Raise that canvass!

 Hey everyone! Welcome to my second Action Project for my Rhetoric class! Over the past couple of weeks, we've been going over the idea of challenging the status quo, or the way things are. We've looked at things like the Doctrine of Discovery, a document produced by the pope of the time, detailing how Europe should go about exploring the New World. We've also met with Independent Political Organizations (or IPOs for short) like 33rd Ward Working Families and 48th Ward Neighbors for Justice. All of this culminated to our Action Project, which was to create a canvassing script for an issue we find important. For those unaware, canvassing is the act of going door to door and talking to people (usually for 3-5 minutes) about a topic you care about. This is my canvassing script about Chicago Public Schools, enjoy!

    Intro: Hi! My name is Ayo. How are you doing today?

    (Reponse (hopefully))

    I’m here to help canvass for better CPS budgets around Chicago. CPS as a system, while it is one of the better school districts in the US, still has some major issues, and as a previous student of CPS, having experienced what it is like in the system, I want to help make sure my peers and future students have the resources to learn at their full potential.

   

     Question 1: Do you know anyone in the CPS system or have been a part of it yourself?

    If yes: Great, this could give you a better perspective on this issue!

    If no: That’s ok! Your views could still help.


    Question 2: Are you aware of some of the issues that dominate CPS schools?

    If yes: Great, this means we’re on the same page!

    If no/don’t know: Well, to help you make a decision on this issue, here’s some information for you. According to Chicago Sun Times, although CPS is getting 29 million dollars in funding this school year, it is nowhere near enough money for CPS to be properly funded. It would take years for them to get enough money to have enough money to fully fund every school and every student. If you want a real world example, Chalkbeat Chicago reported that Little Village's school, Emiliano Zapata Academy, took a huge cut when CPS showed that they would cut funding by 40%.


    Question 3: Are you also aware that, according to the Chicago Tribune, Chicago is one of the only cities without an elected school board, with schools having to create their own smaller parent teacher organizations?

    If yes: Yeah, as you can tell, it’s a bit of an open secret. Without an elected school board, a lot of decisions are left up to those who may not understand what schools need. It’s important we start to work towards elected school board members.

    If no: I don’t blame you for not knowing. It isn’t your fault for not knowing, as this is something that the city should be handling. But now that you know, you’re better informed and can help make change.

    Final question: Would you like to sign a petition that, when presented in front of city council, would force them to help create an elected school board?

    If yes: Great! Please sign here to join the cause. (They sign, I tell them goodbye)

    If no: That’s alright! It’s understandable, but please try to spread the word about it. Thank you for your time!

   

     "Chicago doesn't need an elected board, it's fine as is."/"Why would I have to care for these kids? Isn't it just ok as it?": While it might be fine, the fact that there's still some issues and that it could be even better is something we should strive towards. As cheesy as it might sound, these kids are the future we have. We shouldn't neglect not only them, but those who come after them. We want to ensure that they have all the resources they need and want.

    Now, it's time to explain the script. I used the 3 rhetorical appeals throughout my script. Ethos was in this line: "...and as a previous student of CPS.." I used logos whenever I cited the news stories. Pathos was present when I said this: "...I want to help make sure my peers and future students have the resources to learn at their full potential." 

    I also used 3 rhetorical devices: figurative language, anecdote and oxymoron. Figurative language was present here: "Great, this means we’re on the same page!" I told an anecdote here: "...and as a previous student of CPS, having experienced what it is like in the system..." And the oxymoron I used was here: "...it’s a bit of an open secret." 

    The community I wanted to target in this script, if you didn't know, was people who were in the CPS system or had family/friends who are/were in the system themselves. This seems to be the best audience because many of them might not know what's going on behind the scenes. Getting them to start to care about these issues is something I thought would be possible.

    And here is the mockup of the pin I would wear:

"Together, we are stronger", AR, 2022

Works Cited

Karp, Sarah, and Nadar Issa. “CPS Takes Another Budget Hit, Loses $30M in Expected State Funding.” Chicago Sun-Times, 6 Aug. 2022, chicago.suntimes.com/education/2022/8/5/23294056/chicago-public-schools-state-funding-illinois-budget#:~:text=CPS%20still%20gets%20%2427%20million. Accessed 1 Nov. 2022.

Peña, Mauricio. “Chicago Teachers Union, Parents Blast Steep Budget Cuts to Little Village School: “We Cannot Take Another Cut.”” Chalkbeat Chicago, 26 Apr. 2022, chicago.chalkbeat.org/2022/4/26/23043323/chicago-public-schools-budget-cuts-pandemic-zapata-elementary-recovery#:~:text=Last%20month%2C%20the%20district%20unveiled. Accessed 1 Nov. 2022.

Perez Jr., Juan. “90% of U.S. School Boards Are Picked by Voters, but Not in Chicago. Here’s Why That Could Change.” Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2019, www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-chicago-elected-school-board-debate-20190418-story.html. Accessed 1 Nov. 2022.