The Untold Story of Charters in Chicago

September 16, 2012 //

Mayor Rahm Emanuel boasts about the “success” of charters in Chicago. He plans to close more neighborhood schools to open another 60 charter schools.

But there is another side to the story.

Karen Lewis tells the other side here.

Categories Charter Schools, Chicago, Privatization

10 Comments Post your own or leave a trackback: Trackback URL

Dienne says:

September 16, 2012 at 7:04 am

The problem is that Karen Lewis has been very effectively demonized by Rahm and his crew as well as by the media. No matter how much truth she writes/speaks, it’s unlikely that she’ll convince anyone not already on her side.

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- philaken says:
  
  September 16, 2012 at 10:03 am
  
  Please seek out other sources than the mainstream media. There are many places on the internet where you can get around the corporate spin from the mainstream media.
  
  Check out this video from Labor Beat
  The first week of the historic September 2012 Chicago teachers strike. Interviews and scenes from the picket lines at Amundsen HS, Kenwood Academy, Steinmetz HS, Lawndale Elementary Community Academy, Reilly Elementary, Burley Elementary, Marsh Elementary, Marshall HS, Lane Tech HS, Kelly HS, Monroe Elementary — all of which are only a small fraction of all the schools on strike in the City.
  
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- Duane Swacker says:
  
  September 16, 2012 at 10:52 am
  
  Yes, Karen has been demonized by the press/media. I had the opportunity to speak with her when she came to our Missouri SOS state meeting last spring. She’s about as down to earth as it gets and is really a humble person who refuses to back down to the powers that be, whether they were in the union or they are politicos and pundits. As a twenty year chemistry teacher she knows what real public school education should be about.
  
  Unfortunately, she appears to be as unphotogenic as I am (hard to be worse than me in that regard) and that plays into the whole demonization process as it is quite easy to manipulate photos, videos, etc. . . to make her appear as a “dominating loud big black lady” stereotype (who scares the crap out the powers to be and should scare you too, you know.) All wrong, of course as from my talking with her she is a quite “likeable” (and admirable/knowledgeable ) person.
  
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- Dienne says:
  
  September 16, 2012 at 3:31 pm
  
  Just to clarify, I personally think Karen Lewis is a beautiful, wonderful and clearly dedicated human being who obviously puts kids’ education first. I’m just saying that with the MSM demonization of her, all you have to do is say her name and the conversation is instantly over unless you’re talking to someone who already understands the issues involved with “school reform”. All you’re going to hear is what a disaster she is and it’s pretty hopeless to try to have a rational discussion.
  
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  - dianerav says:
    
    September 16, 2012 at 4:25 pm
    
    The MSM are owned by corporate barons who make millions. How dare Karen Lewis stand up to Rahm Emanuel .
    
    Diane
    
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Linda says:

September 16, 2012 at 8:08 am

I read somewhere that Rahm included all adminstrator salaries, of those who held teaching certificates, when the average salary was determined. That would inflate the average teacher salary. If that is true, I wish it was publicized. Even if the avg. salary is in the 70’s they earn it. It doesn’t matter if they believe what Karen Lewis says…they are all hell bent on repeating the same lies so they can privatize and profit off of our children.

I recently read this: A CEO, a tea party member and a teacher sit down to a plate of 12 cookies. The CEO shoves 11 in his mouth and begins to speak while spewing crumbs. He says to the tea party member, “Watch out, the teacher is going to want part of your cookie.”

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- Jennifer Baker says:
  
  September 16, 2012 at 11:24 am
  
  Now THAT is a joke I’m going to use. Too bad it isn’t really a joke…
  
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Jeremiah James Henderson says:

September 16, 2012 at 3:01 pm

Diane, I am nots sure if you have seen this yet, but here is a video of Karen giving a speech at the park yesterday! Very motivating! http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=2491959874897
Anybody can watch, they do not need a facebook account!

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Kathy1 says:

September 16, 2012 at 3:09 pm

An excellent letter! The paragraph that popped out at me in a glaring way was the one about the cost of starting up charter schools. Strange how CPS doesn’t have the money to put into its existing schools, but will have it to upstart additional charters. Must have been very easy to negotiate the contract with Gates.

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- Linda says:
  
  September 16, 2012 at 3:11 pm
  
  So much easier when profits are a possibility!
  
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