HUMBOLDT PARK Hundreds of ChiArts students marched out of Humboldt Park High School to protest the administration’s inhumane treatment of students.
The Chicago High School for the Arts (also known as ChiArts) is located at 2714 W. Augusta Blvd., near Humboldt Park. According to the school’s arts-focused focus, it enrolls approximately 600 students from all over Chicago, most of whom are Black and Hispanic. Chicago Public Schools
Thursday’s protest was led by many students who marched around the school’s perimeter to express their dismay at the school’s handling of a variety of incidents over the years. They claimed that students had inappropriately touched other students, and that a beloved teacher was fired. Protesting students voiced their dismay at the current school administration’s handling of incidents.
Teresa Milsap was the school’s founding principal when it opened in 2009. She didn’t return calls Thursday night. ChiArts’ founding principal was Milsap when it opened in 2009. According to the schools website, Milsap left for the East Coast in 2009 and returned as principal in 2019.
Jose Ochoa, president and founder of ChiArts Foundation, was unable to answer questions at school on Thursday. Tina Boyer Brown (Artistic Director) was also unavailable for comment. CPS officials didn’t respond to a request Thursday night for comment.
We come here to feel passionate, we come to be ourselves, but we are being attacked daily by an administration that doesn’t trust us. We must stop this. We must use our voices, use our arts, and fight back, said Isabella Reyes (17), student body president at ChiArts.
Credit: Mina Bloom/Block Club ChicagoThree ChiArts teachers, who requested anonymity out of fear of reprisal, claimed that administrators fired a beloved teacher at the school in December. It is unclear why the teacher was fired.
Teachers said that students began to feel like their voices weren’t being heard following the firing. One teacher stated that students felt gas-lit when they raised concerns with the school administration about student sexual misconduct. For example, a student allegedly groped another student in leotards and other students followed their peers into the bathroom stalls.
Teachers said that one student claimed they were sexually assaulted earlier this month by another student at the school during a protest. According to teachers, the accused student was taken to school’s peace hall while the victim student was suspended.
Administrators dont see [the students]One teacher said that the students were not treated in any meaningful manner. They feel that the students are treated like objects by the school, to have Black students there, but not to hear their concerns or listen to them.
Teachers say that educators are struggling to teach students who are in survival mode.
ChiArts is a different high school than other CPS schools. It is a contract school which means it is funded by the district as well as private donors. Students receive both an academic and arts education. The Chicago Teachers Union supports the schools academic teachers, but the teaching artists can be fired without warning.
One of the teachers stated that the teachers they love do not have the protections that they desire.
The teacher stated that many teachers don’t feel supported or protected by the school administration and fear reprisals for speaking out. One teacher stated that 15 teachers have left the school over the past month, further disrupting an already turbulent school atmosphere.
It is difficult in many ways. The other teacher said, “I pray I don’t run across anyone other than my students and colleagues when I walk into this building.”
Credit: Mina Bloom/Block Club ChicagoOne student asked the crowd a question during Thursday’s protest. He asked, “Our student rights are that you should feel.” I don’t feel secure. Who else feels unsafe?
Numerous students have volunteered their time.
The student stated that we are here today because our voices need to be heard. Everybody on this sidewalk is there because they want change, and we have done it too many times. We are all children. We should not be doing administrative work.
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