Fresh from his skiing vacation in Utah, Mayor Rahm Emanuel says he is closing 54 public schools because he wants all the children in Chicago to get a quality education. So he closing the schools of 30,000 children.
May we see a show of hands? How many people believe that at the end of Emanuel’s term of office, all children in Chicago will have a quality education? Is he hiding his secret recipe?
To add insult to injury, he channels the father of public education, Horace Mann, in calling education “the great equalizer.” Mann was not talking about charter schools or academies or religious schools. He was talking about public schools.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Which should make you think twice about thinking anything can be the GREAT EQUALIZER.
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Astonishing that Emanuel thinks we are all that ignorant to believe that the way for all children of Chicago to get a quality education is too close down 54 public schools.
Wow.
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Any bets on who wrote this propaganda?
Rahm is clueless…they all share the same talking points on laminated index cards.
Arne and Obama are clapping and cheering while watching basketball.
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I am appalled that Rahm Emanuel cold be so duped into thinking that disposing of neighborhood schools could be equalizing. He is smarter than that. Somebody is just rotting the brains of these politicians. I expect it from Republicans because they don’t give a damn about the disadvantaged, but a Democrat should know better. Plus, he’s Jewish and Jews have such a long history of repression and denial of basic human rights. I wonder if he would close the schools in a Hasidic neighborhood.
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Rahm sold out a long, long time ago. Read two posts by Karen
Lewis:
CHICAGO—Mass closings of public schools by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Board of Education will cost Chicago Public Schools (CPS) nearly $1 billion, according to Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) analysis of the CPS FY2013 budget, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) data and Board of Education reports. CPS has claimed a “utilization crisis” and $1 billion budget deficit to justify adversely affecting 30,000 students and causing massive upheaval at 61 public elementary schools, but that deficit is nearly equal to resources purportedly allocated for school improvement and student safety.
Based on estimates from the CPS budget and the CIP, it will cost the district approximately $750 million—$15 million per school—to provide 50 schools with computer education, counseling and social work, additional safety and security, and renovations. This figure includes $129 million in CIP costs for pre-kindergarten, students living with disabilities, libraries, play lots, air conditioning and computer labs.
Full text:
http://www.ctunet.com/blog/citywide-school-closings-to-costnot-savecps-nearly-1-billion
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And here:
“We do not have a utilization crisis. What we have is a credibility crisis. CPS continues to peddle half-truths, lies and misinformation in order to justify its campaign to wipe out our schools and carry out this corporate-driven school reform nonsense. CPS continues to peddle an ‘underutilization myth’ and ‘billion dollar deficit lie’ as justification for their actions. When research and the facts prove them wrong they simply reconfigure their talking points in order to further perpetrate their sham and to keep us playing their school reform games.
“For the past several weeks there has been a resounding cry against school actions from parents, students, educators and community stakeholders. The mayor and the CEO have ignored these petitions for justice at these hearings and apparently have not listened to single word that was said. Parents have been direct, loud and clear. Students have been loud and clear. Principals have been loud and clear. Teachers, paraprofessionals and school clinicians have been loud and clear: DO NOT CLOSE OUR SCHOOLS! GIVE US THE RESOURCES WE NEED, RIGHT NOW, TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND GIVE THEM THE EDUCATION THEY DESERVE.
“Enough with the lies and public deception: School closings will not save money and taxpayers will not see costs benefits in two years. Why? Because vibrant school communities will be quickly transformed into abandoned buildings, neighborhood eyesores and public safety hazards.
“This is the mayor’s 25 percent solution. Yet, who will be held accountable when one of our students is harmed as a result of these policy decisions? And, who will be the ones to ensure justice is served?”
http://www.ctunet.com/blog/ctu-president-karen-lewis-statement-on-cps-school-closings
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twinki1cat I am appalled that you took your position to a low
position of prejudice which has no place in this discussion. Whatever the man’s religion your argument should be based on fact and reason and not your bias against a group of people. If you are an
educator it makes your comment even more odious. Focus to the
problem and leave your hate rooted in your mind, your heart is in question and your ignorance is absolutely appalling.
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What disgusting anti-semitism. For shame.
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ronee & Jennifer: I think you misinterpreted what twinkie really meant by the comments. I’m Jewish and not upset, because I think what she was trying to get across was that Jews have been repressed and that Jews have a long history of having been denied basic rights, NOT that the Jews have been repressing others & denying others basic human rights. Just to clarify…I really do not want to get into a discussion/argument over this.
That would be digressing from the big picture, and we need to stay focused as to what we can do to stop the hemorrhaging from the public schools. I, for one, will be at the Chicago rally this Wednesday. I also plan to be at the S.O.S. Washington, D.C. March on April 6th. If you can’t come to the entire S.O.S. Conference, DO come to the March–as evidenced in Chicago last
summer, there is strength in numbers. Yes WE can!
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If that is the case, then I apologize. I’m not Jewish, but I’ve been a Holocaust fellow and that stuff makes me recoil.
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Perhaps it is time for the people of Chicago to launch an impeachment process?
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Rahmses the Last, let us hope …
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What a sleaze bag!
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I’m embarrassed that he’s in my state spewing this crap.
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Wow…what PROPAGANDA!
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Whenever I hear the words “It’s for the children” I get a chill down my spine. It’s mouthed whenever schools are closed or charters are approved. It’s heard when TFA comes to town. It means somebody is going to make money off of kids.
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