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Posted March 26:
“Please Don't Leave Our Children Behind Day” Organizers:
Thank you for offering to organize a group or bring your family to Springfield on April 18th for Please Don’t Leave Our Children Behind Day! This is my third update email. Please see http://geco.hinsdaleinfo.net/update_2.htm for previous updates.
Today I will focus on the Capitol itself.
When we are finished with our lunch and we have met with our legislators and listened to our speaker (more on that next week), it will be time to visit the Capitol Building! At this point it is important for groups to reform and to stick together.
Currently, our first stop will be to take a large group photo. All participants, all legislators and anyone else who is there is welcome to join our large group photo – definitely the more the merrier! If the weather is cooperating, we will take this photo on the steps of the capitol. Are you a great photographer? Are you planning on bringing a camera to Springfield, or could you be easily persuaded to do so? We are seeking photographers to take this large group photo, as well as small group photos of groups with their legislators, or groups doing interesting things. Please ask those in your group if they would be interested or willing to help us. The large group photo marks the end of our time as a large group.
After our large group photo, we are headed into the capitol building. There are a few things you should be aware of about the capitol building. First of all, there is security in the building, as there is in the Howlett Building. Our intrepid IAGC parent affiliate co-chair, Mr. Terry Mohaupt was in Springfield a weeks days ago, and he stop by to ask the guards in the capitol what we need to know. The guards told him that everyone must pass through security in order to be admitted to the building. There is only space for about 2 dozen people to wait inside the foyer, the rest must line up outside. So, in the interest of maximizing everyone’s time in the Capitol, there are a few recommendations from the security guard:
1) Remove all metal – better yet, minimize the metal that you bring, both in your pockets and on your person. This includes jewelry, watches, cell phones, necklaces, key rings and even pens. 2) Cover your belt buckle with your hands as you pass through the detector. 3) Do not bring a large bag or tote or backpack that might have to be individually searched.
If the alarm goes off, the whole line must wait while the person goes back through the detector again. If it rings again, the person will need to be hand-wanded.
While in the Capitol Building, no electronic devices may be used with the exception of cell phones, which must be set to vibrate or turned off altogether to prevent them from ringing. Once in the chambers, all individuals must be seated or be leaning against the back wall.
There is not room for all of us in either chamber, so we will need to split up, with half going one way and half the other. There are attendants at the doors to each of the chambers, who will monitor the number of people coming and going. Groups should stay together. You are free to remain in the chambers or in the capitol as long as you like.
If you are interested in a tour of the capitol, tours for groups of less that 15 leave from the visitor information desk every half hour. For more information about the capitol building, see these two web sites: http://www.ilstatehouse.com/ and http://www.online-springfield.com/facts.html.
And now something for the kids:
Once in the balconies, what will the children see? As a first order of business, after each election the legislative body must establish its rules. These rules are published on the internet, for all to see. You can find them here: http://www.ilga.gov. On this web site you can also find a picture of your House representative and state senator. (Useful tip, if you plan on meeting your legislators.) You can learn more about Roberts Rules of Order at this highly informative web site: http://www.robertsrules.org/.
How can we have an impact on our legislators?
Several groups have contacted me to say that they are meeting with their legislators in their legislative offices and want to bring them something. All the children and parents in those organizations have been asked to contribute a letter or a poster; this is not just those who are able to join us in Springfield. I think getting as many kids involved as possible involved is a fantastic idea. I would ask each child to determine who his or her representatives are, and then have them address their letters appropriately. Then those who visit Springfield could distribute them in some form. Additionally, it would be very helpful if parents called their legislators and about Please Don’t Leave Our Children Behind Day on April 18th. It would be great if every legislator received a call from a constituent. Those families who cannot attend could still call to say that their child has sent a poster. Those parents who are more comfortable writing, could certainly be encouraged to write.
Our overall objective this year is to get a line item added to the budget for gifted education. There used to be one, but when the concept of gifted education was removed from the school code in 2002, the budget was eliminated. In 2005 gifted education was reinstated in the school code, but thus far no money has been allocated to fund it. My personal objective is to be certain that all legislators, from all parts of the state, realize that there are gifted children in their districts. In 2002 we made it very easy for them to cut our funding – because they honestly didn’t know we existed – we were nameless and faceless. And there is a feeling that gifted children don’t need extra help, they will be fine in a regular classroom, they just need to wait for their classmates to catch up.
I would ask the kids and the parents to focus on why gifted children’s needs are different. Why just waiting for others to catch up doesn’t work. How being the teacher’s helper, and tutoring classmates is harmful to gifted children. What it feels like at 5 to know you are not like all the other five-year-olds, but not knowing why. Why a 13 year old might hide her intelligence in order to fit in, and the impact that can have on their future. What it’s like to hit high school without ever having had to study for a test, and finding all of a sudden that you are “dumb.” We are looking for a personal antidote that might make a legislator think.
We have not prepared a script for parents for this event. There are a few articles available online, though that parents can use to understand the current situation. See http://www.iagcgifted.org/advocacy/index.shtml for these articles.
Now, some information from all of you:
1) I am still waiting for information from many of you regarding your legislators. If you have not already done so, could you please email me with your legislators’ names and tell me if you have contacted them yet?
2) When is your group planning on arriving and departing Springfield and what are you doing in addition to the group activities organized between 11:30 – 1:30?
I will send out another briefing next week. Three weeks to go!
Newenka DuMont, IAGC Gifted Day in Springfield Coordinator
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