No one can be unaware of the difficult times being faced by school today. Money is scarce everywhere, but nowhere is this more true than in parts of the Midwest. Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Wisconsin and other “heart of the nation” states are reeling from budget cuts and failed fundraisers.

We all know how hard the economy has been on schools. District budgets are down.
Teachers are being laid off. Parent organizations are being asked to cover supplies even while their own fundraisers are going down in flames. Money is tight to say the least.

We had a great day today, talking to school assembly coordinators from all over the greater Chicago area about our school assemblies! Today, of course, was the first of two days comprising the Center East Showcase at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, Illinois.

Just a quick one today to remind all of our friends in Chicago and other nearby parts of Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and western Michigan that this coming week, on Tuesday and Wednesday, The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts will host it’s annual School Assembly Performer Showcase in Skokie, Illinois.

Some information to consider today about different types of school assembly performers. All different kinds of people are now involved in bringing programs to schools. We can divide them into some groups, though, in order to bring in some structure.

Every Fall, teachers and parents find they have a new job. Somehow they wake up and find out they have been given the job of picking and scheduling the school assembly programs for their school. Yes, you know who you are!

I read an article today that really did not surprise me. Did you know that Americans are basically illiterate when it comes to world geography? It’s true! Apparently, we are only interested in ourselves. A recent study showed that, despite the war, 63 percent of Americans aged 18-24 could not find Iraq on a map. Seventy percent didn’t know the whereabouts of Israel or Iran. And ninety percent failed to locate Afghanistan ... on a map of Asia!

I thought some of you might have an interest in learning a little bit about how the whole business of school assemblies and school assembly programs got started.

Just a quick one ... I just had to share this!

I was just speaking with another member of our staff here, and I was reminded of an old story from my early days performing my Abraham Lincoln assembly program, and I thought it might be amusing to some.