This afternoon, when I opened the mailbox, I found an envelope from my school--one of those standard "To the parents of" deals that I was sure was my first semester report card or some other sort of mundane business. However, when I opened it, I was greeted with a brightly colored brochure with "Revolution Prep" stamped across it, as well as a typed message on my school's official letterhead.

I've been getting these mailers a lot, recently--today's is probably the fifth or so of its kind. My school appears to have partnered with a private test preparation company, Revolution Prep, to offer SAT prep classes and mock tests on our campus, while sending home aggravating promotional brochures. I'm not quite sure what our school is getting out of this, but judging from the California budget crisis, I'm pretty sure they're receiving some sort of cut from the company.

I don't agree with the SAT, especially the manic obsession my school already has with preparing for and "acing" it. Furthermore, judging from the amount of pressure I've seen kids face when it comes to this Test of all tests, I don't think that my school's stated goal of just trying to help us do better is going to be met by sending us ads for prep companies.

However, what really bothers me is that my school--a public school in a more affluent part of Southern California--is resorting to private endorsements masked as feigned concern for the well-being of its students. Either our school's individual priorities need sorting out, or we seriously need to get some money towards education at the state level, so that public institutions can stay public.

Do any of you guys have advertising or endorsements at your school? How do you feel about them?

Mark 6:53-56:  I can identify with Jesus--being used to the point of exhaustion. I am exhausted. People grabbing at me, expecting so much, demanding so much.  There is no resentment whatsoever, it is my calling, and I am resting, and will begin again tomorrow, but the past few days--so many people expecting so much, and I give all I can. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

Mark 6:53-56:  I can identify with Jesus--being used to the point of exhaustion. I am exhausted. People grabbing at me, expecting so much, demanding so much.  There is no resentment whatsoever, it is my calling, and I am resting, and will begin again tomorrow, but the past few days--so many people expecting so much, and I give all I can. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

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Do you love Chicago?  Have a camcorder?  Want to tell a story, and win up to $20,000?  If so, check out the One Chicago, One Nation film competition, going on right now!  We're looking for stories of diversity, community building, and all things Chicago - we want to unite the city through storytelling.  By harnessing the power of our nation’s diversity, One Chicago, One Nation will bring together people of all cultures, faiths, and social backgrounds.  And we need you to make those connections.

The contest is simple: grab a camera, get out there, and tell a Chicago story in five minutes or less.  You can submit a video in any of our six categories:

• Comedy
• Drama
• Documentary
• Under 60 Seconds
• Music video/spoken word/animation
• Mobile digital media (phone video, mp3/iPods, Flip cameras)

Once you've completed your masterpiece, head to www.linktv.org/onechicago  and upload it.  Submissions are accepted until April 23rd, but enter soon: the first 25 submissions will be entered into a drawing for a free iPod Nano!  You'll also be able to view and vote on other entries.  Winners win big: $5,000 for each category winner, and a $20,000 grand prize.  Diversity pays, huh?

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