time a child is moved they fall behind 6 months in school. On average, children in the Mecklenburg county foster system move between 2-3 times per year. The Guardian ad Litem Advocacy (GALA) Foundation urges the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community to take notice and strive to improve the social structures that we all rely on.
The heated protests, the public demonstrations by concerned students, officials and parents, and debates throughout Charlotte, clearly reflect this community’s concern for the future of its children. The NAACP involvement in this situation points to issues of race involved. The Charlotte Observer reports some interesting facts “Most speakers were critical of the plans crafted by Superintendent Peter Gorman and hashed out after five months of board meetings and public forums. Many noted that closings and other major changes would land disproportionately on schools serving minority and low-income students. Only about 5% of students in the schools slated to close are white, compared with a third district-wide.” Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.
There is a disproportionate number of minority children in the Mecklenburg County foster care system who may be affected by these decisions. We may not be able to influence the number or backgrounds of children in care, but we can effect their experience in the system. The GALA Foundation challenges you to also consider the effect this has on children who have no one to be their voice in these systems.
The heated protests, the public demonstrations by concerned students, officials and parents, and debates throughout Charlotte, clearly reflect this community’s concern for the future of its children. The NAACP involvement in this situation points to issues of race involved. The Charlotte Observer reports some interesting facts “Most speakers were critical of the plans crafted by Superintendent Peter Gorman and hashed out after five months of board meetings and public forums. Many noted that closings and other major changes would land disproportionately on schools serving minority and low-income students. Only about 5% of students in the schools slated to close are white, compared with a third district-wide.” Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.
There is a disproportionate number of minority children in the Mecklenburg County foster care system who may be affected by these decisions. We may not be able to influence the number or backgrounds of children in care, but we can effect their experience in the system. The GALA Foundation challenges you to also consider the effect this has on children who have no one to be their voice in these systems.
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