School Background
This past year the James H. Bowen Campus celebrated its 100 year anniversary. Situated on the South East side of Chicago, this South Shore campus provides public education as a neighborhood school. Primarily an area of the city that was dominated by the steel mills for decades, South Shore has drastically changed in the last 20 years. Experiencing a cultural shift from a Mexican community with a gradual influx of African-Americans has caused social, emotional, and economic tension. Six years ago, in an effort to make smaller learning communities, Bowen was separated into four distinct high school settings. For several years these schools functioned as four different high schools with completely different school names, foci, uniforms, and demeanor. This spring Chicago Public Schools announced the consolidation of the Bowen campus. As one of two English teachers that were asked back, I am charged with bringing together four very different school cultures. This difficult shift has made me think about what my students have in common with other students in the building. The greatest difference in my view is their reading level. Although my students enter high school with a variety of reading levels, by the time they reach me many of them are disheartened and disempowered by knowing how far they are behind. They also have been systematically taught by the streets and social institutions that their voice doesn't matter, much less their creativity.
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