Students And Parents Demand To Go Back To School At Orland Rally

ORLAND PARK, IL — Hundreds rallied at Crescent Park, 143rd St. and Southwest Hwy, Orland Park, Thursday evening, demanding that students be allowed to return to school. Attendees chanted "what are we doing" and "open up" while holding signs and wearing their school's spirit wear. The rally drew parents and students from elementary and high school districts across the south suburbs, including Dist. 230, Dist. 135, Dist. 140, Lincoln-Way, Lockport and Chicago Heights.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left millions of students around the country at home, away from friends, sports and their classrooms. Remote instruction has many students feeling outraged, saying they are wasting what should be the most memorable time of their lives.

Speeches, chanting and gathering took place at the event. Patch went live on Facebook during the speeches, viewable below. Speakers ranged from community activists, students from elementary to high school and teachers.

Many students that attended the rally have not been back in the classroom since March. Jacob, who did not want to share his last name or school, said he feels that he hasn't been able to learn anything since the last time he stepped foot in his high school.

"As a high school senior, I not only looked forward to this year for a really long time, I also need it, so I can be prepared for college," Jacob said. "I am sitting in math classes over Zoom hardly able to see or hear my teacher. I swear I have no learned one thing in the time I have been back. My teachers lecture us for 10 to 15 minutes, and then we get the rest of the class to sit with our cameras off and work. It helps nobody."

A retired Chicago Heights teacher of 34 years, Barbara Ruggles, told Patch she came out to the event because she believes democracy is based on educated citizens.

"It's not right. They have to open the schools," she said. "They have to educate the students. That's how you'll get your future leaders. I feel so strongly about this and education is how you get your sense of self; by implementing the knowledge you learn."

Ruggles later gave a speech where she said the school districts have had months to try and prepare to bring kids back in a safe enough manner. She also told Patch that she understands the risks of going back, but that with the right precautions, it should be easily obtainable.

"Businesses can open and have enough of a safety procedure to function, that wasn't something they had much time to prepare for either. Look at hair salons. Thousands of people go through them and the right precautions are taken to ensure everyone's safety. How do some school districts not have a better plan than [remote instruction]," Ruggles said.

An educator who wanted to remain anonymous attended the rally in opposition of going back to the classrooms. Many were booing and some using foul language, as he walked with a sign that read "How many of us," "Dying is ok?" and "Keep Kids Home."

"I think that there's a safer way to do it," he said. "I have family members who are at risk. I have friends and coworkers who are at risk. Having them teach virtually in their classroom seems relatively safe. They're not interacting with people, adding kids into the mix... And I think pushing for the school to reopen is the wrong choice. I understand why people want them open. I want my child back interacting with people. I want kids back in the school I work in, I miss them terribly... but just opening them up during this time is not right and will backfire."

Last week a rally in Wheaton had drew hundreds of people. More rallies are expected to take place across the suburbs, with one scheduled on Monday in Naperville.